CLASS X ICSE- History
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Revision Maps
The Rise of Nationalism and Foundation of
The Indian National Congress
FACTORS PROMOTING GROWTH OF NATIONALISM
OR
CAUSES OF THE RISE OF THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT
1. Effects of the Great Rising of 1857 :
• It created . discontent and dissatisfaction among the Indians. Birth of a new
political consciousness.
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2. British Imperialism :
• The entire country from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin was brought under one
government during the British Rule. This gave her people a new sense of political
unity.
• The English established a strong central government and they introduced a
uniform system of law and administration in the country.
• Setting up of industries and trade brought about economic unification. India
had never witnessed such political unity before.
3. Racial Pride of the British Rulers :
• The English were arrogant and had a sense of social superiority. They thought that
they were highly advanced in the fields of education, intelligence, culture,
administration, commerce, art and other fine arts. There was no equality before
law. Indians were severely punished for petty offences while the English were
generally let off even if they committed serious crimes.
• The leaders used means of improved communi-cations to carry on the national
movement to all parts of the ,country.
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4. Western Thought and Education :
• The British rulers imparted western education in arts and sciences through the
medium of English as they wanted petty clerks to run the administration. But it
had a centrary result. Contact with western ideas led to a secular democratic and
national outlook. They acquired the ideals of democracy, freedom and
nationalism from the writings of western thinkers such as Rousseau, Paine, Mill,
Milton, Voltaire, Burke, etc.
5. Indian Press and Literature :
• The Indian press and literature also aroused the feelings of patriotism and
national consciousness. Many newspapers were published in different parts of
the country such as the Arnrit Bazar Patrika, the Hindu, the Patriot, the Maratha,
the Kesari, the Azad, the Indian Mirror, the Tribune, the Advocate, the Kohinoor
etc
6. Rediscovery of India's Glorious Past :
• Many foreign scholars like Sir William Jones, Max Mueller, A.B. Keith,
Cunningham, Marshal, Jacobi, etc. were greatly impressed by the political, social
and cultural advancement of India in the past. They praised the rich cultural
heritage of India to the utmost.
• Indian writers such as Bhandarkar, Ranade, Hari Prasad Shastri, etc. threw light on
the greatness and glory of ancient India. The Indians began to take pride in their
culture and civilisation.
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CLASS X ICSE- History
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7. Contribution of Religious and Social Reformers
• Many social and religious reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Dayanand,
Swami Vivekanand, Annie Besant. They inspired the people with the ideas of selfrespect, self-confidence and self-reliance and roused, self confidence and selfreliance and roused in them the feelings of patriotism and nationalism.
8. Policy of Economic Exploitation of the Britishers :
• To exploit and oppress the people of India was the only motive of the British. The
peasants were oppressed by the government, the landlords and the money
lenders.
9. Lord Lytton and the Vernacular Press Act :
• To suppress the national feelings among the Indians the Vernacular Press Act of
1878 placed many restrictions on the newspapers published in Indian languages.
This Act was termed as the "Gagging Act". The age limit for taking the Indian Civil
Service Examination was reduced from 21 years to 19 years.
• Lord Lytton passed the Arms Act in 1878 and forbade Indians to keep arms
without a licence but the Europeans were an exception to this rule.
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CLASS X ICSE- History
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10. Ilbert Bill Controversy :
• Lord Ripon su' ceeded Lord Lytton as the Viceroy of India in 1880.
• He wanted to give the Indian judges the authority to hear cases against the
Europeans. He wanted to pass the law called the Ilbert Bill to remove this
discrimination. The Europeans opposed this bill tooth and nail and it could not be
passed. This racial bitterness and injustice horrified the Indians and intensified
discontent against the foreign rule and led to the rise of political awakening and
national movement in India.
11. The Role of the Middle Class :
• Due to the influence of western education a new middle class emerged. This class
comprised lawyers, doctors, journalists and other professionals. They organised
and led various reform movements and played an important role in instilling the
feeling of nationalism in people.
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CLASS X ICSE- History
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PREDECESSORS OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
• The forerunners of the Indian National Congress were the Zamindars Association
(1838), the Bengal British India Society (1843), the British India Association
(1851), the Bombay Association and the Madras Native Association (1852), the
East India Association (1866), the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870), the India
League (1875), the Indian Association (1876) and the National Conference
(1883).
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CLASS X ICSE- History
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FOUNDATION OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
• Various political upheavals and organisations had paved the path that led to the
formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885. Even as S.N. Banerjee, Dadabhai
Naoroji, Firoze Shah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, Justice Ranade, etc. were moving to
form an all-India political body, A.O. Hume's support hastened the process.
• A.O. Hume was a retired official of the Indian Civil Service. In 1884, he founded the
Indian National Union with the help of Indian leaders to draw the Government's
attention towards the administrative drawbacks and suggest means to remove them.
He is known as the father of the Indian National Congress. Due to the plague, the
venue of first session of the Indian National Union changed from Poona to Bombay.
The First meeting was held at Bombay from 28-31 December 1885. There the name
of the organisation was changed to Indian National Congress as suggested by
Dadabhai Naoroji.
• The Congress was a national organisation both in its outlook and activities. It
represented the interests of all castes, creeds and communities. The Viceroy, Lord
Dufferin, also favoured the foundation of the Congress because he wanted it to act as
a safety valve for popular discontentment to safeguard the British Rule and its
interests in India. The foundation of the Indian National Congress was the most
remarkable event in the history of India. For the first time political unity was
sponsored not by foreign government, but by a group of strong-hearted, forwardlooking sons of the motherland.
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CLASS X ICSE- History
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IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES OF THE INDIAN
NATIONAL CONGRESS
To promote friendly relations between nationalist political workers from different
parts of the country.
To develop and consolidate the feelings of national unity irrespective of religious
beliefs, colour or creed.
To formulate popular demands and place them before the government.
To train and organise the public opinion of the country.
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DEMANDS OF THE CONGRESS IN ITS EARLY
PHASE
The Congress demanded wider powers .for the Councils as well as training in selfgovernment.
In the economic field the Congress demanded removal of poverty by the rapid
development of agriculture and modern industries.
The Congress made a demand for the Indianisation of higher administrative series.
For the defence of the civil rights the Congress demanded the freedom of speech
and press.
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