Read the source below carefully to answer question (a). The Government of India Act of 1935 was opposed on all sides in India. However, it was an important step towards independence, as it provided the basis for the negotiations which finally resulted in the British leaving India. Parliamentary systems had been set up, in which the Indian people gained increased representation. The 1937 elections, which both the Congress and Muslim League wanted to contest, followed quickly at provincial level.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2014). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] Reward each correct statement with 1 mark. 2 marks can be awarded for a developed statement. Candidates might refer to:
2. The elections caused great disappointment for Muslims as Congress won absolute majorities in 5 provinces and largest single party in 4 others.
3. Muslims won only 109 seats that were reserved for Muslims.
4. However was first major election that Muslim League fought and on a united basis, learnt a number of lessons – realised it had to improve organisation and planning, knew its support lay in more areas where Muslims were in a minority and where they were a majority they didn't feel threatened by Hindus.
5. Realised they had an image problem – wealthy aristocrats relating to desperately poor and illiterate Muslims.
6. Led to Congress atrocities in some areas (Bande Matram, Wardha Scheme etc.)
7. [1] LEVEL 1: Simplistic statement The Hindus didn't like it
8. [2-4] LEVEL 2: Identifies reasons Hindus wanted to protest and banned British goods
9. [5-7] LEVEL 3: Explains reasons The Hindus' objection to Partition was so great that it caused the British to reconsider it. The Hindus opposed it by holding meetings and mass rallies, which put pressure on the British government. They thought it was a deliberate attempt to ‘divide and rule' on the part of the British. The Hindus were so angry that they attempted to assassinate Lord Minto and started their boycott of British goods under the ‘Swadeshi Movement'. There was also an outbreak of terrorist activities.
10. [1-2] LEVEL 1: Simplistic statement Problems existed between Muslims and Hindus
11. [3-6] LEVEL 2: Description of political developments The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was an agreement between the Muslims and Hindus The Morley-Minto Reforms became law in 1909 as the Indian Councils Act.
12. [7-10] LEVEL 3: Explains success or failure
13. [9-13] LEVEL 4: Explains both Success The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was an agreement between the Muslims and Hindus, which placed a number of political demands to the British government in an attempt to show a united front and produce common aims. For the first time Hindus acknowledged that Muslims had the right to a separate electorate and was therefore seen as a beacon of hope for the future. The Morley-Minto Reforms became law in 1909 as the Indian Councils Act. The importance of the Councils, which were enlarged, was to ensure that Indian legislators were given a chance to express their opinions. The British also accepted the right of Muslims to have a separate electorate. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms held out concessions to political parties provided that they accepted the right of the British to remain in control. Failure The Morley-Minto Reforms were well intentioned but the councils that were enlarged could only give advice, with power remaining in the hands of the British. The Indians objected to this as they wanted more say in their affairs. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms disappointed the Muslims and Hindus as they had hoped for greater concessions. Central government reserved sweeping powers for itself with only minor concessions for the locals. As the Indians had supported the British during WW1 they felt that the British government should reward this by giving them more responsibility in running their own affairs. The Rowlatt Act of 1919 followed the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms and increased the resentment of the political parties by including the right of arrest without a warrant and detention without bail. This was to cause great unrest.
14. [14] LEVEL 5: As Level 4 – also produces a judgement or evaluation