Factors Promoting Growth of Nationalism Foundation of the Indian National Congress (1885) Class 10 ICSE Notes
In this page we have provided notes for the 2nd chapter of History under ICSE Board. A complete note for the Chapter Factors Promoting Growth of Nationalism Foundation of the Indian National Congress (1885) for class 10 ICSE is made available here. The notes are provided in this page are made by expert teachers of our team. History is a very important part of our daily life. It is wise to learn about our own history. It teaches us about our ancestors and their struggles. There were various factors behind the growth of nationalism in India which lead to the foundation of Indian National Congress in 1885. The factors are discussed in details in the notes.
The Note of Factors Promoting Growth of Nationalism Foundation of the Indian National Congress (1885) is given below.
- Factors for Growth of Nationalism:
(1) Economic Exploitation of India
(2) Repressive Policies of Lord Lytton
(3) Socio – Religious Reform Movements
(4) Rise of Middle Class
(5) Pride in India’s Past Glory
(6) The Spread of Western Education
(7) Role of Modern Means of Transport and Communication
(1) Economic Exploitation of India
I) Poor Condition of Village Economy:
(a) Under the Zamindary System, the peasants were left absolutely at the mercy of the Landlords who could drive them off their land at anytime.
(b) After the Industrial Revolution, farmers were forced to grow only those crops which could be used as raw material in the British industry.
(c) This forced the peasants to unite.
II) Poor condition of Handicrafts:
(a) Heavy duties were imposed on goods exported to England from India and British goods were forced upon India.
(b) This ruined the Indian Handicrafts.
III) Unemployment and Underemployment:
(a) Because of the introduction of English education, the number of educated youth were increasing but job opportunities were limited.
(b) Indiscriminate annexation and confiscation policy increased unemployment.
(c) This forced the Indian youth to join the Indian National Movement.
IV) Poor condition of Indian Industries and Workers:
(a) British industrialists were encouraged to set up industries instead of encouraging native capitalists to raise industries.
(b) The Indian labour as fully exploited.
(c) The workers had no right and they were made to work on low wages.
V) Poor Condition of Indian Traders and Merchants:
(a) The Indian merchants were barred from trading with Europe in manufactured goods, and had of export mostly raw materials and good grains – raw cotton, opium, wheat and indigo required by the British.
(b) Indian Merchants were also gradually edged out of the shipping business.
2) Repressive Policies of Lord Lytton: Lord Lytton was the Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880.
I) Vernacular Press Act (Gagging Act):
(a) In 1878, the Vernacular Press Act was passed.
(b) It provided the government with extensive rights to censor reports and editorials in the Vernacular Press that would excite dissatisfaction against the government.
(c) From now on, the government kept a regular track of the vernacular newspapers.
II) Indian Acts, 1878:
(a) Indian Arms Act was passed in 1878.
(b) It compelled the Indians to acquire a license at keep, sell or purchase arms.
(c) The offenders were to be punished both with a fine and imprisonment.
(d) But the English, Anglo- Indians and Europeans were exempted from this Act.
III) Famine (1876 – 1878):
(a) A serious famine occurred in India during the period from 1876 to 1878.
(b) The worst affected areas were Madras, Bombay, Hyderabad, Punjab and some parts of Central Madhya Pradesh.
(c) Lakhs of people died and many villages are depopulated.
(d) Lord Lytton held a Durbar at Delhi in 1877 in which Queen. Victoria was declared as the Empress of India.
(e) This extravagant Durbar cost millions of Rupees.
IV) Reduce the age limit for Civil Services Examination:
(a) In 1877, the maximum age limit for the Civil Services Examination was lowered from twenty one to nineteen making it difficult for the Indians to compare it.
V) The Afghan War:
(a) To check Russian influence in Afghanistan, Lord Lytton waged a war against Afghanistan.
(b) This unnecessary war put a huge burden on the Indian economy.
VI) Write a short note on Ilbert Bill Agitation (During Lord Ripon)?
(1) Indian judicial Officials were not allowed to hear court cases in which Europeans or Englishmen were involved.
(2) To end this discrimination Lord Ilbert, the Law member of the Governor – General’s Council, prepared a draft Bill in 1883 A.D.
(3) Indians welcomed this move and supported it but the Europeans and Englishmen staying in India opposed the Bill.
(4) The collected one lakh rupees and organized the All India Defence Association for the purpose.
(5) They succeeded in getting the bill withdrawn and the government negotiated a compromise.
