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ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Struggle for Freedom (I)

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ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Struggle for Freedom (I)

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Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The British shattered the self sufficient village economy.
  2. The controversial Ilbert Bill incident took place in 1883.
  3. The Arms Act forbade the Indians from possessing arms.
  4. The President of the first session of the Congress was W.C. Bannerji.
  5. Bal Gangadhar Tilak raised the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright”.
  6. The three prominent leaders of the Radical Nationalists group were Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal.
  7. Mahatma Gandhi was bom on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar.
  8. Gandhiji’s method of agitation were Satyagraha, boycott and strikes.
  9. The incident at Chauri Chaura took place on 5th February 1922.

II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 1
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 2

III. State whether the following statements are true or false:

  1. The Congress was started in 1885.
    True.
  2. Unification of India as one political unit was achieved by the Indians themselves.
    False.
  3. The British treated the Indians at par with themselves.
    False
  4. A prominent leader of the Early Nationalist groups was S.N. Bannerjee.
    True.
  5. The religious and social reform ^movement divided the Indians.
    False.
  6. The Home Rule League was formed under the leadership of Tilak.
    True.
  7. Chauri Chaura is a place in Madhya Pradesh.
    False.
  8. Rowlatt Act was passed in 1923.
    False.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
How did unification of India help to bring about a feeling of nationalism among the Indians?
Answer:
Political and administrative unification of India helped in the rise of nationalism. Under the British rule India was united as one political unit. The uniformity in laws and administration gave rise to a feeling of oneness among the people.

Question 2.
How did modern education bring about unity among Indians?
Answer:
Indians who received modem education could now read western thought and literature. They were exposed to the revolutionary changes taking place in the west – the American and French Revolutions. They became aware of the ideas of democracy, equality and nationalism. The reform movement also played an important role. All this brought the people together and created unity among them.

Question 3.
Name two early all-India associations.
Answer:

  1. British Indian Association, 1851.
  2. The Bombay Association, 1852.

Question 4.
Why was the need for establishing an all-India organisation, representing Indian opinion, an urgent necessity?
Answer:
The need for an all India Organisation representing Indian opinion had been felt for a long time, but the immediate reasons which saw its birth, were the repressive policies of the British in the 1870s and the 1880s. In 1883 the controversial Ilbert Bill incident took place. According to it a British or a European in India could be tried by an Indian Judge. The Bill was withdrawn because of the opposition by the British.These events made the need for establishing an all-India organisation, representing Indian opinion an urgent necessity.

Question 5.
Differentiate between the methods of Early Nationalists and Radical Nationalists.
Answer:
The Early Nationalists had faith in the British system of administration and believed that India could develop by staying within the British Empire. They did not demand complete independence but dominion status i.e., autonomy or Swaraj within the British empire. 1905 onwards new trends began to appear in the nationalist movement. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat .Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal were the leaders who brought about this change. They said the aim of Indians should be ‘Swaraj’. They criticised the policies of the Early Nationalists and said people have to rely on their strength rather than “Prayer and Petition”. Tilak raised the famous slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I must have it”.
The methods they suggested to achieve it were:

  1. Involvement and participation of the masses
  2. Reviving popular Festivals to spread Political awakening among people.
  3. New methods of agitation such as hartals and boycott of foreign goods and services.

Question 6.
Which factors contributed to the building up of the feeling of nationalism in India?
Answer:
There are several factors responsible to the building up of the feeling of nationalism in India.
They are :

  1. Discontentment against British Rule.
  2. Political and Administrative Unification.
  3. Economic changes.
  4. Spread of modem education.
  5. Role of newspapers and the press.

Question 7.
List down the aims of the Muslim League.
Answer:
Aims of Muslim League:

  1. To promote loyalty to the government
  2. To protect and advance the interest of the muslims
  3. To ensure that Muslims do not develop the feelings of hostility towards other communities in India.

Question 8.
Describe the provisions of the Government of India Act (1919).
Answer:
The Provincial Legislative Councils were enlarged and a majority of their members were to be elected. A new system called Dyarchy was introduced in the provinces. Under this system some subjects, such as finance, law and order were called reserved subjects and remained under the direct control of the Governor. Other subjects such as education, public -health, local self government were called ‘transferred’ subjects and were to be controlled by ministers responsible to the provincial legislature,

Question 9.
Describe the constructive programme introduced by Gandiji.
Answer:
The social reforms and the constructive programmes introduced by Gandhiji changed the character of the national movement to a mass movement. He worked towards removing untouchability. He also worked for the upliftment of the people living in the villages. He said that the majority of India’s population lived in the villages and hence our country could progress only if there was development in the villages. He encouraged setting up small scale industries in villages. He also popularised Khadi. The Charkha became an important symbol. Gandiji believed that Independence was meaningless without social and economic equality.

V. Picture Study:

(A) This picture shows three Radical Nationalist leaders.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 3

  1. Identify and name them.
    Ans. They are Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.
  2. Write about the methods which they suggested.
    Ans. They suggested idea of boycott and Swadeshi. They insisted on involvement of the masses.
  3. What was the famous slogan raised by Bal Gangadhar Tilak?
    Ans. “Swaraj is my birthright and I must have it.”

(B) Look at the given picture.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 4

  1. Identify and name him
    Ans. Lord Curzon
  2. When did the partition of Bengal take place
    Ans. 1905
  3. What was the real reason behind the partition.
    Ans. To weaken the freedom movement and to create Hindu-Muslim enmity and disunity.
  4. What excuse did the British give?
    Ans. Bengal was too large a province to be governed efficiently.

Additional Questions

Rise of Indian Nationalism
EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. Modem Indian nationalism arose to meet the challenge of Foreign domination.
  2. Exploitation of India by the British was direct and harsh before 1857; after 1857 it became subtle and systematic.
  3. The Kukas Rebellion was an armed rebellion of the Sikhs against the British policy of divide and rule.
  4. The English language acted as a link language among the educated Indians.
  5. A.O. Hume laid the foundation of the Indian National Congress in December 1885.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 5
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 6

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. ‘Vande Mataram’ was written by Swami Vivekananda/Raja Ram Mohan Roy/Bankim Chander Chattopadhyaya.
Ans. ‘Vande Mataram’ was written by Bankim Chander Chattopadhyaya.

2. Lord Ripon/Lord Lytton/Lord Dalhousie approved the Hbert Bill.
Ans. Lord Ripon approved the Ilbert Bill.

3.The Indian National Congress was established in 1883/1885/ 1890.
Ans. The Indian National Congress was established in 1885.

4.The first session of the Indian National Congress was attended by 62/72/82
Ans. The first session of the Indian National Congress was attended by 72 delegates.

5. The first session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by C. Bannerjee/Surendranath Banerjea/A.O. Hume.
Ans. The first session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by W.C. Bannerjee|

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. The Revolt of 1857 had failed to rid India of foreign rule.
    True.
  2. Western education and modern ideas could not bring the Indians togethe
    False.
    Correct : Western education and modem ideas bring the Indians together.
  3. Racial arrogance and racial discrimination by the British caused great resentment among Indian intellectuals.
    True.
  4. The Ilbert Bill had to be amended as the European reacted violently to it.
    True.
  5. O. Hume was not supported by nationalist Indian leaders.
    False.
    Correct: A. O. Hume was supported by nationalist Indian leaders.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Define nationalism.
Answer:
Nationalism may be defined as a devotion and loyalty to one’s own nation, patriotism. It is also the policy or doctrine of asserting the interest of one’s own nation vie .ved as separate from the interests of others nations or common interest of all nation.

Question 2.
Name any two Western scholars who researched the Indian past and rediscovered its rich heritage.
Answer:
European scholars like William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, James Prinsep and other Indologists, who researched India’s historical past and revealed its rich heritage.

Question 3.
How did the British economic policies in India transform India into an agricultural colony.
Answer:
British economic policies in India had deliberately transformed India into an agricultural colony. India had become a supplier of British raw materials and a market for British manufactured products.

Question 4.
Why was the Ilbert Bill introduced and by whom?
Answer:
Lord Ripon, who followed Lord Lytton, wanted to change some of the discriminatory policies of the government. He approved the Ilbert Bill which proposed that Indian judges be allowed to try Europeans (whites) accused of crimes.

Question 5.
When and where was the first session of the Indian National Congress held?
Answer:
The first session of the Congress was held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in December 1885.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
There were many factors that led to the rise of nationalism in India. In the light of this statement, answer the following questions:
(a) In what way did the Revolt of 1857 impact the rise of nationalism in India?
(b) What changes did Western education bring about in the traditional Indian outlook?
(c)The English language acted as a link language among the Indians. Explain.
Answer:
(a)
Exploitation after Revolt of 1857, was subtle and systematic.
The impact of exploitation was felt by almost all sections of Indian society, but it took several decades to comprehend the true nature of British rule and establish the link between British polices and India’s growing poverty. Several armed revolts took place after 1857. The Kuka rebellion was one such revolt. It was a protest against the deliberate policy of the British to create a rift between the Hindus and the Muslims.
(b)
The British had introduced Western Education in India to create a class of loyal clerks and Anglicized buyers of British goods. Western education did that and much more. It opened the floodgates of modem knowledge and rational thinking. New ideas of humanism, nationalism and democracy transformed the traditional outlook of the people. A new class arose-English-educated Indians-small in number but who in course of time, would produce, leaders and organizers of a national movement.
(c)
The English language acted as a link language between the educated Indians and various parts of the country. Thus, it played a very significant role in fostering feelings of unity among educated Indians from different provinces and linguistic regions of the country. The barriers of language now broke down as the English language became the common medium of communication. Educated middle class Indians who spoke different language could now express their views and exchange ideas among themselves in English. A common language fostered a sense of oneness and understanding of their Indian identity.

