What was Rowlatt Act of 1919 …

(i) The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 by the British government despite the united opposition of the Indian members. (ii) It gave enormous powers to the government. (iii) Now, the British government could suppress the political activities, and allow detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.Indian people reacted to it stoutly. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, they decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919). (i) Rallies were organised in various cities. (ii) Workers went on strike in railway workshops. (iii) Shops closed down. To suppress the nationalists the British administration (i) Put the local leaders in jail. (ii) Debarred Mahatma Gandhi from entering Delhi. (iii) On 10 April, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession. (iv) On 13 April, the Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place.

(i) The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 by the British government despite the united opposition of the Indian members.
(ii) It gave enormous powers to the government.
(iii) Now, the British government could suppress the political activities, and allow detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.Indian people reacted to it stoutly. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, they
decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919).
(i) Rallies were organised in various cities.
(ii) Workers went on strike in railway workshops.
(iii) Shops closed down.
To suppress the nationalists the British administration
(i) Put the local leaders in jail.
(ii) Debarred Mahatma Gandhi from entering Delhi.
(iii) On 10 April, the police in Amritsar fired upon a peaceful procession.
(iv) On 13 April, the Jallianwalla Bagh incident took place.

(i) In the year 1919, the British Government passed a new rule called Rowlatt Act, under which the Government had the authority and power to arrest people and keep them in prisons without any trial if they are suspected with the charge of terrorism. 

(ii) Mahatma Gandhi was extremely agitated by enactment of Rowlatt Act. He was extremely critical about the act and argued that everyone cannot be punished for isolated political crime. 

(iii) The Act was ill famed as 'Black Act' by the people and Indians revolt in protest against the Rowlatt Act.

The Rowlatt Act was passed by the British government to increase their grip on power over the common folk. This law was passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council which gave them the power to arrest any person without any trial. To abolish this act, Gandhi and the other leaders called for a Hartal (suspension of work) to show Indians’ objection with this rule.

The impact of Rowlatt Satyagrah on political situation in India was immense. Gandhi organised Rowlatt Satyagrah against the Rowlatt Act which gave enormous power to the government to suppress the political activities of Indian leaders.

In opposition of the Act, protests and rallies were organised in various cities, workers went on strikes in railway workshops, and shops closed down. The British government tried to suppress the nationalist activity brutally. Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar, and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi. After attacks on post offices and railways, martial law was imposed and General Dyer took command. Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919. This incident shocked the entire nation. As the news of Jallianwalla Bagh spread, crowds took to the streets in many north Indian towns. There were strikes, clashes with the police and attacks on government buildings.

Thus, we can say that the Rowlatt Satyagrah led to an increase in nationalist activities of people in the country