Europe and the World: Decolonization

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Europe and the WorldDecolonization

• AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

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Introduction

• Decolonization the process of becoming free of
  colonial status and achieving statehood
• Between WWI and WWII, movements for independence
  begun in earnest in Africa and Asia
• Dominance of colonial powers seemed at odds with
  Allied goals in WWII.
• Call for national self-determination fight for
  independence.
• Empires reluctant to let colonies go.

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Introduction

• Churchill I have not become His Majestys Chief
  Minister to preside over the liquidation of the
  British Empire
• European power destroyed by WWII.
• G.B. no longer had energy or wealth to maintain a
  colonial empire.

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Introduction

• Between 1947 and 1962, virtually every colony
  achieved independence and statehood.
• It was a difficult and bitter process.
• Created a new world non-Western states ended
  era of Western domination.

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Decolonization HOW

• The many differing African Asian groups used a
  variety of elements in their efforts to gain
  independence. Some of these include . . .
• Nationalism
• Military force / violence
• Mass demonstrations
• Economic boycotts
• Government representation democratic processes
• Indigenous religious beliefs symbols
• The wealth power of the African and Asian
  middle upper class.

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Africa The Struggle for Independence

• After WWII, colonial rule in Africa would have to
  end.
• Little had been done to prepare the colonies for
  self-rule.
• Two major methods in Africa
• Negotiated Independence Long or short term deal
  between European power and African colony
• Incomplete Decolonization White settler
  minority population given political power over
  black majority

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Independent Kenya

• British settlers controlled prime farmland in
  North fiercely resisted Decolonization there
• Forced to accept Independence due to
• the strong, popular leadership of Nationalist
  Jomo Kenyatta (Kikuyu educated in London)
• The rise of the Mau Mau secret society made up of
  mostly Kikuyu farmers forced out by British
  farmers
• Mau Maus aim frighten the white farmers into
  leaving
• Kenyatta was not a Mau Mau but he did not oppose
  them either
• 1963 Independence was granted but only after
  10,000 Kenyans 100 whites were killed
• Jomo Kenyatta became President
• Worked to unite the various ethnic /language
  groups
• Nairobi (capital) grew into a major business
  center

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Africa Kenya The Struggle for Independence

• Political organizations formed pre-war
• Convention Peoples Party Kwame Nkrumah
• Kenya African National Union Jomo Kenyatta
• Most political activities were non-violent.
• Constituents were primarily merchants, urban
  professionals, and members of labor unions.
• Kenyan Mau Mau movement
• Employed terrorism to achieve goal of uhuru
  (freedom).
• Convinced G.B. to promise eventual independence
  in 1959.

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Africa The Struggle for Independence

• Egypt became an independent republic in 1952,
  after being quasi-independent monarchy under
  British control since 1922.
• French not strong enough to maintain control over
  entire empire.
• France granted full independence to Morocco and
  Tunisia in 1956.
• Retained possession of Algeria.

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Algeria

• Appeal of Arab nationalism
• Large French settler population 1 million french
  colonists / 9 million Arab Berber Muslims
• 1954- 1962 war between FLN (nationalist party)
  and French troops
• part of France
• 300,000 lives

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Independents Algeria

• 1945- French troops fired on Algerian nationalist
  who were demonstrating--killing thousands of
  Muslims 100s of Europeans
• 1954 -Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN)
  moved to fight for independence
• FLN used guerrilla tactics at home but diplomacy
  (talk) internationally
• French sent ½ million troops to stop them
• Both sides committed atrocities
• European settlers began calling for De Gaulle to
  return as president in France to restore order in
  the colonies

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Africa The Struggle for Independence

• South Africa
• Formation of African National Congress in 1912.
• Goal of ANC was economic and political reforms,
  including equality for educated Africans.
• Whites created system of segregation known as
  apartheid
• ANC called for armed resistance after arrest of
  Nelson Mandela in 1962.
• Most black African nations achieved independence
  in the late 1950s and 1960s.

