📍Topic 8.5: Decolonization after 1900

📖 AMSCO p.579 - p.585

Main Idea

Key Timeline

Image Courtesy of Riya Patel

Things to Know

Movements for Autonomy: India and Pakistan

• The Indian National Congress, formed in the 19th century, set the stage for the pursuit of autonomy.
  • Mohandas Gandhi's leadership in 1920 further solidified the Congress's role in the quest for independence.
  • Hindu and Muslim groups, united in their opposition to British rule, implemented tactics such as mass civil disobedience to amplify their collective resistance.
  • The Muslim League, founded in 1906, fervently advocated for the establishment of a separate Muslim nation—Pakistan.
  • The post-World War II period saw heightened demands for independence, leading to negotiations and transformative changes in the region.

Decolonization in Ghana and Algeria

• Ghana's attainment of independence in 1957 marked a watershed moment as the first sub-Saharan African country to break free from colonial rule.
  • Kwame Nkrumah's emphasis on nationalism played a pivotal role in shaping the post-independence trajectory.
  • The Algerian War for Independence (1954-1962), led by the FLN, brought about significant violence and casualties.
  • The aftermath of independence saw Algeria grappling with internal challenges as it transitioned into statehood.
  • Ghana faced its share of challenges under Nkrumah's leadership, with accusations of economic mismanagement and corruption.
  • Algeria, post-independence, adopted a single-party state model, facing internal strife and implementing socialist policies.

Negotiated Independence in French West Africa

• France's negotiations for independence with its West African colonies, including Senegal and the Ivory Coast, marked a shift in colonial dynamics.
  • Political awakening in the mid-1950s paved the way for a new era of self-governance in French West Africa.
  • Various African political parties emerged in French West Africa by the mid-1950s, reflecting a growing desire for self-determination.
  • France's historical investment in infrastructure and trade played a role in shaping the negotiation process.

Nationalism and Division in Vietnam

• Ho Chi Minh's leadership ignited a struggle for independence against French reoccupation after World War II.
  • The subsequent Vietnam War, with U.S. involvement, left a lasting impact on the region and reshaped Southeast Asia.
  • U.S. support for South Vietnam against the Viet Cong intensified the conflict, leading to significant casualties.
  • The withdrawal of U.S. troops in 1971 marked a turning point, with North Vietnam gaining control and the region facing complex challenges.
  • Post-war, Vietnam introduced market-based economic reforms, initiating a period of transformation.

Struggles and Compromise in Egypt

• Having long been under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire, Egypt became a nominally independent kingdom in 1922.
  • Gamal Abdel Nasser, along with Muhammad Naguib, overthrew the king and established the Republic of Egypt.
  • Nasser's domestic policies blended Islam and socialism, emphasizing land reform and nationalization of industries.
  • The Suez Crisis in 1956, triggered by the nationalization of the Suez Canal, highlighted international tensions and the struggle for control.
  • The removal of foreign troops was followed by the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) by Nasser in 1963.

Independence and Civil War in Nigeria

• The western African country of Nigeria, the most populous state on the continent, gained independence from Britain in 1960.
  • The Biafran Civil War began in 1967 when the Igbos tried to secede from the northern-dominated government.
  • The war ended in 1970, and Nigeria granted amnesty to a majority of Igbo generals.
  • A series of military coups continued until the 1999 election of Olusegun Obasanjo, ushering in a democratic civilian government.

Canada and the "Silent Revolution" in Quebec

• Quebec, the largest of Canada's provinces, experienced the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s.
  • Political and social changes in Quebec, led by the Liberal Party, fueled desires for separation from the rest of Canada.
  • French Canadian nationalism expanded, and splinter groups adopted extreme tactics, including terrorist bombings that began in 1963.
  • Pierre Trudeau, a native of Quebec, preserved Canada's unity, and a 1995 referendum to make Quebec an independent nation failed by a narrow margin.

Terms to Remember