The process of split in the Congress in the early years of the twentieth century began over the strategies, objectives, and participation of the people in the Congress Movement. This split eventually led to the formation of two factions within the Indian National Congress, known as the Moderates and the Extremists.

Strategies of the Congress Movement:
- The Moderates, led by leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Surendranath Banerjee, believed in a gradual and constitutional approach towards achieving independence from British rule. They advocated for reforms within the existing political system and emphasized the importance of dialogue and negotiation with the British authorities.
- On the other hand, the Extremists, led by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bipin Chandra Pal, believed in a more aggressive and militant approach. They criticized the moderate methods as being too passive and called for direct action, mass mobilization, and the use of boycotts and strikes to challenge British authority.

Objectives of the Congress Movement:
- The Moderates focused on the attainment of self-government within the framework of the British Empire. They aimed to achieve political representation and greater autonomy for Indians through peaceful means.
- The Extremists, however, sought complete independence from British rule. They argued for the establishment of a sovereign and democratic republic in India, free from any foreign control.

Participation of the people in the Congress Movement:
- The Moderates primarily consisted of the educated middle class, lawyers, and professionals who believed in the power of dialogue and negotiation to bring about change. They saw the Congress as a platform to voice their grievances and to push for reforms.
- The Extremists, on the other hand, had a broader base of support, including students, peasants, workers, and radical nationalists. They believed in the active participation of the masses in the freedom struggle, emphasizing the importance of mass movements and mobilization.

The differences in strategies, objectives, and the participation of the people eventually led to a split in the Congress in 1907 at the Surat session, where the Extremists were temporarily successful in electing their candidate as the president of the Congress. This led to a deepening divide between the two factions, with the Moderates forming the Indian National Congress (Moderate) and the Extremists forming the All India Congress (Extremist). The split highlighted the ideological and tactical differences within the Congress and marked a significant shift in the trajectory of the freedom struggle.