Rowlatt Act: Effect

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Rowlatt Act

Q.1 When did Jallianwala Bagh incident take place?

Ans. 13 April, 1919 in Amritsar

Q.2 When was the Rowlatt Act passed?

Ans. March of 1919

Q.3 What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919 about?

Ans. In the wake of protests after the end of First World War, the British government
passed Rowlatt Act. This Act gave the government the power to:

1. Suppress political activity


2. Detain political ****prisoners without trial for 2 years

Q.4 What circumstances led to Jallianwala Bagh incident?

Ans. They are as follows:

1. United opposition by Indian members of Central legislative Council against


Rowlatt Act
2. Passing of Rowlatt Act in March 1919
3. Gandhiji launched massive non-violent civil disobedience on 6th April 1919
4. Rallies in different cities and boycott of government institutions
5. Firing upon peaceful protesters in Amritsar which led to violent protest there on 10th
April
6. Imposition of martial law in Amritsar city under General Dyer
7. Protesters and celebrators of Baisakhi fair (from villages, who knew nothing about
the martial law), gathered in Jallianwala Bagh
8. General Dyer entered the Bagh, blocked the exit and opened fire killing thousands; to
create in the minds of satyagrahi a feeling of terror and awe, thus producing a moral
effect.

Q.5 How did the people react to Jallianwala Bagh incident?

Ans. People took to streets to:

1. Organise strikes
2. Clash with the police
3. Attack government buildings- banks, railways, post office

Seeing the protest getting violent, Gandhiji called it off.

Q.6 What was the Rowlatt Act?

Ans. Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council.
In the wake of protests after the end of first world war, this Act gave the government the
power to:
1. Suppress political activity 2. Detain political prisoners without trial for 2 years

Q.7 How did Rowlatt Act affect nationalist movement? OR How did Indians show their
disapproval towards the Rowlatt Act?

1. Gandhiji wanted non-violent civil disobedience movement against the unjust law
2. Massive hartal was organised on 6 April 1919
3. Rallies were organised in cities
4. Workers in government institutions went on strike
5. It was the first time when Indians unitedly opposed the Britishers
6. So Britishers suppressed the nationalists and Gandhiji was stopped from entering
Delhi

Q.8 Why were Indians outraged by Rowlatt Act?

 Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919


 By Imperial Legislative Council
 Despite of position from Indian members on the Council
 Since it allowed arrest without trial for 2 years
 Gandhi ji called it a black legislation and strongly opposed it since it broke down the
backbone of civil liberty that were available in Britain but not in India
 This enraged the people.

Q.9 Who was responsible for Jallianwala Bagh massacre/incident?

Ans. General Dyer

Q.10 What was Mahatma Gandhi's reaction on Rowlatt Act?

1. Gandhiji launched massive non-violent civil disobedience on 6th April 1919


2. Rallies in different cities and boycott of government institutions
3. But after the incidence at Jallianwala Bagh on 13th April, violent protests took over
the country. As it threatened the very fabric of Satyagraha, Gandhiji called it off.

Q.11 Why was martial law imposed in Amritsar?

 On 10th April 1919, the police opened fire on a peaceful protest in Amritsar
 The people in return attacked government buildings and the police
 Seeing matters getting out of hand, the British government imposed martial law under
General Dyer

Q.12 Why did the people gather in Jallianwala Bagh on 13th April 1919?

1. To protest against the unjust laws


2. To attend the annual Baisakhi fair

Q.13 Why did General Dyer fire on innocent people gathered peacefully in Jallianwala Bagh?

 Despite imposition of martial law, people gathered in Jallianwala Bagh


 They were either protesters or celebrators of the Baisakhi festival fair
 However, people from villages did not know about the imposition of martial law
 So to produce a ‘moral effect’ and to create in the mind of satyagrahi a feeling of
terror and awe, General Dyer opened fire on the innocent people gathered there

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