Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-8-Civil Disobedience Movement-Maharashtra Board

Salt Satyagraha :

• Before beginning this movement, Gandhiji put up various demands in front of the British Government.
• One of the important demand was to cancel the salt tax and monopoly of British Government for manufacture of salt.
• After the British government rejected his demands, Gandhiji decided to launch a civil disobedience movement.
• Imposing a tax on salt was unjust because it is a common ingredient in people's diets.
• Gandhiji chose to launch the Salt Satyagraha in defiance of the Salt Act.
• It was a symbolic act, but the real goal was to break all unjust and oppressive British laws through peaceful means.

Dandi Yatra :

• Gandhiji chose Dandi, a seasshore in Gujarat, to launch the Salt Satyagraha.
• On March 12, 1930, he left Sabarmati Ashram with 78 followers.
• On his way to Dandi, Gandhiji gave speeches in the villages.
• He urged people to be fearless and join the Movement.
• After travelling 385 kilometres, Gandhiji arrived in Dandi on April 5, 1930.
• On April 6, 1930, Gandhiji violated the Salt Act by collecting salt from the seashore.

After that the Civil Disobedience Movement started all over the country.

Sacrifice of Babu Genu :

• The vehicles transporting foreign goods were obstructed in Mumbai.
• Babu Genu Said was at the forefront in this movement.
• To stop a truck he lay down on the road.
• His sacrifice was inspirational to the freedom movement.

Features of Civil Disobedience Movement :

• The Civil Disobedience Movement launched in 1930 had the following features:
• All previous movements had been limited to urban areas.
• However, as people from rural areas joined in, this movement spread nationwide.
• Women participated in large numbers and even led the movement in many places.
• The movement was nonviolent in nature. People stood up to the government's repressive measures unarmed and fearlessly.

Round Table Conference :

• Ramsay Mac Donald, the British Prime Minister, wished to discuss constitutional issues concerning India.
• In order to accomplish this, he organised the Round Table Conference in London.
• Between 1930 and 1932, three Round Table Conferences were held.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact :

• In response to the Prime Minister's appeal, the Viceroy released Gandhiji and other political leaders from prison.
• In this hospitable environment, Gandhiji and Viceroy Irwin signed a pact.
• According to the pact, the British government promised to include Responsible Government in India's proposed constitution.
• As a result, Congress agreed to halt the Civil Disobedience Movement and attend the Second Round Table Conference.

Poona Pact :

• Gandhiji decided to restart the Civil Disobedience Movement after returning from the Second Round Table Conference.
• The government immediately arrested him and imprisoned him in Yerwada.
• He was opposed to the creation of separate electorates based on caste. So he began a death-defying fast in Yerwada jail.
• The Indian National Congress leaders asked Dr. Ambedkar to reconsider his demand.
• He agreed in the best interests of the country.
• In 1932, he signed the Poona Pact with Gandhiji.
• The Pact provided for reserved seats for Dalits rather than separate electorates.

Third Round Table Conference :

The Third Round Table Conference was organised in England in November 1932.

The Indian National Congress boycotted the conference and hence it failed.