NOTES on ICSE HISTORY

Cabinet Mission proposal (clauses) The Second World War had ended. In England the labour party had come to power. In India there was a continuous communal problem. All this prompted the P.M Attle to send the cabinet mission to India, The cabinet mission came with proposals which they thought would satisfy the congress and the Muslim league. They recommended. 1. There was to be a federal union of the British provinces and the princely states. 2. The union of India would include British India and the princely states. 3. The union executive and legislative would consist of British Indian provinces and the Indian states. 4. The union govt. would control defense, foreign affairs and communications. 5. All subjects other than the union subject and all residuary power were to be vested in the provinces 6. The provinces would be free to from groups with their own executive and legislature. 7. A constituent assembly would draw up the future constitution of India 8. The British provinces wo...

The younger sections in the congress laid by Subhash Chandra Bose were loosing faith in the non-violent programs and in the leadership of Gandhiji. 1. Subhash Chandra Bose was in sympathy with the farmer’s movement, whereas Gandhiji was opposed to the lawless activities of the farmers. 2. Bose’s idea of socialism was not much liked by Gandhiji. 3. Subhash Chandra Bose looked upon a war between Britain and Germany as God sent opportunity to exploit and situation. Pandit Nehru and Gandhiji were definitely opposed to the idea of taking advantage of Britain’s peril. 4. Subhash Chandra Bose favoured the policy of large scale industrialization. On the other hand Gandhiji favoured the idea of small scale industries to make the villages’ self-sufficient. 5. Gandhiji’s candidate Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya was defeated and Subhash Chandra Bose was reflected as congress president in 1939 at Tripura. This defeat was taken by Gandhiji as his own defeat. Thus both could not come to any agreement on...

Causes of Quit India movement 1. Failure of Cripps mission After the failure of the Cripps mission, the congress was left with no alternative but to launch of movement against the British rule. The British govt. was not ready to give freedom even after their victory in the war. 2. Worsening of communal problem In the Lahore session (1940), the Muslim league put forward the two nation theory and thus a demand for partition of India was made. The congress realized that behind this theory there was a hand of the British. The congress felt that if the British withdrew from India, people would sort out the difference in a peaceful and lovable manner. 3. Increase in prices The discontent grew among the Indians due to soaring prices, war time shortages and growing unemployment. 4. Japan posed a serious threat to India People feared that incase of Japanese attack on India British would leave India to their fate and run away. The leaders believed that it was necessary to launch a moveme...

Swaraj party: with the suspension of non-cooperation movement and the continued repressive activities of the govt, a section of congress led by C.R Das and Motilal Nehru felt that the legislature should not be boycotted and the fight had to be conducted from within. This group was known as pro-changers on the other hand Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, and C. Rajagopalachari among other believed that the congress should continue with the policy of boycott and fight the govt. from outside the council. This group was known as no-changes. With C.R Das as president and Motilal Nehru as secretary, the swaraj party was formed and fought election to the central legislature. From within the legislature the swarajist continued their work against the govt. the swarajist were able to bring to the attention of the govt, some of the problem of the people. At the same time they exposed all the wrong doing of the British. Unfortunately with the death of C.R Das in June 1925 the swarajist lost much of...

Circumstances leading to the Non-Cooperation movement Rowlatt act The sedition committe was the Rowlatt committe was officially called, was headed by Justice Rowlatt. The committe recommended special legislation, which laid to the suspension of laws, safe-guarding the right and liberties of the people. Inspite of oppositions from Indians the Rowlatt Act was passed in March 1919. This Act authorized the government to imprison any person without any trial and convict him in a court. This Act also empowered the police to search a place without any warrant. The Indians regarded the Act as a grave insult, since it came at the end of the First World War when Indians were expecting some constitutional concessions from the British government. This Act also came to be known as ‘black act’. Jallianwalla bagh tragedy- Amritsar had observed a hartal on 6th April. On 10th April two prominent leaders Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Kitchlew were unnecessarily deported from Amritsar. Hartal was immediate...