Question 2.
In the context of the causes of the rise of Indian nationalism,answer the following questions:
(a) How did the British administrative system indirectly create conditions favourable for the growth of Indian nationalism.
(b) Examine the role of modern transport and communication in fostering unity and nationalism among the people.
(c)How did the rediscovery of India’s glorious past prepare the ground for the growth of the national spirit among the Indians.
Answer:
(a)
The British transformed a fragmented India into a united whole under their rule. They introduced a uniform and modern system of government throughout the British provinces. Uniform laws were applied to all British subjects. People from different provinces and from different communities and castes now followed the same laws and regulations. They gradually realized that they all belonged to the same country and shared a common national identity as Indians.
(b)
This growing sense of unity and nationalism was further strengthened when the British introduced a new network of roads, railways and the post and telegraph system. Social mobility and interaction increased. Caste barriers broke down. People from different parts of the country grew closer to each other. They realized that they shared common problems, common aspirations and common goals. They belonged to one nation.
(c)
The rediscovery of a past was great and glorious. It was a past that could boast of the intellectual richness of Vedic philosophy, the political unity and administrative wisdom of the Mauryas, the Golden Age of the Guptas and the cultural brilliance of the Mughals. These discoveries were made by European scholars like William Jones, Alexander Cunningham, James Princep and other Indologists, who researched India’s historical past and revealed its rich heritage. These revelations instilled in the Indians feelings of national pride and self-confidence and inspired them to dream of a new resurgent India.

Question 3.
With reference to the rise of Indian nationalism, answer the following questions:
(a) What was the role of vernacular press and literature in the rise of Indian nationalism?
(b) How did the British economic policies lead to the growth of Indian nationalism?
(c) Mention the discriminatory British policies that were greatly resented by the Indian intellectuals.
Answer:
(a)
The vernacular press played a vital role in spreading modern ideas and creating national awareness. Nationalist leaders, the best among the educated middle-class intellectuals, used the press to criticize British policies and expose the evils of foreign rule. The ideas of democracy and responsible government were popularized through the press. Indians were asked to unite and work for the welfare of the nation. National literature also inspired the spirit of nationalism among the people. Novels, essays and patriotic poems written by well-known authors and poets fired the imagination of the common people and gave rise to powerful patriotic feelings. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya’s ‘Vande Mataram’ continues to evoke strong patriotic emotions among Indians even to this day.
(b)
The drain of India’s wealth to Britain, the impoverishment of the masses, industrial decay, grinding poverty, frequent famines, and the indifference and apathy of the British government produced a nationalistic reaction. The educated Indians realized the gravity of the situation and the need to have some control over economic policies.
(c)
Discriminatory policies adopted by the British:

  1. Indians were debarred from using parks, clubs, hospitals, libraries and railway coaches reserved exclusively for the British.
  2. All important positions in the administration were also reserved for the British. (Surendranath Banerjee was dismissed from the Indian Civil Service on flimsy grounds) Nominated Indian members in the Legislative Councils were not given any powers.
  3. British economic policies sacrificed Indian interests to those of the British. Lord Lytton’s discriminatory policies caused great resentment among the educated Indians.

Question 4.
In the context of the Indian National Congress, answer the following questions:
(a) Briefly discuss the Ilbert Bill controversy and show how it hastened the establishment of the Indian National Congress.
(b) What role did A. O. Hume play in the establishment of the Indian National Congress?
(c) Mention the main aims of the Congress.
Answer:
(a)
Lord Ripon, who followed Lord Lytton, wanted to change some of the discriminatory policies of the government. He approved the Ilbert Bill which allowed Indian judges to try Europeans (whites) accused of crimes. The violent reaction of the Europeans and Anglo-Indians to this proposal shocked the Indian nationalists. The Bill had to be amended. This incident blew the lid off the racial arrogance of the Europeans. It served as an eye-opener and drove home the urgent need to form an organized national bod to protect the interest and dignity of the Indians. In 1883, Surendranath Banerjee held the Indian National Conference, and within 2 years, the Indian National Congress was formed.
(b)
O. Hume was one of the founders of the Indian National Congress, a political party that was later lead to Indian Independence Movement. Hume took the initiative and it was in March 1885, when the first notice was issued convening the First Indian National union to meet at Poona in December. Founded in 1885 with the objective of obtaining a greater share in government for educated Indians, Indian National Congress was initially not opposed to British rule. The Congress met once a year during December. A. O. Hume is known for prominent figure of Indian Independence Movement activisim and reorganizing and leading the Indian National Army in World War II.
(c)
The main aims of the Congress were:

  1. To promote friendly relations among nationalist workers in different parts of the country.
  2. To develop and strengthen feelings of national unity throughout the country.
  3. To formulate popular demands and to place them before the government.
  4. To train and organize public opinion in the country

G Picture study:

This is a picture of a person who was dismissed from the Indian Civil Service by the British on flimsy grounds
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 7

  1. Identify the person in the picture
    Ans. Surendranath Banerjee
  2. Name the conference that he held in 1883.
    Ans. Indian National Conference
  3. What was the outcome of the conference?
    Ans. Indian National Congress was established in 1885, as a result of the conference in 1883.
  4. What were the main aims of the Indian National Congress?
    Ans. Refer Ans. F-4 (c) above.

Additional Questions

The Indian National Movement (1885-1916)
 EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The early nationalists spread political awareness among the people.
  2. The assertive nationalists believed that British rule in India was not a blessing but a curse.
  3. After the partition of Bengal, the assertive nationalists adopted the methods of boycott, swadeshi and national education to achieve the goal of swaraj.
  4. Separate electorates meant that the Muslim voters could elect Muslim representatives.
  5. Gandhi spent about 22 years in South Africa as a practising lawyer.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 8
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 9
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 10
C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. The history of the Indian national movement is broadly categorized into three/four/five
    Ans. The history of the Indian national movement is broadly categorized into three phases.
  2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak/Dadabhai Naoroji/Surendranath Banerjea was an important assertive nationalist leader.
    Ans. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an important assertive nationalist leader.
  3. The British followed the policy of divide and rule by dividing Bengal/Punjab/Gujarat on communal lines.
    Ans. The British followed the policy of divide and rule by dividing Bengal on communal lines.
  4. The Muslim League was established in 1905/1906/1913.
    Ans. The Muslim League was established in 1906.
  5. Gandhiji studied law’ in England/South Africa/France.
    Ans. Gandhiji studied law in England.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. The early nationalists believed in the sense of justice and fair play of the British.
    True.
  2. The early nationalists presented their grievances to the British in the form of protests and strikes.
    False.
    Correct: The early nationalists presented their grievances to the British in the form of meetings, lectures and the press.
  3. The political beliefs, aims and methods of the assertive nationalists were the same as those of the early nationalists.
    False.
    Correct: The political beliefs, aims and methods of the assertive nationalists were different as those of the early nationalists.
  4. The assertive nationalists had no faith in the constitutional methods followed by the early nationalists.
    True.
  5. Tilak knew that the British would concede to the demand of swaraj easily without any struggle.
    False.
    Correct : Tilak knew that the British would never concede to the demand of Swaraj easily without any struggle.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Mention two leaders of the early nationalist phase.
Answer:
The important leaders of the early nationalist phase were Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjea and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

Question 2.
Mention two leaders of the assertive nationalist phase.
Answer:
The important leaders of the assertive nationalist phase were Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo Ghosh.

Question 3.
Why were the assertive nationalists disillusioned with the leadership of the early nationalists?
Answer:
The assertive nationalists had no faith in the constitutional methods followed by the early nationalists. They knew that the British would never concede to the demand for swaraj without a struggle. So they have to adopt a method of active opposition to government Swaraj would have to be achieved through a political, anti-government agitation and with the involvement and support of the masses. The Congress would have to be transformed from a platform for debates among the westernized, Indian intelligentsia into a regiment of freedom fighters-united, determined, confident and willing to make sacrifices.

Question 4.
When and why was Bengal partitioned?
Answer:
The British partitioned Bengal in 1905 in pursuance of their policy of divide and rule.

Question 5.
Where and under whose leadership was the Muslim League established?
Answer:
The Muslim League was established in December 1906, under the leadership of Nawab Salimullah Khan in Dacca (now known as Dhaka).

Question 6.
Mention two objectives of the Muslim League?
Answer:
Objectives of Muslim league:

To promote among the Muslims a feeling of loyalty towards the British government.

  1. To protect and promote the political rights of the Muslims.
  2. To prevent feelings of hostility towards other communities.

Question 7.
Why was the introduction of separate electorates a death blow to national unity?
Answer:
Separate electorates refers to the voting population of the country, divided into different electorates based on the factors like religion, caste, occupation etc. For example, it meant that Muslim voters could elect Muslim representatives. The introduction of separate electorates sounded the death knell of national unity. It was the first definite step on the road to the partition of India.

Question 8.
Why did the Indian nationalists support the war effort of the British when the First World War broke out ?
Answer:
Initially, there was an outburst of loyalty and the Indian nationalist leaders supported the British government with men and money. More than a million Indian soldiers were sent overseas to join the British army and a hundred million pounds were given to the British government.

The British and their allies declared that they were fighting the war to make the world ‘safe for democracy’ and to promote the right of all nations to form self-governments. This led the Indian nationalists to believe that a grateful Britain would reward India’s loyalty and fulfil its demands for self-government.

