How India won independence

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to C. Card A, a summary in our words, written today (from the Imperial War Museums): British India was divided in 1947 into two independent countries, India and Pakistan. Gandhi joined the Indian National Congress in 1915 and led peaceful mass resistance. In the Salt March of spring 1930, Gandhi and 80 volunteers walked to the sea and made salt from seawater, defying the British salt tax; tens of thousands of people were arrested in the campaign that followed. In August 1942 he gave his 'Quit India' speech, demanding immediate independence. In 1945 Britain's new government pledged to end colonial rule. Card B, a count from the Imperial War Museums for British India as a whole in the early 1900s: about 68 percent of people were Hindu, about 23 percent Muslim and about 2 percent Sikh. (Our note: the card gives no figures for single provinces or districts.) Card C, a summary in our words, written today (from the Imperial War Museums): The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906. In 1940 the League, led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, called for a separate state for Muslims. It believed that British plans would not help Muslims unless Muslim-majority areas formed independent states.

2. 1.

   Card B gives shares for British India in the early 1900s. What can it help show, Bo asks?

   • That Muslims were a minority of British India as a whole, about 23 in every 100 people
   • Where the border of Pakistan would run in 1947, since the card counts Muslims
   • How many people would leave their homes in 1947, since Muslims were 23 percent of the total
   • That Muslims were a minority in each province too, since 23 percent is the share for British India
3. 2.

   Card C reports what the Muslim League called for in 1940. What can it show, Esme asks?

   • That Britain agreed to the call in 1940, since the card says the League believed British plans would not help
   • What the League asked for and why it said it asked, as a museum reports it today
   • That the call alone created Pakistan, since it is the one demand the card names
   • What most Muslims in British India wanted in 1940, since the League spoke for the whole community
4. 3.

   Which claim do cards A and C both support, Jun asks?

   • Both the League and Gandhi demanded immediate independence in 1942
   • Gandhi led peaceful mass resistance, and the League called for a separate state for Muslims in 1940
   • Gandhi's campaigns made Britain pledge to leave in 1945, and the League's call came after the pledge
   • The League led the Salt March of 1930, and Gandhi made the call for a separate state in 1940
5. 4.

   A student writes: "The Salt March was small, because only 80 volunteers walked." What does Card A say, Kira asks?

   • It was large from the first step, since tens of thousands of people marched with Gandhi to the sea
   • 80 walked, but the campaign that followed led to tens of thousands of arrests
   • It was small, since 80 volunteers is the one number given for those who took part
   • It ended the salt tax at once, since the card says the march defied the tax

6. Use this

   Cards D to F. Card D, a summary in our words, written today (from the Imperial War Museums and Britannica): Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy, arrived in March 1947 and announced a plan for two states on June 3, 1947. The Indian Independence Act, passed on July 18, 1947, set August 15 as the day independence took effect. Pakistan marked independence on August 14 and India on August 15. A Boundary Commission led by Cyril Radcliffe drew the new border through Punjab and Bengal, and the final borders were announced on August 17. When the parties deadlocked, Radcliffe made many final decisions himself. Card E, figures from two sources: About 15 million people left their homes in the months around August 1947 (Imperial War Museums; the National Archives says over 15 million). Estimates of the number who lost their lives range from 200,000 to 2 million (Britannica). The Imperial War Museums gives about one million and says estimates vary to a huge degree. Card F, an invented diary entry, written for this sheet (not a real person): "August 15, 1947. The radio says we are free. Father says the new line will be announced soon, and nobody in our town knows yet which country the town will belong to."

7. 5.

   A student writes: "The border was announced before independence day." What does Card D say, Luz asks?

   • Yes: Radcliffe's commission was at work before August, so the border was announced before independence
   • No: the border was announced on August 17, two days after independence took effect on August 15
   • Yes: the Act of July 18 fixed the border, since it set the date of independence
   • No: the border was announced on August 14, the day Pakistan marked independence
8. 6.

   Cards D and F both concern August 1947. What do they show together, Milo asks?

   • Each family on the new border waited until August 17 for news, since the diary says the line was coming
   • Independence waited until the border was announced, since the diary says the town's country was unknown
   • The border was announced on independence day, since Radcliffe finished his work in the same week
   • People could celebrate on August 15 before the border was known; it came on August 17
9. 7.

   Cards D and E both describe 1947. Which statement uses both fairly, Noah asks?

   • Exactly one million people lost their lives in 1947, since Card E gives one figure and a range
   • Millions moved just after August 17, once the borders were announced, since that is when people learned where they lived
   • Independence came in August 1947, and about 15 million people left home in the months around it
   • The plan of June 3 caused 15 million people to move, since Mountbatten announced it before independence
10. 8.

    Card E gives 200,000 to 2 million and also about one million. How should a writer report this, Ren asks?

    • As over 15 million, since that is the other large number on the card
    • As about one million lives lost, since that is the figure the Imperial War Museums gives
    • As a range of 200,000 to 2 million, noting that one source gives about one million
    • As about 1.1 million, the middle of the range, since an average is fairer than either end

11. Use this

    Cards A to C. Card A, a summary in our words, written today (from the Imperial War Museums): British India was divided in 1947 into two independent countries, India and Pakistan. Gandhi joined the Indian National Congress in 1915 and led peaceful mass resistance. In the Salt March of spring 1930, Gandhi and 80 volunteers walked to the sea and made salt from seawater, defying the British salt tax; tens of thousands of people were arrested in the campaign that followed. In August 1942 he gave his 'Quit India' speech, demanding immediate independence. In 1945 Britain's new government pledged to end colonial rule. Card B, a count from the Imperial War Museums for British India as a whole in the early 1900s: about 68 percent of people were Hindu, about 23 percent Muslim and about 2 percent Sikh. (Our note: the card gives no figures for single provinces or districts.) Card C, a summary in our words, written today (from the Imperial War Museums): The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906. In 1940 the League, led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, called for a separate state for Muslims. It believed that British plans would not help Muslims unless Muslim-majority areas formed independent states.

12. 9.

    Card B says 23 percent. A student says "so Muslims were about 23 in 100 in every district." What is wrong, Tala asks?

    • Nothing is wrong, since a percent for the whole country applies to each single district in it
    • The 23 percent is a total for British India as a whole; districts could differ widely
    • The share is for the early 1900s, so it was already wrong by 1947 and cannot be used
    • The share should be 32 percent, since 23 plus 68 plus 2 must add up to a full 100 percent
13. 10.

    From the Salt March (1930) to the pledge (1945) is how long, and what can that span show, Zee asks?

    • Five years, since 1940 is the year of the League's call and 1945 is the pledge
    • Fifteen years, so the Salt March alone is what caused the 1945 pledge
    • Fifteen years, so independence came after a long run of campaigns
    • Twelve years, since Quit India in 1942 is the first date after the Salt March