AP World History Unit 8 - Lesson 8.5

Decolonization After 1900

Autonomy Movements of India and Pakistan

  • Hindu and Muslims groups united their desire for independence from Britain and were successful, led by Gandhi.
  • Muslim League: Supporters for a separate nation for the Muslims of India (Pakistan).
  • Protesters of Gandhi’s approach for unity put differences aside during WWII, but continued after.
  • Britain was ready to negotiate South Asian independence after being weakened from WWII, economic pressures, and the Royal Indian Navy Revolt of 1946.
  • India and Pakistan both claimed independence in 1947.

Ghana and Algeria

  • With the aid of the United Nations, the independent Gold Cost combined with the former British Togoland to form the first Sub-Saharan independent country, Ghana (1957).
  • Pan-Africanism: idea that Africans have common interests and should be unified.
  • Kwame Nkrumah: First President of Ghana.
    • Nkrumah constructed national narratives about glory for Ghana, to increase Ghanaian nationalism.
    • When voters agree to a One Party State due to economic problems, Nkrumah claimed dictatorial powers.
    • Organization of African Unity: Founded by Nkrumah, alliance of independent African nations with the goal of cooperation between new African governments.
    • In 1966 Ghana was overthrown by a military coup and a President did not return till 2000.
  • Prior to independence for Algeria, they faced violance rising from economic, political, and social crisis protests and the French government’s enforced response.
  • The Algerian War for Independence was fought between Algerians who wanted independence and French settlers who believed the colony was part of France at that point.
    • National Liberation Front (FLN): Radical nationalist movement in Algeria.
    • French Communist Party sided with Algeria, causing violence in the streets of France.
    • FLN maintained a socialist authoritarian rule that didn’t tolerate dissent (one party rule).
  • Algerian Civil War: Starting in 1991, violent conflict begun with Islamic rebel groups against the Algerian FLN government.
  • Ghana promoted elected governments while Algeria consisted of authoritarian power and banning elections, which brought harsh fighting.

French West Africa Independence

  • During indirect rule, France invested infastructure and agriculture into West Africa, returning trade revenue.
  • By 1959, many West African French colonies negotiated independence.

Vietnam Division

  • After and before WWII, France occupied Southern Vietnam.
  • Ho Chi Minh: communist leader of North Vietnam.
  • Vietnamese War of Independence: Northern Vietnam forces and France fought over control of South Vietnam, ending with a peace treaty splitting North and South Vietnam as independent countries.
  • Fearing a communist take over of the Vietnams, the US and South Vietnamese governments fought the Northern Vietnamese and the Viet Cong.
    • North Vietnam took over after 1975, and spread some communist rule to Laos and Cambodia.
    • Made economic reforms.

Egypt

  • Egypt became a nominally independent kingdom in 1922 with some British authority until the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian treaty gave Egypt more power.
  • In 1952, Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew the Egyptian King and established the Republic of Egypt.
    • Nasser supported Pan-Arabism, and his policies combined Islam and socialism.
    • Begun to nationalize businesses, including an attempt on the Suez Canal.
  • Suez Crisis: When Nasser of Egypt tried to nationalize the Suez Canal, owned by Britain and France, leading to Israel invading Egypt on behalf of Britain and France.
    • The U.S. and Soviet Union opposed the action and interfered, leading to peaceful compromise.

Nigeria’s Independence and Civil War

  • Biafran Civil War: After Nigeria gained independence from Britain, the Igbos, a Christian tribe in oil rich region, declared independence due to Islamic attacks on them, but failed.
  • Nigerian government tried to prevent tribalism from breaking up the country, by established states between ethnic/religious lines
  • Conflicts over Nigerian government exploitation of the oil occurred with destructive protests.

Quebec Silent Revolution

  • Quiet Revolution: The peaceful change of government in Quebec.
    • Divide between French nationalist Quebec people, and British.
    • Canada stayed together despite efforts for Quebec independence.