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De Gaulle Algeria

• 1958- De Gaulle returned to power
• He concluded that Algeria count not be held by
  force
• France let go of most of its African possessions
• 1962- a referendum set up the conditions for
  independence
• Transfer of power planned
• March -750,000 settlers fled Algeria
• July 1962 Independence
• Ahmed Ben Bella (FLN leader, imprisoned by
  French) became prime minister then President
• Reestablished order
• Began land refors
• Developed new plans for education
• 1965- he was overthrown by his Chief of Staff!

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Secular Religious Conflict over Power

• 1965-1988- attempt to modernize industrialize
• were undermined when
• world oil prices plunged (1985-86)
• Unemployment broken promises lead to an
  Islamic revival
• Riots in 1988 against the secular govt occurred
• Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) won in 1990 91
  elections
• Ruling govt refused the election results
• Civil War broke out Islamic militants vs govt
• The War continues of on today
• the international community is working on an
  agreement

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Independent Congo

• 1960- granted independence
• Renamed Zaire 1967-95- Tumultuous process
• Internal conflict Outside (UN USSR)
  intervention
• Patrice Lumumba 1st prime minister
• Ruled a divided country (He controlled the
  North)
• In the SE (Mineral rich Katanga region /
  copper)
• Moise Tshombe declared SE independent of the rest
  Tshombe backed by Belgian mining co.
• Lumumba 1st asked UN for help against Tshombe,
  then he turned to the USSR
• Colonel Mobutu (first working for Lumumba) led a
  military coup to over throw Lumumba turned him
  over to Tshombe
• Lumumba was murdered shortly after
• Tshombe ruled briefly until 1965 when
• Mobutu overthrough him seized power in a
  bloodless coup

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Mobutu

• Ruled 32 yrs
• Used a combo of force, 1 party rule bribes
• Zaires mineral wealth natural resources
  made it 1 of the richest
  in Africa
• Under Mobutu it became 1 of the poorest
• He is believed to have looted the country for
  billions
• Mobutu resisted many attempted rebellions
  ethnic clashes
• 1997 Laurent Kabila took over after a 7 month
  long civil war
• Banned all political parties
• Promised transition to democracy election by
  1999
• Never Happened
• Country is in constant state of rebellion

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Colonial Rule and Independence in Africa

• In 1955, only 3 independent states in sub-Saharan
  Africa
• By 1965, 31
• By 1980, whole continent independent except
  Namibia (1990)

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Conflict in the Middle East

• Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon became independent
  after WWII.
• Idea of Arab unity led to formation of Arab
  League in 1945.

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Conflict in the Middle East

• The Question of Palestine
• British reduced Jewish immigration in Palestine
  in 1930s.
• Zionists turned to U.S. for support.
• Truman administration approved independent Jewish
  state in Palestine.
• May 14, 1948, UN proclaimed new state of Israel
• Arab states refused to recognize existence of
  Israel

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Israel Becomes a State May 14, 1948

• Palestinians feared the increasing of Jews
  would result in hardships
• 1920 20 Arab Palestinian to 1 Jew /
  1947 2 to 1
• Post- WWII Britain was weary of failed solution
  for the problem deferred to the UN
• UN recommendation
• PARTIITION of Palestine into a Palestinian state
  a Jewish State
• Palestine 66 of the Pop. got 45 of the
  land / Jews 34 of the Pop. got 55
• Jerusalem was to be an international city
  owned by neither.
• All Arab nations voted against this Palestine
  rejected it completely
• The Jews welcomed the decision
• Country of Israel declared by United Nations,
  1948
• ? of Palestinian rights, boundaries access to
  things like water farmland went undetermined

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UN Partition Plan, 1947Effect Full Scale
Arab Israeli war!-Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
Saudi Arabia Syria invaded Israel
1st of many Arab-Israeli Wars


(56, 67, 73, 2006) . This ended w/in months in
Israels Victory. Israel had strong US support
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Arab Israeli War 1947-48

• Palestinian state never came to be
• 1948-49 Israel seized half the land set aside
  for the UN planned Palestinian state in the 1st
  Arab Israeli War
• (Gaza Strip taken by Israel Jordan took the
  West Bank)
• Palestinians fled out of Jewish controlled areas
  into UN refugee camps