Lucknow pact: In 1915 both the congress and the league held their session at Bombay. The Bombay session of the league was attended by the congress leaders. The leaders of both the parties forged a joint plan of post war constitutional reforms. In 1916 the congress and the league again held their respective sessions at Lucknow. A joint scheme was finally adopted by them. This agreement signed by two parties is known as the Lucknow pact. Terms/clauses of Lucknow pact: 1. The Indian councils of the secretary of state operating from England should be abolished. The secretary of state for India was to be assisted by two under secretaries, of whom one should be an Indian. 2. Four-fifth of the members of the provincial legislatures were to be directly elected and one-fifth to be nominated. 3. The minorities should have adequate separate representation in elected bodies. 4. The imperial legislative councils were to have 150 members. Of this 4/5 were to be elected and 1/...

Factors responsible for the growth of Muslim league- Divide and rule: - British started creating problems between Hindus and Muslim. First they ignored the Muslims as they felt that the Muslims were behind the revolt. Then as a way to keep the Muslims away from the national movement and the congress, the British tried to win over the Muslims. Backwardness of the Muslims in the field of education and industry:- As the British administration neglected the muslims after 1857 muslims in terms rejected western education. Hindus on the other hand graved the opportunity, but the Muslims lacked behind. This widened the gap between two communities. Muslims found themselves in inferior position. Government jobs were not open for them. This led to growth of communalism in India. Role of sir Syed Ahmad Khan:- Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was instrumental in fostering differences between the Hindus and the Muslims. Sir side Ahmad khan realized that the educational backwardness o...

What was the reason behind the partition of Bengal? Official motive- Bengal during those period was very big all most about 1 lakh 90 thousand square miles and a population of 78.5 million it was said that the province of Bengal was too big to be efficiently administered by the single provincial government it was quite difficult for one L.T governor to administer it efficiently therefore a scheme was prepared to divide the province of the Bengal into two separate provinces. Real motives- 1. The real motive was to break the growing solidarity of Bengali nationalisms. 2. To drive a wedge (gap) between the Hindus and Muslims 3. To demonstrate the strength of British Raj. Anti-partition movement – Reaction of the people – On 16th October 1905 partition of Bengal took place. This was declared as a day of mourning (sad). Every city, town and village now rang with the cry of ‘Bande Matram’. In Calcutta, the procession laid to the river Ganga. After a dip, people tied rakhi to each o...

Causes 1. Failures of the Moderates: the early congress man from 1885-1905 were unable to achieve anything substantial. The new radical groups believe that the leaders lacked the essential need of a national movement as they were not in touch with the people. The moderates had also failed to secure any substantial political reforms from the government. The radical felt that moderate’s faith in the goodness of the British rule was misplaced, and the need of the hour was vigorous. 2. Worsening economic condition: The evil economic consequences of foreign rule was exposed towards the ends of the 19th century when their was famines, which ravaged India from 1896 -1900 and took a toll of over 90 lakhs of lives. The government did nothing to help the people, on the other hand it spend a huge amount of money on the Silver Jubilee celebration of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. These events revealed to the Indian their plight of utter helplessness they attributed all this to...

3. Programmes and achievement Moderates Early Congressman from 1885-1905 were often called moderates as they were moderate in their views, moderate in their demand, moderate in their methods and some say even moderate in their achievement. Moderates consist of middle class intelligentsia comprising lawyer, doctor, scholars, engineers and other such professional. Moderate leader 1. Dadabhai Naoroji 2. Surendranath Banerjee 3. Gopal Krishna Gokhlae 4. W.C Banerjee 5. Justice Ranadey 6. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Demands of the moderates-(objectives) 1. Expansion of legislature 2. Abolition of Indian council 3. Employment of more Indians in higher services 4. ICS examination to be held in England and India 5. Complete separation of executive and judiciary 6. Reduction of land tax, salt tax and sugar tax 7. Reduction in army expenditure and use of the funds for the development of health and education 8. Industrial growth through trade protection by imposing heavy tax on imported g...

