Questions of Chapter 8 World War II

History Std. X
Q3 (2)Gie reasons!
"ussia #e$a%e one of the %a&or industrial po'ers.
Socialist Russia became a major industrial power between the two world wars
and a super power at the end of the second one.
1. After the end of the First World War, most European economies suffered from
serious economic hardships. The Great epression of 1!"! was responsible
for continued economic instabilit#. The onl# e$ception to the economic
depression was Russia.
". Russia was ruled b# the communists after the re%olution of 1!1&. The concept
of planned economic de%elopment was the 'ift of the communist re%olution to
the world. Adaptin' economic plannin', Russia made unbelie%able pro'ress.
Thus with its stron' economic base, Russia became a major industrial power
unli(e other European countries.
Q( (2)Whi$h fa$tors 'ere responsi#le for the rise of a))ressie nationalis% in
*uropean $ountries+
The a''ressi%e nationalism leadin' to territorial a''randi)ement b# German#,
*tal# and +apan led the world towards the Second World War. Se%eral factors were
responsible for the rise of a''ressi%e nationalism,
1. Economic problems - The enormous economic problems faced b# the
European countries after the First World War. .losure of industries and
unemplo#ment, inflation were made worse after the 'reat depression in
America.
". /eace treaties caused a lot of discontent. German# faced the humiliation of the
Treat# of 0ersailles and *tal# felt cheated because promises 'i%en to her were
unfulfilled.
1. emocracies failed to re%i%e their economies. *t resulted in political instabilit#
and the rise of dictatorship and militarism. Adolf 2itler3s 4a)i German# and
5ussolini3s Fascist *tal# resorted to territorial a''randi)ement as a solution to
their problems.
6. En'land3s hatred of So%iet Russia 'a%e 2itler the justification for re%i%in'
militar# power and emboldened him to follow the path of a''ression.
5ussolini embar(ed on his e$pansionist polic# after 1!"1 and *tal# too
became an a''ressi%e nation.
Ch. , *%an$ipation of -sia and -fri$a
Q2 ( 3)Why did the *uropean i%perialist nations hae to .uit the $olonies+
The second half of the twentieth centur# saw the process of decoloni)ation durin'
which the European imperialist nations 7uit their colonies.
1. Growin' nationalism - 4ationalism was a potent anti colonial force caused b#
contact with the western ci%ili)ation. The colonies realised the e$ploitati%e
nature of the European nations and a desire for freedom be'an to emer'e.
.ountries li(e En'land withdrew after settlements with leadin' nationalist
'roups while The French, the /ortu'uese and the utch withdrew after failin'
to crush the nationalist spirit in their colonies.
". /ressure of world opinion - 8SA and 8SSR, the two super powers were
openl# opposed to colonialism. The 8.4 .harter included the principal of self
determination for oppressed people.
1. The colonial powers were enfeebled after the Second World War thou'h the#
had been %ictorious. The# were no lon'er in a position to hold their colonies in
the teeth of opposition.
Thus the European imperialist nations were forced to 7uit their colonies.
Q3(3)Gie reasons / Indian 0u#li$ opinion #e$a%e e1plosie 'hen the
"o'latt -$t 'as passed.
9# the earl# twentieth centur#, the .on'ress had be'un to critici)e the
'o%ernment in asserti%e tones and radical nationalism was emer'in'.
1. urin' the First World War the 9ritish Go%ernment sou'ht *ndia3s
cooperation and assured consideration of her demands for political reforms.
". At the end of war howe%er, the Go%ernment passed the Rowlatt Act which
se%erel# curtailed political ri'hts.
1. 9# this time 5ahatma Gandhi had appeared with the no%el weapon of
Sat#a'raha to fi'ht injustice. /eople responded in lar'e numbers to his call of
Sat#a'raha. /ublic opinion had b# now become or'ani)ed and because of their
an'er a'ainst the Rowlatt Act, it became e$plosi%e.
Q2 (3)Ho' did de$olonisation start in -sia and -fri$a+
urin' the process of decolonisation in the second half of the twentieth centur#, a
lar'e number of nations in Asia and Africa which had been coloni)ed for #ears
attained freedom from the imperialist western powers. These colonial powers had
to 7uit the colonies under the wei'ht of 'rowin' nationalism and mountin' world
opinion.
4e$olonisation in -sia
*ndia was the first colon# to be free of 9ritish rule in 1!6&. /a(istan was formed
as a result of partition in the same #ear. This was followed b# the independence of
.e#lon :Sri ;an(a< at the end of 1!6& and 9urma :5#anmar< in 1!6=. The 9ritish
'ranted independence to their colonies at the end of a lon' stru''le mar(ed with
non %iolence.
The stru''le in some colonies re7uired armed conflict. *ndo .hina :0ietnam<
became independent of France in 1!&> and the East *ndies islands :*ndonesia< of
utch rule after 1!6> after stru''le under r Su(arno.
4e$olonisation in -fri$a
ecolonisation in Africa be'an later than in Asia because of its rich natural
resources, wea( national mo%ements, lac( of western education and the di%ision
of societ# into %arious tribes. The African countries that were decolonised were?
a. Gold .oast :Ghana< under @wame 4(ruma
b. @en#a under +omo @en#ata
c. South Rhodesia :Aimbabwe< under Robert 5u'abe
d. South Africa which fou'ht a'ainst apartheid under 4elson 5andela
9# the end of the "B
th
centur# all the African colonies 'ained independence and
the process of decoloni)ation came to an end.
Q2 (2) Gie an a$$ount of the $ontri#ution of %oderates and e1tre%ists in the
freedo% stru))le.
The moderates and the e$tremists were important %oices of the *ndian 4ational
.on'ress before the Gandhian phase and contributed to the 'rowth of the
nationalist spirit in *ndia.
5he %oderates -
1. The moderates were educated and enli'htened *ndians who anal#sed the
causes of *ndia3s subju'ation and the e%il effects of forei'n rule. The# were
represented b# leaders li(e adabhai 4aoroji and +ustice 5ahade% Go%ind
Ranade. The# belie%ed in the 9ritish sense of liberalism and justice.
". The moderates %oiced their 'rie%ances and demanded basic ri'hts for the
*ndians and appealed to the 9ritish to fulfil their demands. The# created a
common platform for discussin' national problems and placin' *ndian
demands before the 9ritish 'o%ernment
1. The# aimed at for'in' national unit# irrespecti%e of caste or creed.. As a result
of their efforts, a 'rowin' number of people be'an attendin' .on'ress
sessions.
5he e1tre%ists -
1. The e$tremists were the #oun'er members of the .on'ress while it was under
the influence of the moderates. The# represented radical nationalism and were
led b# leaders li(e 9al Gan'adhar Tila( and ;ala ;ajpatrai.
". The# were critical of the 'o%ernment3s apath# towards fulfillin' the demands
of the *ndians and critici)ed the 'o%ernment in asserti%e tones.
1. The# emphasi)ed the need for or'ani)in' public opinion to pressuri)e the
rulers.
6. Their wor( led to 2indu 5uslim unit# which the 9ritish Go%t. tried to brea(.
>. The# inspired the people to participate in peaceful demonstrations to e$press
their demands.
C. The .on'ress 'rew in stren'th under their leadership.
&. As a result of their efforts, a new set of political ri'hts was 'ranted to the
*ndians.
The 'o%ernment adopted a carrot and stic( polic# towards the e$tremists. The
'o%t. rela$ed its policies and at the same time, the# were persecuted and the press
which published their opinions was mu))led.