Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization Flashcards
This deck is designed to assist you in understanding the historical processes that led to the Cold War and decolonization and its effects.
What was the Amritsar massacre?
1919; in which 319 Indians, some Hindu and some Muslim, were slaughtered in a walled park as they protested against the arrest of two of their leaders who were also peacefully protesting; it garnered enough momentum to have multiple Indians join the movement
Who was Mohandas Gandhi?
Became the Indian movements most important voice during the 1920s; believed in passive resistance/civil disobedience, in which they would stage demonstrations and refuse to assist the colonial government; his policies also included protests and strikes (recall the strike against the British salt factories)
How did Ghandi influence history?
His peaceful policies influenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Why were there still violent interactions occuring between the Muslims and Hindus?
There was still religious issues between Muslims and Hindus; in the 1920s, Ghandi called for Indian unity above religious considerstions, but the Muslim League pushed for the creation of a Muslim nation and started using the term “Pakistan”
What happened After India declared itself independent of British rule?
Radical Hindus and Muslims started killing each other.
What were the two schools of thoughts regarding the newly independent sub-continent?
First: United India with religious tolerance of both Hindus and Muslims
Second: Partition the sub-continent and form a Muslim nation in north India, where Islam became the dominant religion; this one ultimately became supported by the British because they found it was good to separate people intent on killing each other
Who was Muhammad Ali Jinnah?
Promoted the second school of thought
What was the plan submitted by Britain to the leaders of the newly independent India in 1947?
India in the south and Pakistan in two parts, one to the northwest of India (Pakistan) and the other to the east (East Pakistan, currently Bangladesh)
What happened after the plan to split India was announced?
Nearly a half million people were killed as they migrated to their respective “sides”; in the end, the moving of so many people along these religious lines served to create a conflict between Pakistan and India
Today, India and Pakistan are still fighting, especially at Kashmir. Why?
Because religious self-determination is still a big issue
What happened in 2008 Pakistan?
2008 saw a significant increase in terrorism between the two nations as Pakistan became less stable
Why did hundreds of thousands of Africans fought for their colonial powers during the war?
They thought, “If we’re willing to die for our governing country, then we must be set free.”
Why was South Africa significant?
Was a significant British colony, complete with extensive infrastructure (cough**cough railroads); in 1910, it established its own constitution as the Union of South Africa, still under British rule but with a lot of self-autonomy; in 1912, the African National Congress was made to oppose British colonialism (only white men could vote under the constitution)
What was the African National Congress?
Parallel to the Indian National Congress
What occurred after South Africa’s independence?
The nations north of the Sahara were the next colonies to win independence
Who was Gamal Nesser?
Overthrew the Egyptian king and established a republic; nationalized industries such as the Suez Canal; prompted other Islamic nationalists to seek independence along the Mediterranean
Why was independence a trickier issue for African countries south of the Sahara?
The problem was that while nearly everyone wanted independence, most of the colonies had been raped of their resources; national unity among the natives was also difficult to foster
The problem was that while nearly everyone wanted independence, most of the colonies had been raped of their resources. Why is this so?
There was little investments in human beings, unlike in India where upper-caste Indians were educated and could even attend universities in Britain; so, if these colonial powers left, there would be too little people with the skills to take charge and build a productive society
Why was national unity difficult to foster in sub-Saharan Africa?
Remember that Africa was divided according to what Europeans saw fit, so there would be Africans in the same colony that would speak different langauges and have differing, even opposing, customs; even when they became independent, it was hard to build strong and stable societies with such different people
Decolonization and nation-building occurred in a variety of ways across Africa; name some notable cases.
The following are some examples:
Algerians: fought a bitter war with the French
Nigeria and Ghana: in the early 1960s, used a Parliamentary government style only to adapt presidential ones after a series of military coups
Kenya: negotiated its constitution with Britain after a major crackdown by coffee planters not wanting to lose profitable property
Angola and Belgian Congo: overthrew colonial governments only to become caught up in civil war or Cold War tensions
What was the African Union?
Consists or 53/54 of Africa’s nations; founded in 2001
What do all the following countries have in common:
Chad, Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, and Rwanda as well as the newly renamed Democratic Republic of Congo?
All these countries have been wrecked by civil wars since the turn of the 21st century; attempts at stable democracies have been prevented by “big man” politics and corruption
Why were European nations so interested in Africa?
Palm oil and rubber have given way to petroleum and metals including nickel, cadmium, and lithium
What are NGOs?
NGOs are nongovernmental organizations that are usually nom-profit that provide relief to nations that are in need of it (think of the Red Cross); they arose after WWII because the major international governmental organizations were criticized for only acknowledging the victors of the war and not those in minority, hence why NGOs were formed to meet that need