Indian National Movement got an impetus after the foundation of the Indian National Congress in 1885. Mr. A.O. Hume, a retired member of the Indian Civil Service, took the initiative in this direction. He appealed to the Graduates of the Calcutta University to form an association for the moral, social and political regeneration of the Indians. Lord Dufferin, the then Viceroy of India, supported the idea. Leaders like Dada Bhai Nauroji S.N. Banerjee, Ferozshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji and others helped him to found the Indian National Congress. The first session of the Congress was held at Bombay with W. C. Banerjee, as the first President. It was attended by 72 members. Delegates came from different parts of the country and most important among them were Dadabhai Naoroji, Ranade, Pherozeshah Mehta, K.T. Telang, Dinshaw Wacha etc. The meeting was truly a national gathering consisting of leading men from all parts of India. The initial aims and objectives of the congress, were 1. To ...

Nationalism refers to the feelings of oneness and common consciousness that emerges when people living in a common territory share the same historical, political, and cultural background, having the same language, cultural values and consider themselves as one nation. Following are the factors that led to the Growth of Nationalism in India. Economic Exploitation 1. The primary objective of the British rule in India was the economic exploitation. They took away raw materials from India and brought here their manufactured goods. 2. The policy of economic exploitation ruined the Indian industries. Indian industries failed to compete with those of the British because the British had all the advantages and privileges on their side. 3. Moreover, the British officials working in India had become a drain on the Indian resources. Reactionary policies of Lord Lytton The period from 1870 to 1884 was extremely tumultuous and was seen as the beginning time of Indian nationalism. The several ...

End of Company’s Rule To set things right, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act of 1858. Under this Act: 1. East India Company’s rule came to an end. 2. India’s administration came directly under the British crown. 3. The Indian Council, under a Secretary of State and **15 members of the cabinet, was created to supervise the Indian administration. ** [8 members were appointed by the queen and 7 members by the Directors of the Company] 4. The administration in India was headed by the Viceroy. [Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India] Queen Victoria’s proclamation [1st November 1858] 1. The Act laid down that henceforth India shall be governed by and in the name of the Queen. 2. The Doctrine of Lapse was cancelled and the British stopped the policy of annexation. 3. There would be no interference in social and religious customs of the people. 4. Educated Indians would get jobs in British services 5. A general amnesty (pardon) was granted to the rebels exce...

Immediate Cause Discontent and resentment against British rule had been growing among the Indians for a long time. By AD 1857, the stage was set for a massive revolt. Only a spark was needed to set the country ablaze. That spark was provided by as small a thing as a rifle cartridge. At this time, the Enfield rifle was introduced in the army. Its cartridges were covered with a greased paper cover. This greased cover had to be bitten off before the cartridge could be loaded into the rifle. The news spread that the grease was made of cow and pig fat. As the Hindus consider the cow sacred and the Muslims do not eat pit’s meat, both these communities were enraged at such a blatant attempt to harm their religion. This incident, popularly known as the Greased Cartridges Incident, became the immediate cause of the revolt. The first soldier to protest against using the greased cartridges was Mangal Pandey. He belonged to the 34th Infantry stationed at Barrackpore. He refused to use the cartrid...

1. The First War of Independence (Great Revolt of 1857) Political cause : The British policy of territorial annexations led to the displacement of a large number of rulers and chiefs. The forceful application of the Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie angered the ruling sections of the society. Satara, Jhansi, Sambalpur, Nagpur, etc. came under British rule. His ill-treatment towards the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah-II hurt the sentiment of the Muslim community. Discontinuation of the pension of the Peshwa Nana Sahib shocked the Marathas. The annexation of Awadh, on grounds of misgovernment, was greatly resented. The Nawabs of Awadh had always been loyal to the British. The annexation was widely seen as a deliberate act of back-stabbing by the British. It deeply hurt the sentiments of the Company’s sepoys because most of them came from Awadh. Economic cause : The Great Revolt of 1857 was also an outburst of grievances due to the economic exploitation of the company. India’s tradi...