Part 3
The Road Towards Independence
First Cracks in the Empire
• 1920-1930 after WWI
– Colonized peoples participate
in war effort, expect
recognition for their sacrifices
• Nationalist movements gain ground
Population becomes pro-independent
Politically more structured
Most active in India, Indochina, North Africa, Syria and
Lebanon
Favorable Context
• WWII
– 1941 – Atlantic Charter written by Roosevelt and
Churchill – affirming all nations the right to self
determination
– By the end of WWII, colonialism seemed to contradict
the spirit of the Allies fight against Nazi Germany and
Fascist Italy
– Over 200,000 Africans had fought in Europe and Asia
for the Allies’ freedom and democracy – most noticed
the contradiction
– Japanese anti-European propaganda during the war
• Surge of anti-colonial nationalism after 1945.
Leaders used lessons in mass politicization and
mass mobilization of 1920’s and 1930’s.
• New International Context
– Superpowers (US & USSR) denounced colonialism
– The U.N. supported decolonization
• In 1960 the UN General Assembly passed Resolution
1514 that supported the end of colonization
• 1961 Decolonization committee created
– 1955 Bandung Conference – attended by Third
World nations collectively denounce colonization
29 independent
countries were
present,
representing over
half the world's
population
British Decolonization
• Progressive and negotiated independence
– Only few isolated cases of violence (e.g. Mau Mau
Uprising in Kenya)
• 1931, Britain: Statute of Westminster
– converted the British Empire into the British
Commonwealth
– allowed varying degrees of autonomy
Decolonization à la française
• Brazzaville Conference (1944) de Gaulle supports
reform policy but rejects idea of independence
and autonomy
– France seeks to maintain her Empire, way to regain
lost glory after WWII
– Though limited, the French colonies were given
representation in French parliament in the 4th French
Republic in 1947
– Despite advantages, most nationalists still sought
independence
– Violent reaction to Algerian riots in May 1945 and
Madagascar in 1947
– 1958 French position evolves - de Gaulle recognizes
necessity of decolonization
Colonial Wars
• Indochina
– 1946 France enters a war
against the nationalists
– Becomes part of the
Cold War struggle
• U.S. gives financial
support to France
• USSR and China give
military aid to the
Vietminh
French Defeat & Withdrawal
– May 7, 1954, Battle of Dien Bien Phu
• French defeated and pull out
• In July 1954 Geneva Accords recognize independence
of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
India
Colonization occurs long before Africa, therefore
decolonization begins earlier
¾ Hindu
¼ Muslim
Colonial Background of India
• British East India Company had
trading rights during Mughal Empire
• Mughal Empire collapsed in 1757,
BEIC took control with Sepoy force
• Sepoy Mutiny (Great Rebellion) in
1857 - warning to British
government
• Queen Victoria’s government took
direct control of the Raj in 1857
Sepoy Mutiny
1857
British India
• Upper class Indian bureaucracy given some local
power – indirect rule (but British made decisions
and passed laws, not Indians)
• Began to become a louder voice for self-rule
• Indian National Congress Party
– Formed in 1885 with British blessing
– Forum through which views of educated Indians could be
made aware to the British government
– Members become alarmed at growing racism of Brits to
Indians, realization of shared grievances, and growth of
common Indian identity.
