Europe & the World: Decolonization

1. Europe & the World: Decolonization

2. What is Decolonization? • Decolonization: • Becoming free (from colonial rule) • Between WWI & WWII, several movements began throughout Africa and Asia • Empires were reluctant to let go of their colonies; however, their colonial domination seemed at odds with Allied goals during WWII

3. What is Decolonization? • Between 1947 and 1962, virtually every colony achieved independence and statehood • BITTER & DIFFICULT process • Ended the era of western domination

4. Decolonization: India

5. Decolonization: India • World War I • India provided troops to the British army • Promised Indian self-rule in return • World War II Ends • Self-rule was NOT GRANTED • As a result, nationalism & demands for independence increased

6. Decolonization: India • 1920s • Mohandas Gandhi emerged as a leader of the independence movement • Urged Indians to use non-violent tactics in order to achieve their goals • Civil disobedience, peaceful protest, etc.

7. Decolonization: India • 1935 • Great Britain granted India limited self-rule, but not total independence • Self-rule created tensions between the Hindu majority & the Muslim minority

8. Decolonization: India • World War II • Britain committed Indian troops to the war effort • Did not seek permission from India’s self-governing assembly • Led to an increasing number of protests and renewed calls for independence

9. Decolonization: India • World War II Ends • Great Britain weak, in debt & ready to grant India its freedom • Problem? • Violence between Hindus and Muslims made granting independence difficult • Possible solution?

10. Decolonization: India • 1947 • Great Britain agreed to a partition of India • Granted independence to two nations: INDIA & PAKISTAN • During the partition • 10 million people relocated • Widespread violence (1 million dead) • Gandhi was assassinated in 1949

11. Decolonization: India • At this point, India became the world’s LARGEST democratic nation • First Prime Minister • Jawaharlal Nehru • Emphasized democracy, unity & modernization

12. Decolonization: Africa

13. Decolonization: West Africa • World War II Ends • Colonial rule in Africa would have to end • Unfortunately, little had been done to prepare the colonies for self-rule • 1950s & 1960s • African colonies experienced decolonization and gained independence

14. Decolonization: West Africa • After World War II, Great Britain allowed Africans on the Gold Coast to participate in local self-government • DID NOT grant independence

15. Decolonization: Africa • 1947 • Kwame Nkrumah used Gandhi’s non-violent strategies to pressure Great Britain for independence • Nkrumah supported Pan-Africanism & hoped to createa “United States of Africa”

16. Decolonization: Africa • 1957 • After a decade of struggle, GB finally granted the GoldCoast independence • The nation was renamed Ghana • Kwame Nkrumah was elected president for life… • Problems?

17. Decolonization: South Africa • Unlike Ghana, demands for independence in South Africa were led by white colonists • 1931 • South Africa gained independence • White Afrikaners gained power & created a policy of apartheid • Apartheid • Laws that created strict racial segregation between blacks and whites

18. Decolonization: South Africa • Black South Africansprotested apartheid and violent riots often broke out • Anti-Apartheid Leader • Nelson Mandela • 1964 • Mandela arrested • Given a life sentence for opposing apartheid laws

19. Decolonization: South Africa • 1990 • New South African President F.W. de Clerk released Mandela • The South African parliament repealed all apartheid laws & announced the first multiracial election • 1994 • Nelson Mandela won the election and became South Africa’s first black president