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1956 Second Arab-Israeli WarSuez Crisis

• Egypt seized the Suez Canal from French British
  businesses
• Pres. Nasser (Egypt) was angry b/c the US
  Britain stopped financial support for the
  building of the Aswan Dam
• British French made an agreement with Israel
• Military air support if Israel marched on the
  Canal they did took it
• Egypt lost the canal, BUT
• Pressure from the international community (incl.
  US/USSR) forced Israel the European Allies to
  withdraw leave Egypt in charge of the canal

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1967 Six- Day War

• Tensions Grew
• By early 1967, Pres. Nasser his Arab allies,
  helped by USSR tanks aircraft, moved to close
  off the Gulf of Aqaba (Israels outlet to the Red
  Sea)
• Threatened, Israel attacked airfields in Egypt,
  Iran, Jordan, Syria
• Safe from air attacks, Israeli ground forces
  struck FAST on 3- Fronts
• War ended in 6 days. Israel lost 800 troops
  Arabs lost gt 15,000
• Results Israel militarily occupied then
  annexed the old city of Jerusalem, the Sinai
  Peninsula, the Golan Heights the West Bank.
  (providing a buffer btwn Israel the Arab
  states)
• Palestinians living in the newly occupied
  Jerusalem were offered citizenship in Israel or
  Jordan (most chose Jordanian)
• Palestinians living in the other occupied areas
  were NOT offered citizenship became stateless

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1973 Yom Kippur War

• Egypts new Pres. Anwar Sadat, planned a joint
  Arab attack on the holiest Jewish holiday
• Surprised! Israel incurred heavy casualties
  lost some of the territory lost in 1967
• Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir launched a
  counter attack regained most of the lost
  territory.
• An uneasy TRUCE (NOT a Peace Treaty) was agreed
  to after several weeks of fighting

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Egypt

• 1906 Dinshawai incident aroused nationalist
  passions.
• Actions post- Indep (1936) not sufficient.
• Coup detat in 1952 Gamal Abdel Nasser
• Nationalization of Suez 1956 protested by
  Israelis, British and French but diplomacy won
  over eventually.
• Nasser symbol of pan-Arab nationalism.

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Conflict in the Middle East

• Nasser and Pan-Arabism
• Col Gamal Abdel Nasser seized control of Egypt in
  1954
• 1968 Nationalized the Suez Canal Company.
• British and French launched a joint attack on
  Egypt to protect investment joined by Israel.
• U.S. and Soviet Union supported Nasser
• March 1958 Egypt united with Syria in United
  Arab Republic.
• Hoped that union would eventually include all
  Arab states.
• UAR ended when military leaders seized control of
  Syria.

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• U.S. granted independence to the Philippines in
  1946.
• Great Britain soon did same in India.
• Ethnic and religious differences made process
  difficult and violent.
• British negotiated with both Indian National
  Congress (Hindu) and the Muslim League.
• Muslims and Hindus were unwilling to accept a
  single Indian state.
• British India divided into two states India
  (Hindu) and Pakistan (Muslim).

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• 1948 Britain granted independence to Ceylon (Sri
  Lanka) and Burma (Myanmar).

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Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi

• Passed English bar - lawyer for Indian merchants
  in South Africa.
• Gandhis answer to a spiritual theory of social
  action Satyagraha - soul force. A tactic
  using nonviolent resistance or civil
  disobedience.

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A Revolution in Indian politics

• Gandhis Satyagraha -
• What do you think? Wherein in courage required
  in blowing others to pieces from behind a cannon,
  or with a smiling face to approach a cannon and
  be blown to pieces?...Believe me that a man
  devoid of courage and manhood can never be a
  passive resister.

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• Only Mahatma Gandhi objected to the division of
  India.
• India and Pakistan granted independence in Aug
  1947 million were killed trying to cross
  borders.
• Gandhi assassinated January 30, 1948.

