The British Empire in the 20th Century

The British Empire in the 20th Century

The Aftermath of World War I

• Focus Question: How was the British Empire challenged after World War I?
• Key Analysis Questions:
  1. Why did British rule in Egypt and the Middle East come to an end?
  2. How did the people of India pursue and achieve self-rule?
  3. How did the British respond to calls for independence throughout their empire?
  4. How did ideas about modern nationalism manifest in Turkey and Persia?
  5. How did World War I change the attitude of Africans toward colonial governments?

Egypt

• Colonial History:
  • British occupation began in 1882; Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire.
  • Became a protectorate in 1914.
• 1922 Independence Movement:
  • The Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence was issued, granting independence but allowing British control over defense and the Suez Canal.
  • Egyptians sought further autonomy but British military presence remained.
• Anglo-Egyptian Treaty (1936):
  • Reduced British troop presence to 10,000 and allowed British military training for the Egyptian Army.

The Middle East

• Mandates Established Post-World War I:
  • Iraq, Transjordan, and Palestine became British mandates; Syria and Lebanon became French mandates.
  • Transjordan gained independence in 1928, Iraq in 1932; Palestine remained under British control due to strategic interests.
• Zionism:
  • The movement, initiated by Theodore Herzl, sought to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, supported by the Balfour Declaration (1917).
  • White Paper (1922) attempted to mitigate Jewish-Arab tensions by limiting Jewish immigration.

Turkey

• Post-War Territories:
  • Ottoman Empire territories were relinquished except for Turkey.
• Nationalism in Action:
  • Resistance to Greek invasion was led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who ultimately overthrew the Ottoman leadership.
• Atatürk's Reforms (1923 Onward):
  • Established a secular republic; separated religious laws from civic laws, granted women's rights, focused on Western-style modernization, including legal and educational reforms.

India

• Pursuing Self-Rule:
  • Increased nationalism following WWI due to contributions of over a million Indians in the British army.
• Rowlatt Acts (1919):
  • Enacted to suppress dissent; led to protests and violence, notably the Amritsar Massacre, deepening anti-British sentiment.
• Gandhi's Leadership:
  • Emerged as a leader advocating for nonviolent civil disobedience, highlighting economic independence from British goods through campaigns like the Salt March (1930).
• Resulting Political Changes:
  • The Government of India Act (1935) allowed for limited self-governance, reflecting the impact of civil disobedience campaigns.

Persia/Iran

• Nationalism and Modernization:
  • Reza Khan's coup (1921) leading to his rule as Reza Shah Pahlavi emphasized modernization similar to Atatürk in Turkey; Persia was renamed Iran in 1935.

Africa

• Growth of Nationalism Post-WWI:
  • Nationalist leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe (Nigeria), Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), and Léopold Senghor (Senegal) emerged to challenge colonial rule.
• Impact of WWI:
  • African soldiers' participation in the war fueled demands for independence.
• Demand for Democratic Governance:
  • Political unrest grew in Nigeria and Kenya against the backdrop of social inequalities and land dispossession.
• Calls for Unity:
  • Inspired by figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey, the Pan-Africanism movement sought African unity and identity.

Conclusion

• The era following World War I was marked by significant movements for independence and nationalism across British territories, reflecting a broader rejection of colonial rule and a demand for self-governance.