9:Understanding Decolonisation

Question 1

what is decolonisation?

Answer 1

the process by which European empires were dissolved
It was one of the most important developments of the 20th century

Question 2

Why did the membership of the UN grow so exponentially?

Answer 2

it had 51 member nations in 1945
it had 159 by 1989, because of Asian and African states winning their independence

Question 3

what country saw itself as an anti colonial power?

Answer 3

the USA

Question 4

Describe the metropolitan theories of decolonisation

Answer 4

-focused on great European powers
- a decline in European power is seen as the key to understanding the end of empire

Question 5

describe the peripheral theories of decolonisation

Answer 5

-focused on colonised peoples
-action by non-europeans forces (such as the rise of anti-colonial nationalist movements) are viewed as the key to expanding imperial decline

Question 6

nationalist movements in Europe before 1918

Answer 6

Ireland- a long tradition of resistance to British rule:
1798,1867,1916-easter rising

Question 7

Nationalist movements in Asia before 1918

Answer 7

India: 1857’mutiny’: 1885 National Congress Established
China: 1900 Boxer Rebellion & 1911 revolution

Question 8

Nationalist movements in the East/Middle East before 1918

Answer 8

Turkey: 1899 Committee of Union and Progress established, 1908-9 ‘young turk’ revolution
Iran: 1905-11 constitutional revolution
Emerging conflicting nationilsm either side of WW1-zionism and Arab nationalism

Question 9

Evidence of imperial decline before 1945

Answer 9

-decline of European global powers, and the emergence of alternatives
-WW1 destroyed colonial empires
-1917-18 anti imperial ideologies emerging
-anti-colonial uprisings in 1920s

Question 10

what were the anti-imperial ideologies that emerged in 1917-1918?

Answer 10

-Lenin and the Bolsheviks
-Woodrow Wilson and American liberal internationalism

Question 11

for how long did major European imperial powers manage to hold onto their colonial possessions for?

Answer 11

until 1939

Question 12

Evidence of empire in the First World War

Answer 12

2 million French African colonial troops served, over 200’000 were killed

Question 13

where did Empire stand in the inter-war years?

Answer 13

-colonial conquest was largely over, but decolonisation had not begun
-there were new ways of justifying imperialism; ‘trusts’, ‘mandates’, ‘the commonwealth’

Question 14

How was empire a strength/seen as a strength in the interwar years?

Answer 14

it was a source of men, money, bases and resources

Question 15

How was empire a vulnerability during the inter-war years?

Answer 15

how could far-flung territories be defended if they were struggling with internal/external challenges at home

Question 16

Impact of WW2 on the French empire

Answer 16

the fall of France in 1940 had huge implications for colonial rule in Africa, Asia and the Middle East
Britain took away French Syrian territory- they were afraid of Nazi expansion

Question 17

impact of WW2 on the US role in empire

Answer 17

August 1941:Atlantic Charter
-expressed anti-fascist and anti-imperialist values
-Roosevelt didn’t want to be seen as supporting British imperialism
-self determination key

Question 18

Impact of the War on Japanese Imperialism

Answer 18

1941-42: Japanese conquests in the name of anti-colonial liberation shattered European supremacy
Fall of Singapore-significant defeat of British power by a non-europeans
-justified it by anti-europeans Colonial liberation language

Question 19

why did the war have significant economic consequences for India?

Answer 19

-it provided a stimulus for industrialisation
- Indian manufacturers were encouraged to produce chemicals, cars and light tanks

Question 20

Examples of how changes at the international level was a reason for decolonisation after 1945

Answer 20

-Long term historical trends; the relative decline of European power that WW2 accelerated
-US faith in self determination
-Soviet anti-colonialism
-Anti-colonial principles fundamental in the new UN charter

Question 21

explain soviet anti-colonialism

Answer 21

Marxist-Leninist theories denounced imperialism as “the highest stage of capitalism”

Question 22

the relationship between decolonisation and the Cold War

Answer 22

• it did not cause decolonisation, but contributed to the end of European empires
  -decolonisation helped shape the Cold War
  -newly independent countries were important arenas for conflict between USA and Soviet Union

Question 23

Examples of how changes at the European national level was a reason for decolonisation after 1945

Answer 23

-ability of European powers to retain colonies diminishing, they were all relatively weaker economically and militarily
-public opinion about the desirability/legitimacy changed
-political elites changed attitudes
-the will to hang on to colonies not as strong after 1945

Question 24

Examples of how changes at the colonial level was a reason for decolonisation after 1945

Answer 24

Independence wasn’t just granted, colonies had to fight for it
increased nationalist groups and parties and increased willingness to fight for independence

Question 25

forces of nationalism in India

Answer 25

-indian nationalism was split between the Hindu Congress Party and the Muslim League

Question 26

events of decolonisation of India and Pakistan

Answer 26

Aug 1942: Ghandi launched the ‘Quit India’ campaign
1945: Clement Attlee’s Labour government committed to British withdrawal from India
1947: Britain announced its intention to withdraw from India by June 1948

Question 27

when did India and Pakistan gain independence ?

Answer 27

14th August 1947: partition and independence for India and Pakistan

Question 28

when did Sri Lanka and Burma get independence?

Answer 28

1948

Question 29

when was the majority of decolonisation in Africa?

Answer 29

1960s

Question 30

why was decolonisation in Africa complicated?

Answer 30

white settler populations and white minority governments in colonies like Algeria,Rhodesia and Kenya

Question 31

French African colonies that gained independence

Answer 31

Tunisian and Moroccan independence in 1956
west/Central African independence struggles were concluded between 1958-60

Question 32

the ‘French community’

Answer 32

1958
a plan for a decentralised federal system for African Territories
undermined when Guinea refused to join

Question 33

the collapse of the French federation

Answer 33

August 1960
it led to the emergence of 10 new independent African States

Question 34

End of the British African empire in the 1950s

Answer 34

1956: Sudan
1957: Gold Coast (Ghana)

Question 35

End of the British empire in the 1960s

Answer 35

• wind of change speech
  1960: Nigeria
  1961: Sierra Leione
  1962:Uganda
  1964: Zambia, Malawi, Zanzibar and Tanganyika united as Tanzania
  1966: Botswana
  1968: Swaziland

Question 36

End of British empire in the 1970s

Answer 36

1979: end of white minority rule in south Rhodesia
independent Zimbabwe In 1980

Question 37

when was south Rhodesia occupied?

Answer 37

1890

Question 38

When was it established as a Crown colony?

Answer 38

after 1923

Question 39

what sparked independence in Zimbabwe

Answer 39

1964: right wing Rhodesian front, dedicated to preserving white minority rule came to power
-condemnation from Britain and commonwealth states led to Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965

Question 40

establishing independence in Zimbabwe: british action

Answer 40

UK imposed sanctions
there was diplomatic deadlock until the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement set out a timetable for transition to black majority rule

Question 41

when did Zimbabwe become independent?

Answer 41

April 1980
with Robert Mugabe elected Prime Minister