In the first twenty years of its existence the Congress remained a moderate organisation. It was dominated by leaders who were known as Moderates due to their peaceful methods of political work and their belief in the good work of , the colonial rulers. These leaders thought that if public opinion was created, both in India and in Britain, and if reasonable demands were presented to the authorities, they would succeed in their goal.

The Moderates had faith in the British Parliament and the British people and carried out propaganda in Britain to influence public opinion there. In 1889, a committee of the Indian National Congress' was founded in Britain, in 1890 a journal titled India was started there, and many Mans were sent to Britain to campaign for the nationalist cause.