HISTORY PAST PAPERS

(2010-2019) CHP.9
Q1. How successful were negotiations aimed at Independence during the
Second World War? Explain your answer. [14]
MS:
Explains both.
Successes Muslim League’s own progress in Day of
Deliverance/Lahore Resolution.
Unity in rejecting Cripps Mission/demands for a separate homeland.
Muslim political gains in J-G talks.
Muslim stance at Simla Conference – necessity for new elections.
Failures Breakdown of relations between Congress and Muslim.
Rejection of Cripps Mission’s proposals.
Imprisonment following ‘Quit India’ protests.
Failure to reach agreement from Jinnah-Gandhi talks 1944.
Failure to reach agreement from Simla Conference 1945.
Failure to persuade Jinnah to agree to safeguards for Muslims in a united
India.

Q2. What was the Direct Action Day? [4]

MS:
Muslim League called for this to take place on 16th August 1946. An
attempt to stop the British giving in to the Congress. Concerned they
would be asked to form a government. Quaid asked for peaceful protest,
but serious rioting, thousands of deaths.

Q3. Why did the Gandhi-Jinnah Talks fail in 1944? [7]

MS:
Gandhi only wanted to achieve independence first and foremost –
partition discussions could follow later, whereas Jinnah wanted to settle
the issue of partition first and before the British left. He knew that his
bargaining position would be much weaker if he went along with
Gandhi’s plan. Gandhi insisted that he spoke for all Indians and couldn’t
accept the position of Muslims as being a separate nation. Hence
independence for all Indians as a united nation was on his agenda.
Jinnah was at odds with Gandhi and accused him of only speaking for
Hindus, otherwise he would accept the idea of partition. He accused
Gandhi of not accepting the two nation idea of partition. Gandhi also
wanted the central government to have control of key areas such as
defence and foreign policy, whereas Jinnah wanted these issues to be
dealt with by the provinces.

Q3. Why did the Cripps Mission of 1942 fail?

MS:
The Muslims rejected the plan because the British would not agree to
Partition and the Congress Party wanted immediate and full control over
the central government. The British were also negotiating from a weak
position which the Congress Party exploited by demanding Britain leave
the sub-continent immediately.