Question 9.
What was the main aim of the Home Rule Leagues ?
Answer:
The main aim of the Leagues was to achieve self-government within the British empire after the war.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:
Question 1.
With reference to the early nationalists, discuss the following:
(a) Beliefs of the early nationalists
(b) Methods of the early nationalists
(c) Important contributions made by the early nationalists to the national movement?
Answer:
(a)
The early nationalists believed that British rule had conferred several benefits on India. They felt that at that stage of history it was in their own interests to remain under the British since they were not yet ready to govern themselves. The early nationalists were convinced that the British could be persuaded to introduce necessary reforms and the government could be transformed to suit the interests of the Indian subjects.
(b)
The early nationalists had great faith in the sense of justice and fair play of the British. So they adopted peaceful and constitutional methods. They presented their grievances to the government and waited patiently for the government to pass laws to remove those grievances. They believed that the government would gradually give into their demands. They promoted unity, spread political awareness among the people and built up a strong public opinion through meetings, lectures and the press. They also sent delegations to England to persuade the British government to introduce necessary reforms.
(c)
Contribution of the early nationalists:

  1. The early nationalists established a solid foundation which served as a base for a more radical approach in later years.
  2. They spread political awareness among the people and instilled in them a sense of national unity. The people began to think of themselves as a members of one single nation the Indian nation. The path for a united national struggle was laid.
  3. The Congress under the early nationalists trained the Indians in political affairs. They educated them in political matters and familiarized them with ideas of freedom, government, democracy, secularism nationalism, etc. This knowledge and training in political affairs helped Indian nationalists to organize and raise the national movement to the next stage of development.

Question 2.
With reference to the rise of the assertive nationalists within the congress, discuss:
(a) The beliefs of the assertive nationalists
(b) The objectives of the assertive nationalists
(c) How the methods of the assertive nationalists differed from those of the early nationalists?
Answer:
(a)
The assertive nationalists had no faith in the British sense of justice and fair play. They believed that the British rule in India was not a blessing but a curse. They were convinced that the British had no honest intentions of introducing reforms for the welfare of the Indians. They realized that the British interests were different and clashed with the Indian interests. India could never grow and progress under British rule.
(b)
The goal of the assertive nationalists was not self­government in ‘gradual’ stages but immediate freedom (Swaraj) from British rule.
(c)
The early nationalists had great faith in the sense of justice and fair play of the British. So they adopted peaceful and constitutional methods. They presented their grievances to the government and waited patiently for the government to pass laws to remove those grievances. They believed that the government would gradually give in to their demands. They promoted unity, spread political awareness among the people and built up a strong public opinion through meetings, lectures and the press. But the assertive nationalists on the other hand, had no faith in the constitutional methods followed by the early nationalists. Twenty years of prayers, petitions, appeals and resolutions and representations had failed to yield any concrete results.

Question 3.
With reference to the Lucknow Session of the Congress of 1916, answer the following questions:
(a) What was the Lucknow Pact ?
Ans. The Lucknow Pact was an agreement signed by the Muslim League and the Congress to pave the way for a joint scheme of political reforms in India.

(b) What was the objective of the Lucknow Pact
Ans. Under the Lucknow Pact, the League jointly with the Congress put forward the demand for a Dominion Status for India. This was an important step towards Hindu-Muslim unity.

(C) What were the results of Lucknow Pact ?
Ans. The unity between the Muslim League and the Congress, on the one hand and the early nationalists and the assertive nationalists, on the other, aroused great political enthusiasm and strengthened the national movement.

G Picture study:

This is the picture of a national leader.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Struggle for Freedom (I) 11

1.Identify the person in the picture.
Ans. Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

2.Which political organization did he join and when ?
Ans. Muhammad Ali Jinnah joined the Muslim League in 1913.

3.When and by whom was this organization founded ?
Ans. The Muslim League was established in December 1906, under the leadership of Nawab Salimullah Khan in Dacca (now known as Dhaka).

4.What were the objectives of this organization ?
Ans.
The main objectives of the Muslim League were as follows:

  • To promote among the Muslims a feeling of loyalty towards the British government.
  • To protect and promote the political rights of the Muslims.
  • To prevent feelings of hostility towards other communities.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The United Nations

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ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The United Nations

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

APlusTopper.com provides step by step solutions for ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics. You can download the History and Civics ICSE Solutions for Class 8 with Free PDF download option. History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions all questions are solved and explained by expert teachers as per ICSE board guidelines.

ICSE Solutions Class 8 History & Civics GeographyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. All peace loving nations can become members of the United Nations.
  2. The present number of member-countries in the UNO is 193.
  3. One major goal of the UNICEF was Universal Child Immunisation against preventable diseases by 1990.
  4. The International Court of Justice settles disputes between member states of the United Nations.
  5. The UNESCO came into existence in 1946.

II. Match the content of column A with other of column B
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The United Nations 1
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The United Nations 2
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The United Nations 3

III. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
Why and when was the UNO formed?
Answer:
UNO was established on 24th October, 1945 to work for world peace and for eradication of poverty, hunger, injustice and to save the world from still another catastrophe of the magnitude of the Second World War.

Question 2.
What are the objectives and principles of the UNO?
Answer:
The following are the objectives of the UNO:

Objectives of United Nations

  1. To save the suceeding generation from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold suffering to mankind.
  2. To reaffirm faith in fundamental Human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human power in the equal rights of men and women, of nations large and small.
  3. To maintain international peace and security.
  4. To develop friendly relations among the nations of world based on respect for the equal rights of people.
  5. To co-operate in solving international problems of social,economic, cultural, and humanitarian character and to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Principles of UNO

The UN has laid down certain principles to achieve the above objectives. These principles are also enumerated in the Charter.

  1. The basis of the organisation shall be equality of all its member-states.
  2. The member-states shall fulfil their obligations honestly according to the charter of the UNO.
  3. All the member-states shall solve their mutual problems through peaceful means.
  4. States will not use force in solving their mutual problems.
  5. All the member-states shall be morally bound to offer unconditional services, military or otherwise, to the UNO for preventive and enforcement actions of the UNO according to the UN Charter.
  6. The members of the UNO shall see that even the non­members states work for the peace and security of the world.

Question 3.
Name the chief organs of the UNO    and list down theirNo member-state shall interfere in the internal affairs of any other member-state functions.
Answer:
Organs of the UN
There are six principle organs of   the UN.

1. The General Assembly Functions

  1. Admits new members to the UNO on the recommendation of the Security Council.
  2. Appoints the General Secretary of the UNO on the recommendation of the Security Council.
  3. Elects ten (temporary) members of the Security Council, members of the Economic and Social Council and members of the Trusteeship Council from amongst its own members.
  4. Receives and discussess the reports of its main organs and takes decisions for their improvement.
  5. Can draw the attention of member-states to provide human rights to their citizens.
    Passes the annual budget of the UNO and fixes the
  6. Passes the annual budget of the UNO and fixes the share of every member country in providing those funds.
  7. Draws the attention of the Security Council whenever it finds that peace in a particular part of the world is endangered by the actions of one or more states.2

2. The Security Council
Functions
The Security Council’s primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security.

  1. It can ask the fighting states to resolve their differences by bilateral talks.
  2. It may suggest mediation in the matter.
  3. It can suggest embargo (stoppage of trade) on the states who do act according to the directions of the Security Council.
  4. It can order military action against a state which persists in undermining the peace and security of the world.Besides this,
  5. It recommends the admission of a new member to the UNO.
  6. It recommends the name of person for his appointment as the Secretary-General of the UNO.
  7. It elects the Judges of the International Court of Justice concurrently with the General Assembly.
  8. It can ask for the cancellation of the membership of a state, if does not act according to the Charter.
  9. It can recommend to call a meeting of the General Assembly in an emergency.

3. The Economic and Social Council:
The main function of this Council is to promote economic and social operation,among the member states of the UN. There are several groups working under the council. They specialise in subjects like population money matters, international trade and equality of women, crime prevention and control of narcotic drugs.

4. The Trusteeship Council: Its main objective is to safeguard the interests of those territories that are not yet fully self- governing. Eleven such territories were brought under the UN Trusteeship Council after the Second World War. The Council helped ten of them to gain independence.

5. The Secretariat: The personnel of the Secretariat are recruited from all over the world. Attempts are made to have a balanced representation from all regions and countries. The Secretary General is the chief executive officer or the head of the UN Secretariat.

6. The International Court of Justice: The International Court of Justice settles disputes between the member-state of the United Nations. Even private citizens have the right to approach the Court whenever they have grievance against another state. The Secretary General holds a key position in the administration of the affairs of the UNO. He organises conferences, drafts reports, makes correspondence, registers treaties, prepares budget estimates.

Question 4.
Name the official languages of the UNO.
Answer:
The official languages of the UNO are – English, French, Russian, Chinese, Arabic and Spanish.

Question 5.
How does the UNO manage its funds?
Answer:
The UNO is financed by the contributions made by its member states. The amount is determined by the General Assembly on the recommendations of its committee on contributions.

Question 6.
Describe the UNO Flag. Draw and colour it.
Answer:
The flag of the UNO represents two bent olive branches open at the top over a blue background. The branches of the wreath symbolise peace.

Question 7.
Name the permanent members of the UNO.
Answer:
Permanent members of the UNO are five – USA, UK, France,’ China and Russia.

