1) The movement started with middle-class participation in the cities and merchants saw it as an opportunity to increase domestic production as foreign cloth and other goods were burnt.
2) Some political parties such as Justice Party joined the movement to gain power which only Brahmins had.
3) Peasants and tribals joined the movement as a means to protest against landowners
4) Plantation workers joined the movement, thinking they will be able to go home rather than stay enclosed in their plantations.
5) The peasants in Awadh, tribal also joined in the non-cooperation movement which was called off because of the violence in Chauri Chaura.