Topic 1

Question 1

What new economic and political situation was created by the war?

Answer 1

It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes: customs duties were raised and income tax introduced. Through the war years prices increased with doubling between 1913 and 1918 - leading to extreme hardship for the common people.

Question 2

What hardships did the common people face due to the war?

Answer 2

Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger. Then in 1918-19 and 1920-21, crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute shortages of food. This was accompanied by an influenza epidemic. According to the census of 1921, 12 to 13 million people perished as a result of famines and the epidemic.

Question 3

What did people hope for after the war ended?

Answer 3

People hoped that their hardships would end after the war was over. But that did not happen.

Question 4

What new mode of struggle was suggested by a new leader at this stage?

Answer 4

At this stage a new leader appeared and suggested a new mode of struggle.