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The League of Nations was formed in 1920 after the end of the First World War.
  2. Each member state of the UN can send up to Five representatives to the General Assembly.
  3. The Security council is often referred to as the ‘Enforcement Wing’ of the UN.
  4. The five permament members of the Security Council are USA, UK, France, People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation.
  5. The objective of the ECOSOC is to free the world from want.
  6. The WHO is a specialized agency of the UN.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The United Nations 4
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The United Nations 5
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The United Nations 6

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. 24 October/22 March/21 June is celebrated as United Nations Day.
    Ans. 24 October is celebrated as United Nations Day.
  2. The olive branches on the UN flag symbolize peace/wealth/ truth.
    Ans. The olive branches on the UN flag symbolize peace.
  3. The Economic and Social Council consists of 54 members elected by the General Assembly for a 3/4/5-year term.
    Ans. The Economic and Social Council consists of 54 members elected by the General Assembly for a 5-year term.
  4. The International Court of Justice is located in New York City in the USA/The Hague in the Netherlands/Paris in France.
    Ans. The International Court of Justice is located in The Hague in the Netherlands.
  5. The Secretariat/General Assembty/International Court of Justice is the chief administrative organ of the UN.
    Ans. The Secretariat is the chief administrative organ of the UN.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. All the members of the UN are members of the General Assembly.
    True.
  2. French is one of the official languages of the UN.
    True. 
  3. The Trusteeship Council is the most important organ of the UN.
    False
    Correct: The Security Council is the most important organ of the UN.
  4. UNESCO and UNICEF are specialized agencies of the UN
    True.
  5. Most of the world’s problems have disappeared with the end of the Cold War.
    False.
    Correct: Most of the world’s problems have disappeared with the end of the Cold War. This, however, did not happen.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Mention one important organ of the UN.
Answer:
The Security Council is the most important organ of the UN.

Question 2.
Who are the members of the General Assembly?
Answer:
All the members of the UN are members of the General Assembly.

Question 3.
What is a negative vote by one of the permanent members of the Security Council known as?
Answer:
Veto is the negative vote by any one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council which leads to the cancellation of the resolution.

Question 4.
Why was the Trusteeship Council established?
Answer:
When the UN was first formed, a large number of countries were not free. Many were affected by the war. The Trusteeship Council was established to look after the territories that were under foreign rule and to help them attain self-government.

Question 5.
Why did the UN impose economic sanctions against the South African government?
Answer:
By imposing economic sanctions against the South African government, it played a significant role in challenging the apartheid policy and liberating the South African people from apartheid.

Question 6.
What is the relevance of the UN in today’s world?
Answer:
The need of the hour is to reform and strengthen the UN and to make it strong and effective, capable of healing the wounds of our times and restoring sanity, balance and harmony to our strife-tom world.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
The magnitude and scale of destruction during the Second World War created a great revulsion for war and a passionate yearning for peace.
In this context, explain:
(a) The signing of the Atlantic Charter
(b) The basic rights or the four freedoms guaranteed by the charter
(c) The San Francisco Conference and the establishment of the United Nations
Answer:
(a)
Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the president of the United States of America, met aboard a battleship off Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean. They signed a document called the Atlantic Charter on 14 August 1941.
(b)
It was agreed that when the war ended, humans must be guaranteed the basic rights or the four freedoms.
The basic rights included:

  1. freedom from want
  2. freedom of speech
  3. freedom of religious belief
  4. freedom from fear

(c)
In June 1945, 50 nations met in San Francisco to sign the Atlantic Charter. Poland, which was not represented at the conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 member states. On 24 October 1945, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights. 24 October is celebrated as United Nations Day.

Question 2.
With reference to the United Nations discuss:
(a) The UN flag
(b) Any four objetives of the UN outlined in the Preamble of the UN Charter
(c) The obligations of all nations that follow from these objectives
Answer:
(a)
The UN flag depicts two bent olive branches which are open at the top with a world map between them.
The white olive branches and the world map are on a light blue background. The branches symbolize peace.
(b)
The objectives of the UN have been outlined in the Preamble of the UN charter. They are:

  1. To maintain international peace and security.
  2. To develop friendly relations among nations on the basis of equality.
  3. To achieve international cooperation in solving, economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems.
  4. To promote human rights and fundamental freedom for the people of the world.
  5. To act as a common platform for harmonizing the activities of various nations for the attainment of the objectives of the UN.
  6. To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which has twice brought suffering to humans.

(c)
This implies that:

  1. All nations, big or small, are equal.
  2. They must all obey the Charter.
  3. All disputes must be settled peacefully.
  4. No force should be used.

Question 3.
With reference to the General Assembly and Security Council of the UN, answer the following questions:
(a) Mention any four functions of the General Assembly.
(b) Explain the veto power of the permanent members of the Security Council. What happens when the Security Council cannot take any action because of the veto?
(c) State three important functions of the Security Council.
Answer:
(a)
Important functions of the General Assembly:

  1. To discuss international problems and make recommendations for their solution.
  2. To make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
  3. To consider and approve the UN budget.
  4.  To elect non-permanent members of the security council members of the economic and social council (ECOSOC) and the trusteeship council.
  5.  To supervise the work of the other organs of the UN.
  6. To make recommendations for ‘collective measures, including the use of anned forces’ during a crises (Uniting for Peace Resolution)

(b)
A negative vote by any one of the permanent members would lead to a cancellation of the resolution. This right to prevent action from being taken is known as the right to veto.When no action can be taken by the Security Council because of the veto, the General Assembly can deal with the crisis. It can take whatever action may seem appropriate to restore and maintain world peace.
(c)
Functions of the Security Council:

  1. To investigate international disputes and recommend ways of settling such disputes peacefully.
  2. To call on member states to apply economic sanctions against the aggressor.
  3. To take military action against the aggressor, if necessary.

Question 4.
With reference to the organs of the UN, discuss:
(a) Any three functions of the Economic and Social Coucil (ECOSOC)
(b) The composition and functions of the Internatinal Court of Justice
(c) Any four significant achievements of the UN
Answer:
(a) Functions of the ECOSOC:

  1. To promote economic growth and social progress (z’z) To create a spirit of respect for human rights
  2. To solve problems related to health, illiteracy, drugs, employment, status of women etc.
  3. To supervise the work of various specialized agencies such as World Health Organization (WHO), United
  4. Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organization (ILO) Food and Agricultural organization (FAO), etc.

(b)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) consists of 15 judges from different countries, elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. Each judge has a 9- year term. Two judges cannot be from the same country.

Functions of International Court of Justice:

  1. To settle disputes brought to it by member nations.
  2. To give legal advice to the other organs of the UN, on request.

(c). Achievement of the UN

  1. Although it has not been able to prevent war, in many cases, it has taken effective action to restore peace, e.g., the Korean War, the Suez Canal crisis, the Gulf War, etc.
  2. Many countries like Indonesia, Algeria, Morocco, have achieved their independence with support from the UN.
  3.  By imposing economic sanctions against the South African government, it played a significant role in challenging the aparthied policy and liberating the South African people from aparthied rule.
  4.  It has worked consistently for the protection and preservation of human rights around the world.
  5. It has worked actively to end the nuclear arms race and encouraged the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
  6. It has achieved great success in the fields of labour, health, welfare of children and education by fighting poverty, ignorance, malnutrition, hunger and disease through its specialized agencies.

G Picture Study:

This buliding is the headquarters of an international organization which was established in October 1945 to maintain international peace and security
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The United Nations 7

  1. Name the organization.
    Ans. United Nation (UN)
  2. Where are the headquarters of this organization located?
    Ans. New York City
  3. Mention four important objectives of this organization.
    Ans. The objectives of the UN have been outlined in the Preamble of the UN charter.
    They are:

    1. To maintain international peace and security.
    2.  To develop friendly relations among nations on the basis of equality.
    3. To achieve international cooperation in solving, economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems.
    4.  To promote human rights and fundamental freedom for the people of the world.
    5.  To act as a common platform for harmonizing the activities of various nations for the attainment of the objectives of the UN.
    6. To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which has twice brought suffering to humans.
  4. Name three major organs of this organization.
    Ans.
    Organs of the UN:

    1. The General Assembly
    2. The Security Council
    3. The Economic and Social Council

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Great Reformers and Reform Movements

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ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – Great Reformers and Reform Movements

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

APlusTopper.com provides step by step solutions for ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics. You can download the History and Civics ICSE Solutions for Class 8 with Free PDF download option. History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions all questions are solved and explained by expert teachers as per ICSE board guidelines.

ICSE Solutions Class 8 History & Civics GeographyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

Time To Learn
I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The impact of western education led to a great awakening in India.
  2. It was due to Raja Rammohan Roy’s efforts that Lord William Bentinck, the Governor General of India, banned Sati in 1829.
  3. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar made a remarkable contribution to the education of girls and uplift of women.
  4. Ramakrishna Paramhansa believed that all religions were just different paths to reach one goal salvation or realisation of God.
  5. Swami Vivekananda wanted people of India to be fearless, self confident and self-reliant.
  6. Swami Dayanand’s slogan was back to the Vedas.
  7. Sir syed Ahmad Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875.
  8. Jyotiba Phule was given the title of Mahatma for his work for uplift of the oppressed classes.

II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Great Reformers and Reform Movements 1
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Great Reformers and Reform Movements 2

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. The reform movements took place in Bengal only.
    False.
  2. Raja Rammohan Roy’s religious beliefs were based on the Bible.
    False.
  3. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, as Principal of the Sanskrit College, allowed lower castes to join his college.
    True.
  4. Mahadev Govind Ranade advocated worship of Supreme God and condemned the rigidity of the caste system.
    True.
  5. Swami Vivekananda attended the Parliament of Religions held at New York in 1980.
    False.
  6. The Singh Sabhas founded at Lahore and Amritsar were the first to start a reform movement among the Sikhs.
    True.