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Refugees
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Modern India

• Largest democracy in the world
• Jawaharlal Nehru became the first prime minister
  for the next 17 years
• Democracy, Unity, Economic Modernization
• Challenges
• Kashmir years of conflict that continues today
• Cold War alignment NON Alignment Movement
• Industrialization slow but coming
• Social and cultural issues continuous challenges
  with progress
• Caste system
• Economic
• Womens rights

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• Indonesia emerged from Dutch East Indies in 1949.
• French tried to remain in Indochina, causing
  bloody struggle with Vietnamese nationalist
  guerrillas led by Ho Chi Minh.
• After defeat in 1954, France granted independence
  to Laos and Cambodia Vietnam was temporarily
  divided, eventually causing Vietnam War.

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• China under Communism
• 2 governments Nationalists led by Chiang
  Kai-shek in southern and central China (supported
  by Americans) and Communists led by Mao Zedong in
  North China.

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• China Under Communism (contd)
• Full-scale war broke out in 1946.
• In 1949, Chiangs government and 2 million of his
  followers fled to Taiwan.
• 1955 Chinese government collectivized all
  private farmland and nationalized most industry
  and commerce.
• Began radical program called Great Leap Forward
  in 1958 to increase productivity it was a
  disaster.

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• China Under Communism (contd)
• Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution lasted from
  1966 to 1976.
• Red Guards wanted to eliminate four olds old
  ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits.

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Asia Nationalism and Communism

• China Under Communism (contd)
• People began to turn against revolution, and
  reformers seized power when Mao died in September
  1976.

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Vietnam

• French rule since 1880s rice, mining, and
  rubber exports
• Rise of foreign educated intelligentsia (Ho Chi
  Minh)
• Formation of Viet Minh in 1941
• Guerrilla War with France (1946-1954)
• Divided country in 1954 led to gradual US entry
  to contain communism.

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Decolonization and Cold War Rivalries

• Independent nations found themselves caught in
  rivalry between US and USSR.
• Vietnam northern half Communist-ruled and
  southern half supported by American financial and
  military aid.

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Decolonization and Cold War Rivalries

• Many new nations, like India, attempted to remain
  neutral in Cold War.
• Neutral nations were put at odds with the U.S.,
  who tried to mobilize all nations against the
  communist threat.

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Decolonization and Cold War Rivalries

• Indonesia
• President Sukarno allied himself with Communist
  China and Soviet Union.
• Relied on domestic support for Indonesian
  Communist Party.
• Overthrown by conservative Muslim army in 1965
• Military government was established under General
  Suharto.
• Suharto re-established good relations with the
  West and attempted to repair economy.

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Women as leaders in the Movement

• Women fought alongside men in whatever capacities
  were permitted in Algeria, Egypt, China,
  Vietnam,India and elsewhere.
• China, 1942
• The fighting record of our women does not
  permit us to believe that they will ever again
  allow themselves to be enslaved whether by a
  national enemy or by social reaction at home.
• Women given constitutional rights but social and
  economic equality rarely achieved in postcolonial
  developing nations.

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Literature and Decolonization

• Expressions of nationalism and rejections of
  western superiority.
• Gandhi, I make bold to say that the Europeans
  themselves will have to remodel their outlooks if
  they are not to perish under the weight of the
  comforts to which they are becoming slaves.
• Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
• Senghor, Snow upon Paris
• Aime Cesaire, West Indian poet, founder of
  Negritude Return to my Native Land

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Challenges of Independence

• Ethnic disputes
• Dependent economies
• Growing debt
• Cultural dependence on west-gt religious
  revivalism as backlash
• Widespread social unrest
• Military responses to restore order

• Population growth
• Resource depletion
• Lack of middle class in some locales
• Education deficit and later, brain drain.
• Neo-colonialism through economic debt.

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Conclusions

• Decolonization was sometimes a violent process-
  dependent in large part on how many settlers had
  come to the colony.
• In many parts of world, decolonization was not
  revolutionary. Power passed from one class of
  elites to another. Little economic and social
  reform occurred.
• Significant challenges faced independent
  nations.
• Western economic dominance of the global trade
  system continued unabated. WHY?