• New identity in some ways created by British
presence
1st Indian National Congress 1885
Mohandas Gandhi
•
•
•
•
•
Indian middle class background
Appealed to Western-educated and the masses
Sollicitor trained in London
Head of National Indian Party from 1920
Non-violent protest based on civil
disobedience
–
–
–
–
–
–
Boycotts elections
Boycotts British products, schools, courts
Refuses to pay taxes
Organizes strikes
Organizes mass demonstrations
Supports Satyagraha or
truth force/soul force
Video: Gandhi’s Non-Violent Speech
Gandhi and Salt March 1930
Video extract: Gandhi & Civil Disobedience
Steps to India’s Independence pre WWII
• London signs the India Act 1935
– Gives form of political autonomy
• 1942 Congress Party launches “Quit India”
campaign
– Leaders arrested
– Massive violence erupts
Steps to India’s Independence post WWII
• Postwar period, negotiations resume
– UK accepts principle of independence
– Wants guarantees that country will remain unified and
minority (Muslims) rights protected
• Bloodbath between Hindus and Muslims
– 1946 Great Killing of Calcutta
Steps to India’s Independence post WWII
• British grant full independence
1947 with partition
– Territory divided into 2 nations: India
and Pakistan
– Extreme violence between
communities (300 – 500 thousand
deaths, 10-15 million people migrate
• Gandhi assasinated by Hindu
extremist in 1948
Great
partition of
India and
Pakistan 1947
Video: India Pakistan
Partition BBC Special
0 – 1’50
Jawharlal Nehru
• 1929 becomes president of Congress Party
• Fights for total Indian independence
• Becomes Prime Minister of India until his
death in 1964
Nation-Building in Africa
• Most of African
Independence
would be achieved
well after WWII,
but the
movements
themselves began
during the interwar period
Pan-Africanism
• In response to war-time promises made to Africans in
exchange for their military service which never materialized
• to support the cause of African unity against foreign presence
– Marcus Garvey
– W.E.B. Dubois
– Negritude Literary Movement
• In 1945, the 5th Pan African Congress met and discussed the
prospect of independence – attending were a number of
leaders who would eventually lead their nations to
independence
Decolonization in Africa
First wave of 1950-1960
• French protectorates
– in North Africa Negotiated Independence
• 1956 Morocco and Tunisia independent in
• Algeria, completely different story
– Sub-Saharan Africa
• 1956 France concedes beginning of autonomy
• 1958 Referendum (independence or community? )
• 1959-1960 Colonies gain independence
UK
• in West Africa UK accepts decolonization
– West Africans had adopted many elements of
western civilization
– Early ties allowed more opportunities for
education and modernization
– Nationalists in West Africa drew from their own
history and western influences
– Gold Coast (Ghana) independent in 1957
• In Eastern Africa where large white minority,
Great Britain reluctant to withdraw
– Kenya, Mau Mau rebellion put down 1952
Former British colonies in Southern Africa
– European minorities impose domination by
Whites
– 1980 black majority rises to power in South
Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
South Africa
• Gained independence from Britain
in 1910
– White minority dominated political
and economic institutions
– Educated Africans began organizing
movement to gain power
– The African National Congress (ANC)
tried to reason with government
– In 1960, after an African riot, the
government instituted strict
measures to formally separate the
races in South Africa through a
system known as apartheid
– 1991 apartheid disappears in South
Africa
– Nelson Mandela elected leader in
1992
Algeria – A national liberation war
A. Beginnings of the War in Algeria
• 1950 considered as integral part of
French territory
– 1 million Europeans
– 9 million Muslim Algerians
– Major inequalities between populations
• 1954 wave of terrorist attacks
– creation of National Liberation Front (FLN),
struggle for independence begun
– French gov’t immediately sends in
military forces
FLN unit troops
B. Progressive deepening
of the Algerian War (19541958)
• Repression more and more
violent
• French refusal to acknowledge
state of war
– “Maintaining the peace”
operations
– Military action against small
number of “fellaghas” and not
against Algerians
• 1956, military numbers double
Fellaghas – Road Bandits
Harkis Soldiers
• 1957 FLN brings war to the city Battle of
Algiers
– FLN uses blind terrorism; random bombings
– French military resorts to frisking, torture, arrests
– French Authorities and FLN partisans denounce
violence of FLN (against French and Muslim alike)
C. De Gaulle puts an end to the war
(1958-1962)
“Long Live French Algeria!”, June 6th, 1958
D. De Gaulle’s Policies towards Algeria
• Progressively leads to negotiation
• September 1959, recognizes Algerians have a
right to self-determination
– Partisans of French Algeria and members of Army feel
betrayed
– Sparks week of rioting in Algiers - January 1960
“the week of the barricades”
E. OAS bombings
• April 1961, 4 generals attempt a coup d’état to
take over the country
• OAS (Organization of the Secret Army )
created 1961
– Organizes series of terrorist attacks in France &
Algeria
F. Independence
• March 18, 1962
negotiations with FLN result
in the Evian accords
• Independence proclaimed
July 5, 1962
• 800,000 Europeans flee the
country
• 25,000 Harkis, treated as
traitors, exiled in France
Repatriation of French Algerians
G. Legacy of Algerian War
• Heavy human casualties
• National Liberation War
but also a Civil War
• Public Opinion in France
very divided
• Long since taboo
subject in French
education similar to Vietnam
experience for
Americans
Video: Aljazeerah - Veterans: The French in Algeria
15’30”
Reading Assignment - Homework
• The Unfinished Nation by Alan Brinkley
“Chapter 20 The Imperial Republic”, pp 534-554
• Mastering Modern World History by Norman Lowe
“Chapter 24 The End of the European Empires”, pp.
509-541
• The World Since 1914 by Joe Scott, “Part 8: The End
of Empire” (6 pages) (link to be found on blog)