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
What were the main aims of the reformers of the nineteenth century in India? Describe the reforms initiated by Raja Rammohan Roy.
Answer:
The impact of Western culture on India led to a great awakening in India. Many social reformers came forward and advocated changes in society and reforms in Hindu Religion. These reform movements played a major role in modernising India. Raja Rammohan Roy fought against the evil custom of Sati. It was due to his efforts that Lord William Bentinck banned Sati in 1829. He was a strong champion of Women’s Rights and was against child marriage and polygamy. He advocated widow remarriage and advocated that women must be given the right to inheritance.
He was a supporter of western education. He founded Vedanta college for teaching of western as well as Indian learning. He opposed Idol worship, caste system and preached worship of one God only

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. Sati was banned by Lord William Bentinck with the support of progressive Indians like Bruhmo samaj.
  2. The first Indian school for girl was established in Calcutta in 1849 by Drinkwater Bethune with the support of Vidyasagar.
  3. Vidyasagar was a great champion of widow remarriage, which was legalized by Lord Dalhousie.
  4. The most ardent follower of Ramakrishna Paramahansa was Narendranath Datta, later known as Swami Vivekananda.
  5. Annie Besant started the Home Rule Movement in India.
  6. The Prarthana Samaj was founded by R. G Bhandarkar and Mahadev Govind Ranade

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Great Reformers and Reform Movements 3
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Great Reformers and Reform Movements 4
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Great Reformers and Reform Movements 5

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. Swami Dayanand/Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar/Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Arya Samaj in 1875.
    Ans. Swami Dayanand founded the Arya Samaj in 1875.
  2. Veeresalingam/Sri Narayan Guru/R. G Bhandarkar was referred to as the ‘Vidyasagar of South India’
    Ans. Veeresalingam was referred to as the ‘Vidyasagar of South India’.
  3. Dadabhai Naoroji/Mahadev Govind Ranade/Syed Ahmed Khan was an outstanding social reformer in Parsee society.
    Ans. Dadabhai Naoroji was an outstanding social reformer in Parsee society.
  4. Swami Dayanand/Syed Ahmed Khan/Dadabhai Naoroji founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875.
    Ans. Syed Ahmed Khan founded the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875.
  5. The Sikh reformers launched the A kali Movement/Aligarh Movement/Arya Samaj against the corrupt management of the gurudwaras.
    Ans. The Sikh reformers launched the Akali Movement against the corrupt management of the gurudwaras.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy propagated widow remarriage.
    True.
  2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar supported Lord William Bentinck to banning sati.
    False
    Correct : Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar supported Lord William Bentinck on Hindu widow Remarriage Act.
  3. Dayanand Saraswati believed that the Vedas were the fountainhead of all knowledge and truth.
    True.
  4. Ramakrishna Paramahansa was a priest in the temple of Goddess Lakshmi at Calcutta.
    True.
  5. Swami Vivekananda believed that the regeneration of the society is the responsibility of every Indian.
    True.
  6. Jyotiba Phule was a social reformer in Maharashtra.
    True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
Mention any two evil social practices against which the Brahmo Samaj launched a relentless struggle.
Answer:
The Brahmo Samaj launched a relentless struggle against the following evil social practices:

  1. Sati Practice
  2. Caste distinctions and untouchability
  3. Child Marriage
  4. Poloygamy

Question 2.
What effect would the social regeneration that took place in the 19th century have on India’s future?Answer:
Due to social regeneration there was rise of nationalism and the growth of the national movement.

Question 3.
Who established the Ramakrishna Mission and why?
Answer:
Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda to propagate the teachings and ideals of Ramakrishana Paramahansa. The main ideas of this Mission are

  1. Selfless social service
  2. Spread  of
  3. Removal of ignorance
  4. Social inequalities

Question 4.
Mention any two social reforms advocated by Syed Ahmed Khan.
Answer:
To introduce social reforms Syed Ahmed Khan focused on the backward condition of the women. He advocated the removal of education for women and opposed polygamy.

Question 5.
Why was the Singh Sabha set up in Punjab ?
Answer:
The Singh Sabha was set up in Amritsar and Lahore for religious and social reforms among the Sikhs.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
The central figure in the Indian Renaissance was Raja Ram Mohan Roy-the pioneer of the Modern Age in India. In this context answer the following questions:

  1. Discuss briefly Raja Ram Mohan’s views and ideas on religious reform within Hindu society.
  2. What was the programme of the Brahmo Samaj?
  3. Explain Raja Ram Mohan’s views on education.

Answer:
(a)
To reform society, it was important to first reform religion.
He propagated the following religious ideas based on rationalism and the philosophy of the Vedas.

  1. There is only one God who is the creator and preserver of the universe.
  2. All men are children of the one god of all human beings and therefore equal.
  3. It was not necessary to worship idols and perform rituals and sacrifices. God could be reached through prayer and devotion.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy condemned the domination of the priests who were responsible for misleading the people and perpetuating ritualism and socio-religious practices like sati.

He published Bengali translations of the Vedas and the Upanishads to prove that all the ancient religious texts preached monotheism.
(b)
The Brahmo Samaj launched a relentless struggle against the following evil social practices:

  1. Sati Practice
  2. Caste distinctions and untouchability
  3. Child Marriage
  4.  Poloygamy

The Brahmo Samaj supported:

  1. Education of women
  2. Widow remarriage

(c)
Raja Mohan Roy was a great champion of Modem Western education. He believed it would serve as an instrument for the spread of progressive ideas and accelerate the pace of social change. He believed that the salvation of India lay in adopting western principles of reason and humanism and acquiring the knowledge of Modem science.

Question 2.
With reference to Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, an outstanding social and religious reformer, discuss his contribution in the following fields:

  1. Education in Sanskrit College
  2. Women’s education
  3. Widow remarriage

Answer:
(a) Education in Sanskrit College:
Vidyasagar denounced caste discrimination and as the principal of the Sanskrit College he admitted non-brahmana students. He was strongly opposed to the monopoly of the brahmanas on the study of Sanskrit and the ancient Vedic texts.
(b) Women’s education:
Vidyasagar was a staunch supporter of women’s education and helped Drinkwater Bethune to establish the first Indian school for girl in Calcutta in 1849. As inspector of school he opened thirty five schools for girls.
(c) Widow remarriage:
The great misery and sufferings of the Hindu widows in Bengal pained him deeply. He started a bold movement advocating the remarriage of widows. His efforts bore fruit. Lord Dalhousie passed the widow Remarriage Act in 1856. The first legal Hindu Widow remarriage was celebrated in Calcutta in December 1857, with the support of Vidyasagar.

Question 3.
Many great humanists and social reformers propagated their ideas in an effort to arrest the stagnation of Indian society. In this context, discuss:
(a) The Arya Samaj
(b) Vivekananda’s belief and achievements
(C) The Prarthana Samaj
Answer:
(a)
Swami Dayanand founded a society known as Arya Samaj in 1875.
The Social reforms advocated by Arya Samaj are on the following practices

  1. Caste system and untouchability
  2. Child marriage

The Samaj supported and encouraged

  1. Education for Women
  2. Widow remarriage

(b)
Swamiji proclaimed the essential unity of all religions and emphasized the importance of religious tolerance, brotherhood, peace and harmony among Indians. He condenmed the caste system social and economic inequalities, superstitions and ritualism and urged Indians to act responsibly
(c)
It was founded in Bombay Under the supervision of R.G. Bhandarkar and Mahadev Govind Ranade. It worked on the same lines as the Brahmo Samaj and worked for the abolition of caste system, polygamy, child marriage.

Question 4.
Write short notes on the following:
(a) Ram Mohan Roy’s achievements in the field of education
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Reforms among Parsees
Answer:
(a)
Raja Mohan Roy opened an English medium school which combined traditional Indian learning with Western knowledge. He assisted David Hare, a Scottish watchmaker, to establish the Hindu College in Calcutta. He also founded the Vedanta College which offered courses of study in Indian learning and Western sciences.
(b)
Jyotirao Govindrao Phule and his wife, Savitribai Phule, were dedicated social reformers in Maharashtra. Jyotirao was popularly known as Mahatma Phule. He challenged the superiority of the brahmanas and the authority of the scriptures. He took up the cause of the low-caste members of society. He organized Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 to mobilize the low-caste members and oppressed sections of society in a movement for equality. He also pressed for the education of girls.
(c)
In reform movement among the Parsees an association was set up and it started a movement against religious orthodoxy. Modem ideas and changes were introduced to elevate the position of the Parsee women. Education of woman, raising the marriageable age of girls and widow remarriage were some of the major concerns of the reforms.

Question 5.
With reference to the reform movements in various parts of India, discuss:

  1. Reform movement in South India
  2. The Aligarh Movement
  3. Reforms among the Sikhs

Answer:
(a)
Veeresalingam, a prominent social reformer in South India, was deeply disturbed by the deplorable condition of Women in general and widow remarriage and education for women in particular .Sri Narayan Gum carried on a lifelong struggle against the caste system. His crusade was based on the principle of one caste, one religion, one god for mankind.
(b)
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan started a reform movement called the Aligarh Movement. He had a significant role in awakening the Muslims to the need to change with the times. He believed that only through Western education and knowledge of English, the Muslim community could progress and scientific temper be developed. His greatest achievement was the foundation of Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875. This College later on grew into the Aligarh Muslim University.
(c)
The Singh Sabha was set up in Amritsar and Lahore for the religious and social reforms among Sikhs. It set up the Khalsa college in Amritsar and opened many schools and promoted the Gurumukhi script and Punjabi literature.

