The idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.

The First World War had created a new economic and political situation in India.

(i) It led to a huge increase in defence expenditures which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes.

(ii) Custom duties were raised and Income tax was introduced.

(iii) There was widespread anger in the rural area due to forced recruitment of soldiers.

Rowlatt Act (1919) had given the government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.

The growth of nationalism in the colonies is linked to an anti-colonial movement because people began discovering their unity in the process of their struggle with colonialism.The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups togrther.

In February 1922, Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement. He felt the movement was turning violent in many places and satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for mass struggles.