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Social Science History Notes for Chapter 2 Nationalism in India Class 10 - FREE PDF Download
Chapter 2 of Class 10 History, Nationalism in India, focuses on the important role that nationalism played in India's fight for freedom. This chapter covers the rise of nationalist movements and their growth from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. It highlights major events like the founding of the Indian National Congress, Mahatma Gandhi’s contributions, and key campaigns such as the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
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Learning about these developments and influential figures is essential for understanding the path to India's independence. By providing a summary and analysis, Vedantu makes it easier for students to see the lessons and ideas in the Class 10 History Revision Notes. Students can download the FREE PDF of these notes, making it simple to study and review whenever they need with the updated CBSE History Class 10 Syllabus.
Nationalism in India Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2 CBSE Notes - 2025-26
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FAQs on Nationalism in India Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2 CBSE Notes - 2025-26
1. What is the core concept of nationalism in India as explained in the Class 10 History revision notes?
The core concept of nationalism in India, as covered in this chapter, is the development of a shared identity and a sense of collective belonging among people from different regions, communities, and language groups. This unity was forged primarily through a common struggle against British colonialism and its oppressive policies, leading to the emergence of the modern Indian nation-state.
2. For a quick revision, what were the main effects of the First World War that fuelled nationalism in India?
The First World War created new economic and political conditions that fuelled nationalist sentiments. For a quick recap, the key factors were:
- Huge increase in defence expenditure: This was financed by war loans and increased taxes, such as customs duties and the introduction of income tax, burdening the common people.
- Forced recruitment: Villagers were called upon to supply soldiers, causing widespread anger in rural areas.
- Economic hardship: Crop failures in many parts of India between 1918-19 and 1920-21 led to acute food shortages, accompanied by an influenza epidemic. These hardships created deep resentment against the colonial government.
3. What is the concept of Satyagraha, and how did Mahatma Gandhi first apply it in India?
Satyagraha is a key term that emphasises the power of truth and the need to search for it. It is a novel method of mass agitation based on non-violent resistance to oppression. Gandhiji believed that without being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win a battle through non-violence. After arriving in India, he successfully organised Satyagraha movements in various places, including Champaran (1917) for indigo planters, Kheda (1917) for peasants, and Ahmedabad (1918) for cotton mill workers.
4. What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919 and why did it cause widespread outrage?
The Rowlatt Act was a law hurriedly passed by the British government in 1919. It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed for the detention of political prisoners without trial for a period of two years. It caused widespread outrage because it was a clear violation of civil liberties and was seen as a betrayal after India's support during World War I. This led to nationwide hartals and protests, including the tragic Jallianwala Bagh incident.
5. How was the Non-Cooperation Movement conceptually different from the Civil Disobedience Movement?
While both were non-violent movements led by Gandhiji, their core concepts differed. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) focused on refusing to cooperate with the British administration by surrendering titles, boycotting civil services, schools, and foreign goods. In contrast, the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) was a step further; it involved not only non-cooperation but also actively breaking unjust colonial laws, most famously the salt law during the Dandi March.
6. Why did different social groups, like rich peasants and the business class, join the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Different social groups joined the Civil Disobedience Movement with their own specific aspirations. Understanding these motivations is key to revising the chapter:
- Rich Peasant Communities: Groups like the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh were hard-hit by the trade depression and falling prices. They joined the movement in the hope of getting revenue demands reduced.
- Business Classes: They reacted against colonial policies that restricted their business activities. They wanted protection against imports of foreign goods and a rupee-sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage imports, providing financial assistance and refusing to buy or sell imported goods.
- Industrial Working Classes: While they did not participate in large numbers, some workers did adopt Gandhian ideas of boycott, participating in strikes against low wages and poor working conditions.
7. How did cultural processes help create a sense of collective belonging during the freedom struggle?
Cultural processes played a vital role in shaping the idea of the nation. This was achieved through various means, such as the creation of an image of Bharat Mata (Mother India), which provided a visual identity for the nation. The writing of nationalist hymns like 'Vande Mataram' by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the promotion of folklore and folk songs, and the reinterpretation of Indian history to highlight past achievements all helped instil a sense of national pride and unity.
8. What was the main limitation of the Civil Disobedience Movement in uniting all Indians?
A key limitation was the failure to fully integrate all communities into the struggle. Many Dalit leaders, like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, were keen on a different political solution to the problems of their community and demanded separate electorates, leading to clashes with Mahatma Gandhi. Similarly, after the decline of the Non-Cooperation-Khilafat movement, a large section of Muslims felt alienated from the Congress, leading to a lukewarm response from many Muslim political organisations.
9. For a final summary, which key events in the 'Nationalism in India' chapter should be reviewed for the 2025-26 board exams?
For a comprehensive revision of CBSE Class 10 History Chapter 2, focus on the chronological flow of these key events:
- The impact of the First World War and the idea of Satyagraha.
- The Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh incident (1919).
- The Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22).
- The Simon Commission and the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' at the Lahore Congress (1929).
- The Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930).
- The limits of Civil Disobedience and participation of different groups.
- The sense of collective belonging through cultural symbols.