G Picture Study

This is the painting of the Indian social reformer considered to be the ‘Father of Indian Renaissance.’
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - Great Reformers and Reform Movements 6

Question 1.
Name the person.
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Question 2.
What were his views on religion?
Answer:
A comparative study of the Vedas, the Koran and the Bible (the old Testament and New Testament) convinced Raja Ram Mohan Roy about the basic unity in the fundamental truths of ail religions. According to him religion was central to an individual’s life. Every aspect of social life revolved around religious beliefs. He propagated the religious ideas based on the philosophy of the Vedas.

  1. There is only one God who is the creater and preserver of the universe/monotheism)
  2. All men are children of the ‘one God of all human beings’ and therefore equal (brotherhood of man)
  3. It was not necessary to worship, idols and perform rituals and sacrifices. God could be reached through prayer and devotion.

Question 3.
Name the society established by him in 1828.
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded a society’ called the Sabha Brahmo (1828) which later became Brahmo Samaj.

Question 4.
Mention the social practices against which this society- launched a relentless struggle.
Answer:
Brahmo Samaj launched a relentless struggle against the following social practices Sati. Caste distinctions and untouchability. Child marriage Polygamy

Question 5.
Mention two important social reforms supported by this society.
Answer:
Education of Women, Widow Remarriage.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The American Civil War

by

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The American Civil War

ICSE SolutionsSelina ICSE SolutionsML Aggarwal Solutions

APlusTopper.com provides step by step solutions for ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics. You can download the History and Civics ICSE Solutions for Class 8 with Free PDF download option. History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions all questions are solved and explained by expert teachers as per ICSE board guidelines.

ICSE Solutions Class 8 History & Civics GeographyBiologyChemistryPhysicsMaths

I.Fill in the blanks:

  1. The Civil War in the USA lasted for four years.
  2. President Lincoln was assassinated in the year 1865.
  3. The Northern states were mainly industrialised but in the South agriculture was the most important occupation.
  4. The Southern farmers grew cotton and tobacco.
  5. The Southern farmers needed slaves to work in their fields.
  6. The anti-slavery people were called Abolitionists.
  7. An Underground railroad was created to help the slaves to escape to Canada.
  8. The election of Abraham Lincoln as President of America made the Southern states to separate from the Union.
  9. In January 1863 President Lincoln abolished slavery.
  10. The (Confederacy General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union; General U.S. Grant.

II.Match the contents of Column A and Column B:
                  Column A                                   Column B
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The American Civil War 1

Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The American Civil War 2
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The American Civil War 3

III. State whether the following statements are True or False:

  1. Slavery was introduced in the United States in 1619.
    False.
  2. When the Civil War broke out, the whole country practised slavery.
    False.
  3. The Northern states considered slavery a blot on the fair name of the country.
    True.
  4. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel, highlighted the ugly side of slavery.
    True.
  5. The Underground Railroad was a railway that carried slaves to Canada.
    True.
  6. The question of States’ Rights was also a cause of the Civil War.
    True.
  7. The Southern states established a new nation — the Confederate States of America.
    True.
  8. Abraham Lincoln is remembered for abolishing slavery and saving the Union.
    True.

IV.Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
Why was slavery important for the Southern States?
Answer:
The Southern states had large cotton and tobacco plantations. Slaves were a vital part of their economy. These plantations totally depended on slave labour. Without slave labour agriculture would suffer in the South.

Question 2.
Name the states which established the Confederation.
Answer:
Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas seceded from the union and established a new nation i.e., the Confederate States of America. They chose their own President Jefferson Davis in February 1861.

Question 3.
Describe Abraham Lincoln’s role in the Civil War.
Answer:
As soon as Abraham Lincoln was elected President of USA in 1860, Southern states like Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana & Texas separated from the union. They established the Confederate States of America. When the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter, President Lincoln declared blockade of Southern Ports and the Civil War began in 1861. The President made a proclamation for Emancipation of slaves. The War dragged on for four years and in the end the south surrendered. In January 1863, Lincoln abolished Slavery. Lincoln not only fought slavery but also fought for the preservation of the union. The seceding states were treated as rebels. This won the sympathy of foreign powers specially Great Britain. He fought a war to save the union and banish slavery.

Question 4.
Why did the North oppose slavery?
Answer:
The Northern states shunned slavery and considered it a blot on the name of their country. For one thing, unlike the Southerners they did not depend on slave labour for their economy. The Northern states were comparatively prosperous than the Southern states due to rapid industrial progress and trade. The Southern states were generally backward.

Question 5.
Describe the three main causes of the Civil War.
Answer:
Slavery was the main issue. The Northerners more prosperous and industrialised had abolished slavery. For southern states mostly agriculturists, slavery was a vital part of their economy. Anti slavery movements in the North made relations worse between North and South.The Southern states wanted no interference by the Federal Government in their state affairs. Lincoln’s election as President in November 1860 and Southern states seceding from the Union led to Civil War in 1861.

Question 6.
What were the main results of the Civil War?
Answer:
Nearly all the fighting had taken place on the Southern soil, so they suffered heavy damages. There was a period of reconstruction and it took a few decades for the Southern states to recover from the wounds of the Civil War. Slavery was abolished from the United States. The problem of secession also ended and the Federal Government became the Supreme Authority in the United States. The Civil War speeded up the economic revolution of the country on an unprecedented scale.

V.Picture Study:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The American Civil War 4
Question 1.
Identify and name the personality.
Answer:
President Abraham Lincoln.

Question 2.
Why is he considered one of the greatest presidents of USA?
Answer:
He was a great statesman. He was a great orator. His Gettysburg speech is one of the most quoted speeches in the world. His proclamation of Emancipation prevented foreign nations from helping the southern states. He ended slavery in USA and saved the union from breaking up. He served the nation with dedication and devotion.

Question 3.
Write a short note about his childhood.
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln was bom in 1809 in a log cabin in Kentucky. He lived a life of hardship doing manual work. He served in Illinois Legislature from 1834 for eight years. He retired from politics for some time and worked as a sucessfiil lawyer in Illinois. He re-entered politics in 1858 and contested foi the senate. He lost to Stephen A Douglas.

Question 4.
Do you agree with the definition of democracy as given by him?
Answer:
Slavery was abolished from the United States. The problem of secession also ended and the Federal Government became the Supreme Authority in the United States. The Civil War speeded up the economic revolution of the country on an unprecedented scale.

Additional Questions

EXERCISE
A.Fill in the blanks:

  1. In the first half of the 19th century the only available source of labour in the United States of America was slaves.
  2. The issue of slavery posed a serious threat to the integrity of the American nation.
  3. The famous book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
  4. Abraham Lincoln, who became the president of the United States of America in 1860 was determined to save the slaves at all costs.
  5. The American Civil War was fought on the issue of secession

B.Match the Following
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The American Civil War 5
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The American Civil War 6
C.Choose the correct answer:

  1. The anti-slavery movement began in the northern/southern/ eastern states of the United States of America.
    Ans. The anti-slavery movement began in the northern states of the United States of America.
  2. The book Uncle Tom’s Cabin exposed the horrors of slavery/ war/famine.
    Ans. The book Uncle Tom’s Cabin exposed the horrors of slavery.
  3. Jefferson Davis/Abraham Lincoln/Stonewall Jackson was appointed the president of the Confederate States of America.
    Ans. Jefferson Davis was appointed the president of the Confederate States of America.
  4. Abraham Lincoln/efferson Davis/Ulysses Grant abolished slavery in America.
    Ans. Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in America.
  5. The northern/southern/eastern states decided to break away from the Union and form a Confederacy of their own.
    Ans. The southern states decided to break away from the Union and form a Confederacy of their own.

D.State whether the following are true or false:

  1. The southern states of America began an anti-slavery movement.
    False.
    Correct : The north states of America began an anti­slavery movement.
  2. Abraham Lincoln became the 14th president of the United States in 1860.
    False.
    Correct : Abraham Lincoln became the 16th president of the United States in 1860.
  3. The Civil War was fought over the issue of slavery.
    False.
    Correct : It was fought becuase the southern states had left the Union, i.e., on the issue of secession.
  4. The American Civil War (1861-65) was one of the most bitter wars in the history of mankind
    True.
  5. After the American Civil War Lincoln made plans to repair the damages of the war and heal the wounds of the South.
    True

E.Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
What were the two major developments that took place in the United States of America in the first half of the 19th century?
Answer:
The two major developments that took place during this period were:

  1. The great westward expansion and
  2. Industrial growth and development.

Question 2.
Why was raw cotton from the southern states in the USA sent to Lancashire in England?
Answer:
Cotton was shipped to the cotton mills in Lancashire in England, where the Industrial Revolution had created a huge demand for raw material.

Question 3.
Why were slaves considered a ‘necessity’ in the southern states of the USA?
Answer:
The southern states claimed that they needed slaves for their cotton and sugar plantations. Thus, slaves who provided cheap labour were considered a ‘necessity’ in the predominantly agricultural southern states.

Question 4.
Why is Abraham Lincoln described as the ‘Great Emancipator’?
Answer:
Lincoln was determined to save the Union at all costs-at the cost of war, if necessary. Civil war broke out in 1861. In 1863, Lincoln abolished slavery in the South. He remains enshrined in the hearts of free people as the ‘Great Emancipator’.

Question 5.
Why did Lincoln declare war on the Confederacy? .
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln was determined to save the Union at all costs so he declared war on the southern confederacy.

