WHAP UNIT 8.5 Decolonization

Causes of Decolonization

• Weakening European empires

• Armed Struggle

  • W/ USA/USSR Support

• Negotiations

North America

Quebec: Predominantly French & Protestant Canadian province that became controlled under English Protestants

• Quiet Revolution: Liberal Party economic reforms inspired more self-determination + terrorist nationalist groups

South Asia

Indian National Congress: Self-determination thru non-violence + civil disobedience under Ghandi + Muslim/Hindu unity challenged

• Royal Indian Navy Revolt: UK weaker & failed to implement promised freedoms + Strengthening Indian navy + economic pressure → Independence !!!

• Muslim League: Advocated separate Muslim state (Pakistan)

West Africa

- Ghana: UK negotiates Gold Coast & Togoland

• Kwame Nkrumah: 1st President & Pan-Africanist (inspired by West) glorified past + public works + corruption & debt + one-party state + OAU

- FRN West Africa: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Niger negotiate independence from indirect rule of small troops dominant center/left parties

- Biafran Civil War: Westernized + Christian + oil-rich NIger River Igbo ppl try seceding w/ Biafra (failed)

• Tribalism: Gov. tries to limit thru federation states along religious lines + dual legal system + intermarriage encouraged

• Protests: Allegedly exploited oil + pollution → burned wells & pipelines

North Africa

- Algerian War of Independence: FRN restrictions + settlers + violence sparked nationalist movements

• National Liberation Front (FLN): guerilla warfare w/ more Algerian casualties

• Charles de Gaulle: French president negotiates steps to independence

• Refugees: Algerians fled to FRN

• Independence: One-party socialism (industry + commones)

- Algerian Civil War: Violence spurred from Islamic Salvation Front winning cancelled election

• Fundamentalists: Strict followers of Islam assassinate president → banned religious parties

- Egypt: Independent kingdom w/ UK military influence

• Gamal Abdel Nasser: Pan-Arab president est. non-alignment + social welfare

  • Aswan High Dam: electricity & irrigation

    • Suez Canal: FRN-invested labor exploitation + UK-owned → Nationalized → UK & FRN invasion → UN internationalizes

Southeast Asia

Ho Chi Minh: After WWII, violently attempts Vietnamese unification under communism

• Vietnamese War for Independence: Victory → Splits into north & south

• Vietnam War: Viet Cong (Southern communists) vs. USA

  • Anti-war protests: USA

  • Cambodia & Laos: Communist

  • Free Market Reforms: USA reopens trade & diplomacy

  • Refugees: South → cities (Saigon)