The object of this League was to attain home rule or self government within the British Empire by all constitutional means and to educate and organize public opinion in the country towards the attainment of this goal.

Tilak's activities were confined to Bombay Presidency and the Central province while Annie Besant popularized this movement in the rest of India. The branches of the league were set up all over the country. Tilak made a wirlwind tour of the country in 1916 and in his speeches he said, "Swaraj is my birthright and I will have it." He said that Home Rule through was the only cure of India's political ills and the grievances of the Indians. He preached the idea of Home Rule through his two news papers - the Kesari and the Maratha. Annie Besant also toured the country and created a lot of enthusiasm among the people for the cause of Home Rule. She carried on the propaganda in favour of it in the newspapers named New India and Common Weal.

The movement reached its peak in 1917. The Government got panicky at the activities of the Home Rule Movement and it thought of suppressing it with a heavy hand. The Government made use of Defence of India Act to curb the activities of the agitators. Students were prohibited from attending Home Rule meetings. Tilak was prosecuted for his fiery and exciting speeches and his entry in Punjab and Delhi was banned. Important leaders of the movement including Annie Besant were interned. Various restricitions were imposed on the press by using the Indian Press Act of 1910. But the repressive policy followed by the Government only added fuel to the fire. Strikes, agitation and protest meetings were organized through out the country.

The government realized the seriousness of the demonstrations that broke out in support of the Home Rule League. The Indians seemed to be prepared to pay any price to achieve the Home Rule. Therefore to appease the nationalists, the Secretary of State for India made a declaration on August 20, 1917 announcing the British policy towards India. He said, "The policy of his Majesty's Government was the gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to the progressive realization of the responsible government in India as an integral part of the Empire." As a result the Home Rule Movement died out gradually. Importance of the Home Rule Movement The Home Rule Movement has its own importance in the history of National Movement of India. It was an important milestone in the history of the Indian freedom movement. It transformed the national movement into the peoples' movement as more and more people began to take part in it. It worked as a light house when the political atmosphere in the country was full of disappointment. It put new life in the national movement. It gave definite shape and direction to the movement for Swaraj. It also influenced the foreign statesmen and several of the American leaders. Many British members also supported the demand for Home Rule to the Indians .