Question 6.
Why was the Confederacy defeated?
Answer:
North with its superior resources wore down the Confederacy. Lee surrendered to the Union general, Ulysses Grant, in April 1865. The Civil War came to an end.

Question 7.
What fact was permanently established as a result of the Civil War?
Answer:
It had established the fact that the American federation was an indestructible Union of States and no state had the right to secede.

Question 8.
Why had the Civil War impoverished the southerners?
Answer:
The war had been fought mainly in the South, and had resulted in the impoverishment of the southerners.

F.Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
One of the great changes that took place in the United States of America in the first half of the 19th century was industrial growth and development. In this context, discuss:
(a) The serious problems arising from the cotton-growing industry in the southern states
(b) The anti-slavery movement leading to the growing tensions between the slave states and the abolition states
(c) The impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous book on the north-south conflict.
Answer:
(a) The cotton-growing industry gave rise to serious problems in the United States. As the plantations increased, so did the demand for labour. The only available source of labour in those days was the slaves brought in from Africa and living in America. The issue of slavery would eventually turn into an explosive problem that would threaten the very existence of the American Union.

(b) An anti-slavery movement began in the northern states of America.The industrialized northern states did not need slave labour in their industries and, on the whole did not approve of slavery. The southern states on the other hand claimed that they needed slaves for their cotton and sugar plantations.Thus, slaves who provided cheap labour were considered a ‘necessity’ in the predominantly agricultural southern states.The southerners were often needlessly cruel and harsh in their treatment of slaves. This outraged many northerners and the tension between the slave states of the South and the abolition states of the North began to grow.

(c) Harriet Beecher Stowe published her famous book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which highlighted and exposed the horrors of slavery and the miseries of the slaves. This book had a profound influence on the northern states and their anti­slavery campaign began to gather momentum. The southern states threatened to secede or break away from the Union and form a confederacy of their own.

Question 2.
Abraham Lincoln became the president of the United States during a very critical phase of American history. In this context discuss:

(a) Lincoln’s views on slavery
(b) The Gettysburg address in 1863
(c) The secession of the southern states and its consequences
Answer:
(a) Lincoln’s views on slavery were well known. He thoroughly despised slavery, which he believed was a vicious and brutal system. He was uncompromisingly opposed to slavery. Human bondage was a negation and gross violation of democracy.

(b) In the famous Gettysburg address in 1863, Lincoln justified the abolition of slavery on grounds of the cherished principles of liberty and equality of the founding father of the United States of America. ‘Four score and seven years ago,’ he declared, ‘our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

(c) The southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was appointed the President of the Confederacy.Lincoln was determined to save the Union at all costs-at the cost of war, if necessary. Civil war broke out in 1861. The southerners fought with determination and courage. They had brilliant generals like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, under whose leadership they initially won a number of victories.Gradually, however, the North with its superior resources wore down the Confederacy. Lee surrendered to the Union general, Ulysses Grant, in April 1865. The Civil War came to an end. It had established the fact that the American federation was an indestructible Union of States and no state had the right to secede.The war had been fought mainly in the South, and had resulted in the impoverishment of the southerners.

Question 3.
With reference to the American Civil War answer the following questions:
(a) Explain briefly the nature and fundamental cause of the Civil War.
(b) Give a brief account of the course of the Civil War
(c) State the positive and negative results of the war.
Answer:
(a) The American Civil War (1861-65) was one of the most bitter civil wars in history; nearly 7 lakhs people lost their lives. The Civil War, however, was not fought over the issue of slavery. It was fought because the southern states had left the Union, i.e., on the issue of secession. According to Lincoln, no state had the right to secede from the Union. Therefore, the Confederacy had to be defeated and the Union restored.

(b) Initially the Southern States became successful in the battle field under the president ship of Jefferson Davis, but afterwards Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, for all slaves, so the South was deprived of the help of the slave population. Soon the Northern forces captured New Orleans followed by Vicksburg. So the Confederate States were cut into two parts and the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, proved a great blow to the Southern States and in 1865, General Lee was forced to surrender at Appomattox Court House. The Civil War came to an end in 1865 with the victory of the Northerns due to more wealth and resources along with the powerful Federal Navy.

(c) Civil War of America caused a great loss of Men and Money, so remarkable changes occurred in the history of America. Now the phase of rapid economic growth started both in the North and South. Both industries and scientific farming were started for solid material development. Development of roads and railways, settlement of Tariff policy, foundation of banking system, abolition of slavery and the national unity, etc. are the who some results and America became an active participant in international affairs. Democracy and Federalism became the main features of the destiny of America.

G Picture study:

This is a portrait of the 16th president of the United States of America.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The American Civil War 7
Question 1.
Name the president.
Answer:
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States of America.

Question 2.
Discuss his views on the institution of slavery.
Answer:
Linclon thoroughly despised slavery which he believed was a vicious and brutal system.He was uncompromisingly opposed to slavery.

Question 3.
How did he define democracy?
Answer:
Lincoln defined democracy as “Government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Question 4.
Why did he declare war on the southern states?
Answer:
He declared War on the southern states because these states had left the union i.e., On the issue of secession. According to Lincoln, no state had the right to secede from the Union. Therefore, the confederacy had to be defeated and the union restored.

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Union Legislature

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ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics – The Union Legislature

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I. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The elections to the Lok Sabha are held by secret ballot.
  2. A person should have acquired the age of 25 years of age to become a Member of Lok Sabha.
  3. The maximum strength of the members of Lok Sabha is 545 members.
  4. The Rajya Sabha is the upper House of Parliament.
  5. The President can nominate 12 members members in the Rajya Sabha.

II. Match the contents of Column A with those of Column B.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Legislature 1
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Legislature 2

III. Tick mark (✓) the correct statements and cross mark (X) the wrong ones.

  1. The Rajya Sabha is presided over the Vice President of India.
    ✓
  2. A money bill has to be moved first in the Lok Sabha.
    ✓
  3. The Parliament meets at least twice a year.
    ✓
  4. The members of the Rajya Sabha are elected for a term of six years.
    ✓

IV. Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
Name the two Houses of the Union Parliament|
Answer:
The two houses of Parliament are

  1. Lok Sabha
  2. Rajya Sabha.

Question 2.
How are the members to the Lok Sabha elected?
Answer:
The members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly through a secret ballot by adult citizens for five years.

Question 3.
What is a bicameral legislature?
Answer:
Bicameral Legislature means a parliament has two houses-the Upper House and the Lower House. Our parliament consists of two Houses, therefore ours is a bicameral Legislature.

Question 4.
Mention the essential qualifications for a person to be a member of the Lok Sabha.
Answer:
Qualifications for Membership to the Lok Sabha:

  1. He must be a citizen of India.
  2. He should not be less than 25 years of age.
  3. He should be mentally sound.
  4. He should not be an insolvent, i.e., he should not be in debt and should have the ability to meet his financial commitments.
  5. He should not hold an office of profit under the government.
  6. He should not be a proclaimed offender.
  7. He should have his name in the electoral rolls in some part of the country.

Question 5.
What is the composition of the Rajya Sabha ?
Answer:
Rajya Sabha is the Upper House. It is also called council of states. The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members. Of these 238 are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The remaining 12 members are nominated by the President of India from among men of repute in various spheres of life e.g. science, technology literature and social work.However, at present, the Rajya Sabha consists of 245 members, out of which 233 are elected and 12 members are nominated by the President.

Question 6.
What are the functions of the Lok Sabha?
Answer:
The Functions of the Lok Sabha

  1. Legislative Functions: They pass bills and make laws. Any bill regarding subjects in the Union or the Concurrent List of the Constitution may be moved in this House.
  2. Financial Powers: The House of People controls the treasury. No budget or government expenditure can be made without the permission of the House. A money bill has to be moved only in the Lok Sabha.
  3. Control over the Council of Ministers: The council of ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha. It may remain in power only so long as it enjoys the confidence of the Lok Sabha.

Question 7.
Describe the law making functions of the Parliament.
Answer:
The Union Parliament is law-making organ of the Union Government. Besides, it has to perform many more functions.

  1. It frames new laws and amends or cancels them, if necessary, on all the 97 subjects of the Union List and all the remainder subjects which have not found a place in any of the lists.
  2. In certain cases, it can make laws on the subjects of the State List also.
  3. The Parliament along with the State Legislature can pass laws regarding the 47 subjects on the Concurrent List.
  4. The Union Parliament has the sole right to amend the Constitution, although in certain cases, these amendments need to be ratified by a majority of the states.

Question 8.
How does the Parliament exercise control over the Government?
Answer:
The most important function of the Parliament is to exercise control over the government.

  1. The government is directly responsible to the Parliament for its acts of omission and commission. The government can be voted out of office by passing a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister or the Ministry or any of its members.
  2. The Members of Parliament can also move adjournment motions. An adjournment motion is tabled when there is an urgent matter that needs the immediate attention of the government. If admitted, a time a set aside from normal business of the house for discussing the matters of urgent public importance.
  3. The members can ask any question relating to the administration of the state and the ministers are obliged to answer them. In this way, they can keep a check on the functioning of the various departments under different ministers.
  4. The Parliament can also hold the strings of the government tight by voting a cut in the annual budget.

V. Write short notes on the following:

Question 1.
Adjournment motion
Answer:
Daily business of the House is programmed well in advance and is considered accordingly. But if a question of immense public importance crops up, the members can demand adjournment of the discussion on slated business and discuss that matter immediately.

