After the failure of Cripps Mission, Gandhiji decided to start his third phase of struggle against British rule. This is known as Quit India Movement. It started in August 1942. The immediate cause of this Movement was the failure of the Cripps Mission. Gandhi demanded that the British should leave India peacefully and in a timely manner. Congress accepted that idea. On 8 August 1942, Congress met at Bombay and passed a resolution asking the British to quit India. The resolution made it clear that to make the British go away, a struggle would be organized under Gandhi. This struggle is known as Quit India Movement. Gandhi asked the people to come into the open with the slogan ‘Do or Die’.
1. It was a popular movement. Thousands of ordinary people came with their support. Youths were ready to quit colleges and go to jail.
2. It showed the willingness of the people to suffer for freedom and to go to any extent to achieve freedom.
3. It made the British realize that their days were numbered. It forced them to negotiate the transfer of power.
4. It brought world’s attention to the Indian struggle for freedom.