India did not become free in one day. The struggle for independence lasted nearly 90 years -- from the Revolt of 1857 to Independence in 1947. Millions of Indians participated in this struggle. Some fought with weapons, some with words, and some with peaceful protests. Let us learn about the key events that led to India's freedom.
| Year | Event | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | First War of Independence (Revolt of 1857) | Indian soldiers (sepoys) revolted against the British. Led by Rani Lakshmibai, Mangal Pandey, Tantia Tope, and others. |
| 1885 | Indian National Congress (INC) formed | The first political party that demanded rights for Indians. Founded by A.O. Hume. |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh Massacre | British General Dyer ordered soldiers to fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar. Hundreds of innocent people were killed. |
| 1920 | Non-Cooperation Movement | Gandhiji asked Indians to stop cooperating with the British -- boycott British goods, schools, and courts. |
| 1930 | Salt March (Dandi March) | Gandhiji walked 385 km to Dandi to make salt, breaking the unfair British salt law. |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement | Gandhiji's call: "Do or Die!" Indians demanded that the British leave India immediately. |
| 1947 | Independence Day | On 15th August 1947, India became free! Nehru gave the famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech. |
| Slogan | Who Said It |
|---|---|
| "Do or Die" (Karo ya Maro) | Mahatma Gandhi |
| "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom" | Subhas Chandra Bose |
| "Inquilab Zindabad" (Long Live the Revolution) | Bhagat Singh |
| "Swaraj is my birthright" | Bal Gangadhar Tilak |
| "Jai Hind" | Subhas Chandra Bose |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Independence | Freedom from the rule of another country |
| Revolt | A fight or uprising against those in power |
| Boycott | Refusing to buy or use something as a form of protest |
| Non-Cooperation | Refusing to help or work with the ruling power |
| Swaraj | Self-rule; governing ourselves |
| Massacre | The killing of many helpless people |
Freedom Timeline: Draw a timeline from 1857 to 1947. Mark the 7 key events from this lesson on it. Use different colours for each event.
Slogan Poster: Choose your favourite freedom slogan and make a colourful poster with it. Decorate it with the Indian tricolour.
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India did not become free in one day. The struggle for independence lasted nearly 90 years -- from the Revolt of 1857 to Independence in 1947. Millions of Indians participated in this struggle. Some fought with weapons, some with words, and some with peaceful protests. Let us learn about the key events that led to India's freedom.
| Year | Event | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | First War of Independence (Revolt of 1857) | Indian soldiers (sepoys) revolted against the British. Led by Rani Lakshmibai, Mangal Pandey, Tantia Tope, and others. |
| 1885 | Indian National Congress (INC) formed | The first political party that demanded rights for Indians. Founded by A.O. Hume. |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh Massacre | British General Dyer ordered soldiers to fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar. Hundreds of innocent people were killed. |
| 1920 | Non-Cooperation Movement | Gandhiji asked Indians to stop cooperating with the British -- boycott British goods, schools, and courts. |
| 1930 | Salt March (Dandi March) | Gandhiji walked 385 km to Dandi to make salt, breaking the unfair British salt law. |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement | Gandhiji's call: "Do or Die!" Indians demanded that the British leave India immediately. |
| 1947 | Independence Day | On 15th August 1947, India became free! Nehru gave the famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech. |
| Slogan | Who Said It |
|---|---|
| "Do or Die" (Karo ya Maro) | Mahatma Gandhi |
| "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom" | Subhas Chandra Bose |
| "Inquilab Zindabad" (Long Live the Revolution) | Bhagat Singh |
| "Swaraj is my birthright" | Bal Gangadhar Tilak |
| "Jai Hind" | Subhas Chandra Bose |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Independence | Freedom from the rule of another country |
| Revolt | A fight or uprising against those in power |
| Boycott | Refusing to buy or use something as a form of protest |
| Non-Cooperation | Refusing to help or work with the ruling power |
| Swaraj | Self-rule; governing ourselves |
| Massacre | The killing of many helpless people |
A. Fill in the Blanks:
B. Match the Slogan with the Leader:
| Slogan | Leader |
|---|---|
| "Do or Die" | |
| "Swaraj is my birthright" | |
| "Jai Hind" | |
| "Inquilab Zindabad" |
(Bhagat Singh, Gandhiji, Tilak, Bose)
C. Multiple Choice Questions:
D. Short Answer Questions:
Freedom Timeline: Draw a timeline from 1857 to 1947. Mark the 7 key events from this lesson on it. Use different colours for each event.
Slogan Poster: Choose your favourite freedom slogan and make a colourful poster with it. Decorate it with the Indian tricolour.