Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slow down in the cities, even though it had started strongly?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:36 · grounding rag
Model Answer
The Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slowed down in cities due to several reasons:
- Economic hardship of boycott: Indian merchants and lawyers found it difficult to sustain the boycott of British goods and courts for long periods, as it affected their livelihoods and incomes severely.
- Lack of alternatives: The boycott of foreign cloth was successful initially, but Indian mill cloth and khadi were not available in sufficient quantities to meet the demand, making it hard to continue.
- Fear of popular violence: Many Congress leaders were worried that the mass movement could turn violent, making them hesitant to push it aggressively in urban areas.
Despite an enthusiastic start, these practical difficulties caused the urban movement to lose momentum over time.
Source: Chapter 2, Section 1.3 — Why Non-cooperation?
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Explanation
- The examiner expects 3 distinct reasons, each briefly explained — one point per mark is a safe strategy.
- Key terms to use: boycott, khadi/swadeshi, fear of violence, economic hardship.
- Avoid mixing up Non-Cooperation Movement (1921) details with Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) — the question is specifically about the former.
- The passage hints at hesitation within Congress and fear of violence; these are the most textbook-supported points to include.