Question 2.
Universal Adult Franchise
Answer:
Adult Franchise means that the right to vote should be given to all adult without discrimination on the basis of caste, class, colour, religion or sex. It is based on equality which is the basic principle of democracy.

Question 3.
Secret Ballot
Answer:
Secret Ballot is a voting method in which a voter’s choice in an election or referendum is anonymous forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation, blackmailing and potential vote buying. Printed ballot papers are provided with names of the candidates. Provisions are made at the polling place for the voter to record their preferences in secret and the ballots are designed to eliminate bias and to prevent any one from influencing a voter.

Additional Questions

EXERCISES
A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. The functions of the government are divided into three branches, namely, the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary.
  2. Subjects for legislation are divide into three lists-the Union List, the State List and the Concurrent List.
  3. The Union Parliament has two Houses-the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
  4. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent house. It cannot be dissolved.
  5. The Parliament is answerable to the legislature.

B. Match the following:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Legislature 3

ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Legislature 4
Answer:
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Legislature 5

C. Choose the correct answer:

  1. The President carries out his/her functions on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Lok Sabha/the Council of Ministers/the Rajya Sabha.
    Ans. The President carries out his/her functions on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
  2. Both the central and the state governments can make laws on the subjects in the Union List/State List/Concurrent List
    Ans. Both the central and the state governments can make laws on the subjects in the Concurrent List.
  3. The Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Vidhan Sabha is also known as the Council of States
    Ans. The Rajya Sabha is also known as the Council of States.
  4. The President can nominates 2/10/12 members from the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha.
    Ans. The President can nominates 2 members from the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha.
  5. At present the Lok Sabha consists of 454/645/525
    Ans. At present the Lok Sabha consists of 545 members.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. The State List includes subjects of national importance.
     False.
  2. A member of the Lok Sabha should be at least 30 years of age.
    True.
  3. The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House and cannot be dissolved by the President.
    True.
  4. The money bill has to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
    False.
  5. The Vice-President is the presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha.
    True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

1. Who is the nominal executive head of the government of India?
Ans. The President of India, is only a nominal executive head of the government of India

2. How do we know that the Parliament has supreme authority in the government?
Ans. The Lok Sabha exercise control over the Council of Ministers which is responsible and answerable to the Lok Sabha for all its policies, decisions and actions. This makes the Parliament the supreme authority in the government because it has the final authority to accept or reject the decisions of the executive.

3. Which branch of government interprets and defines laws?
Ans. Judiciary defines and interprets the laws of the land and tries to prevent any person from violating the laws of the Constitution.

4.What is the minimum age qualification of an Indian voter?
Ans. All Indian citizens, 18 yeas of age or above, have the right to vote.

5.Who conducts the meetings of the Lok Sabha?
Ans. The Speaker conducts the meetings of the Lok Sabha

6. How are the members of the Rajya Sabha elected?
Ans. These members are elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.
Twelve members are nominated by the President from among persons who have distinguished themselves in the fields of art literature, science or social service.

7. What is meant by the term ‘budget’?
Ans. The budget is an estimate of the annual income and expenditure of the government of India.

8. What happens when a vote of no-confidence is passed against the Council of Ministers ?
Ans. Vote of no-confidence is a move in the Lok Sabha to express a lack of confidence in the Council of Minister. If such a motion is passed, then the Council of Ministers has to resign.

9.Explain the meaning of the term ‘quorum’.
Ans. Quorum refers to the minimum number of members required to be present to conduct a meeting.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
In the context of the Parliamentary form of government, answer the following questions:
(a) What are the main features of the parliamentary form of government?
Answer:
Features of the parliamentary form of government:

  1. Under this system there is very close relationship between the executive and legislature.
  2. All the members of the executive are the elected members of the majority party in the legislature.
  3. After the general elections the elected representatives of the
  4. people of India form the Lok Sabha.
  5. Subsequently, the council of Ministers is formed out of the elected members of the Lok Sabha.

(b) Name the three branches of government and state their respective functions.
Answer:
According to the Constitution, the powers and functions of the government are divided into three branches-the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
The powers and functions are distributed among these branches in a manner that makes them equally balanced.
India is a parliamentary democracy. The Parliament, which is composed of the elected representatives of the Indian people, is vested with supreme power. The Parliament is the highest law making body and it makes laws for the entire country. Thus the Indian people enjoy supreme power through their representatives in the Parliament.

In a parliamentary form of government, there is a very close relationship between the legislature and the executive.
After the general elections, the elected representatives of the people form the Lok Sabha. The President appoints the leader of the majority party or the single largest party or group of parites within the Lok Sabha as the Prime Minister. Generally, the Prime Minister chooses his/her Council of Ministers from among the elected members of the Lok Sabha. He/she may also choose a Rajya Sabha members as a minister.

The Lok Sabha exercise control over the Council of Ministers which is responsible and answerable to the Lok Sabha for all its policies, decisions and actions. This makes the Parliament the supreme authority in the government because it has the final authority to accept or reject the decisions of the executive

(c) Why are powers distributed between the central and the state governments?
Ans. As India is a vast country, it is not possible for one central government to take care of the specific needs of people living in different parts of the country. Therefore, the country has been divided into different units, which are called states. Each state has a state government and the processes of the government are shared by the central government and the state governments.
The parliamentary form of government is also present in the states. The pattern is the same-the state executive is formed out of the state legislature, whose members are directly elected by the people

Question 2.
Give an account of the Lok Sabha with reference to:
(a) Its composition
(b) Basic qualifications of its members
(c) Its term
Answer:
(a) Composition:

  1. The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha can be 552 members.
  2. A maximum of 530 members can be elected directly by the people of India from different territorial constituencies.
  3. A maximum of 20 members can be elected from the union territories.
  4. The President can nominate two members from the Anglo-Indian community.
  5. At present, the Lok Sabha consists of 545 members

(b) Basic qualifications of its members:

  1. Should be a citizen of India.
  2. Should be at least twenty-five years of age.
  3. Should not be holding an office of profit under the government.

(c) Its term: 

The Lok Sabha is elected for a 5-year term. However, the President may dissolve it before the expiry of its term if the party in power loses the support of the majority. Its life can be extended for 1 year at a time in case of a national emergency.

Question 3.
Give an account of the Rajya Sabha with reference to :
(a) Its composition
(b) Basic qualifications of its members
(c) Its term
Answer:
(a) Its composition:

  1. The maximum strength of the Rajya Sabha can be 250 members.
  2. 238 members represent the states and the union territories. Seats are allotted to each state according to its population. These members are elected indirectly by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies.
  3. Twelve members are nominated by the President from among persons who have distinguished themselves in the fields of art, literature, science or social service.

(b) Basic qualification of the Members of the Rajya Sabha :

  1. Should be citizens of India
  2. Should be at least 30 years of age
  3. Should be registered voters

(c) Its term:
The Rajya Sabha is a permanent House. It cannot be dissolved by the President. Each member is elected for a period of 6 years. One third of its members retire every 2 years. Members can be re-elected.

Question 4.
With reference to the functions of the Parliament, explain the following:
(a) Law-making functions
(b) Control over the executive
(c) Judicial functions
Answer:
(a) Law making functions of the Parliament:

  1. The Parliament can frame new laws or modify existing ones on any subject in the Union or Concurrent List.
  2. In some cases the Parliament can also pass laws on subjects under the State List.
  3. Only the Parliament can initiate a Bill to amend the Constitution.

(b) Control over the Council of Ministers:

  1. The Parliament keeps a watch over the government. The Council of Ministers is directly responsible and answerable to the Lok Sabha for its policies and actions.
  2. The Council of Ministers has to resign immediately if a vote of no-confidence is passed against it by the Lok Sabha.
  3. The Members of Parliament can discuss government policies and question the ministers. Hence, they can exercise a check on the working of the government.
  4. The Parliament can move an adjournment motion to discuss and focus on any matter of public importance which requires immediate and urgent attention from the government, for instance, natural disasters such as earthquakes and unforeseen situations such as police firing or terrorist attacks, etc.

(c) Judicial Functions of the Parliament:

The Parliament can impeach or remove the President, the Vice-President and judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts if any of them violate the Constitution or misuse their authority.

G Picture study:

This is the picture of an important government building in India.
ICSE Solutions for Class 8 History and Civics - The Union Legislature 6

Question 1.
Identify the building.
Answer:
House of the People (Parliament House).

Question 2.
Which branch of the government functions in this building?
Answer:
Lok Sabha.

Question 3.
Who are the members of this branch of the government?
Answer:
Elected representatives of the people of India are the members of this branch. The lower house of the Parliament is the Lok Sabha. The maximum strength of the Lok Sabha can be 552 members.

  1.  A maximum of 530 members can be elected directly by the people of India from different territorial constituencies.
  2. Not more than 20 members can be elected from the union territories.
  3. The President can nominate two members from the Anglo- Indian Community.
  4. At present, Lok Sabha consists of 545 members.

Question 4.
What are the basic qualifications of the members?
Answer:
A member of the Lok Sabha:

  1. Should be a citizen of India
  2. Should be at least 25 years of age.
  3. Should be a registered voter

Question 5.
What is their primary function? Mention any two other important functions.
Answer:
The Primary Functions of Parliament house are:

  1. The Parliament can frame new laws or modify existing ones on any subjects in the Union or Concurrent List.
  2. No money can be raised or spent without the approval of the Lok Sabha.
  3. In some cases, the parliament can also pass laws on subjects under the State List.
  4. Only the Parliament can initiate a Bill to amend the Constituion.

The other two important functions are:
(a) Judicial Function
(b) Elective Function