(6) As a result, the Indian District Magistrates and Judges were empowered to try the European offenders on the condition that the accused would have the benefit of trial by the jury on condition that held the members of the Jury were to be Europeans or Americans.
3) Socio – Religious Reform Movements:
Some of the organizations who fought against religious and social beliefs are Brahmo Samaj, the Prathana Samaj, the Arya Samaj, the Ramkrishna Mission, the Theosophical Society etc.
(a) In the religious sphere, movements, combated religious superstitions, attacked idolatry, polytheism and hereditary priesthood.
(b) In the social sphere, these movements attacked the Caste System, Child Marriage, Sati System, Female Infanticide, Untouchability and other social and legal inequalities.
(c) As a result of these movements, significant advances were made in the field of emancipation of women.
4) Rise of Middle Class:
(a) The middle class comprising businessman, industrialists, teachers, lawyers etc. in towns.
(b) The new class readily learnt English as it promoted employment and gave a sense of prestige.
(c) This class, because of its education, new position and its close ties with the ruling class came to the forefront.
(d) Many went aboard (England and France) and learnt about the functioning of free and democratic institutions.
(e) This inspired them to raise a voice against the oppressive measure of British regime.
5) Pride in India’s Past Glory:
(a) The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves.
(b) Indians wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion, and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade flourished.
(c) The glorious time was followed by a history of decline when India was colonised.
(d) Western scholars learnt Sanskrit and studied Indian literature especially the classics.
(e) They also translated these into English and other foreign languages.
6) The Spread of Western Education:
(a) The spread of English language and Western education helped Indians to adopt modern, rational, democratic, liberal and patriotic outlook.
(b) English became the lingua franca of the educated people in India.
(c) It united them and gradually made them politically conscious of their rights.
(d) The writing of John Locke, Carlyle, Rousseau etc. instilled in them the ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity, human rights and self – government.
7) Roll of Modern Means of Transport and Communication:
(a) It enabled people to take long distance travel and thereby breaking geographical and cultural barriers.
(b) Telegraph, postal system proved helpful to organize an all India movement.
(c) Newspapers reported on colonial misrule and encouraged nationalist activities.
(d) Press brought the Indian people close to other countries.
- Name some organization that are the entitled as the precursor/predecessor of Indian National Congress?
(1) East India Association (1866)
(2) Indian Association (1876)
(3) Indian National Conference (1883). It was merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886 and changed its name as the Indian National Congress.
Name | Founded in | Founder | Objective |
East India Association | 1866 in London | Dadabhai Naoroji (The Grand Old Man of India) | 1. It provided information on all Indian subjects to the British citizens and MPs
2. It voiced the grievances of Indians and suggested remedial measures. 3. To abolish the cotton duties and to withdraw the Vernacular Press Act. |
Indian Association | 1876 in Kolkata | Surrendranath Banerjee | 1. Creation of a strong body of public opinion.
2. Integration of Indian people on the basis of common political interests. 3. Promotion of friendly relations between Hindus and Muslims. |
Formation of Indian National Congress (1885):
(1) Allan Octavian Hume, a retired I.C.S. Officer was the founder of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885.
(2) Lord Dufferin was the then Viceroy of India during the formation of Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885.
(3) The meeting for the formation of INC was held at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay from 28th to 30th December, 1885.
- Immediate Objectives of the Indian National Congress (1885):
(1) To enable national workers from all parts of India to become personally known to each other.
(2) To end all racial, religious and provincial prejudices and to promote a feeling of national unity among all the Patriots of the country.
(3) To promote friendly relations between the Hindus and the Muslims.
(4) To formulate popular opinion on vital Indian problems and to present these before the government.
(5) To create train and organize a strong body of public opinion in the country.
(6) To decide upon the political tasks to be undertaken during the ensuing year.
- 1st three Sessions of the INC
Sessions | Held in | Held at | No of Delegates attended | President |
1st Session | 1885 | Bombay (Mumbai) | 72 | Womesh Ch. Bannerjee |
2nd Session | 1886 | Calcutta (Kolkata) | 406 | Dadabhai Naoroji |
3rd Session | 1887 | Madras (Chennai) | 607 | Badruddin Tyabji |
By studying the note given above you will be able to understand the historical background for the foundation of INC. Indian National Congress eventually became the face of the Indian national movement against the British rule. The complete note of the chapter 2 of the history for class 10 under ICSE board is given here.