Unit 4: Decolonization

Colonization Imperialism (acquiring overseas colonies) was empire building Europeans dominated the world Raw materials, Markets for manufactured goods, prestige, political/ military power

Empires in 1945

Many 20th century events changed the imperialism that existed in 1900 Ww1 Treaty of Versailles World War II Cold War

Colony & Sphere of Influence 1. Colony: a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country 1. Sphere of Influence: A territorial area over which political or economic influence is wielded by one nation.  2. raw materials for industry, markets for manufactured goods

WW2 & Decolonization During WW2, not only did many Axis and Allied nations lose control of their colonies but the war also reduced their power The appearance of national resistance movements in the decades after WW2, coupled with the expense of maintaining colonial control, led to the idea that self-determination should occur in many colonies 4. Self-determination = independence, to decide for themselves what their government should be.

Atlantic Charter vs Imperialism According to the principles of the Atlantic Charter, formulated by FDR & Churchill at their Placentia Bay meeting in August ‘41, self determination would be promoted following the war 5. How did this Charter conflict with imperialism? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StAwJCvRPuQ Gone were the days of powerful nations acquiring overseas territories & building empires as we just discovered. National independence became the focus in many colonies as the days of empire waned

Western Assumptions About New Nations Colonies should become independent & free.....BUT assumptions were made: 6. New nation states made from colonies should follow American & European models regarding leadership 6. Western businesses and people should continue to own their property in the former colonies

New Countries.....Harsh Reality Independence posed many challenges for the new nations as many included a variety of religious or ethnic groups with no shared past 7. With much of the best land & wealthiest resources controlled by western imperialists, the new nations found themselves poor & dependent producers of raw materials in a Western-dominated world market

8. USA vs USSR As the Cold War raged in the decades following WW2, both the USA & USSR wanted to influence the newly independent nations Both countries wanted to promoted their political / economic systems ( democracy & capitalism vs. communism) The also wanted access to resources & raw materials

Decolonization Map Analysis Lets review the 3 maps dealing decolonization Complete any questions you have from this section at this time

Analyze how the following factors led to the decline of colonialism in the post-WW II period: premises of the Atlantic Charter colonial nationalist movements cost of maintaining colonies - views towards colonialism by the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R.

Factors Contributing to Decolonization Following WW2, most of the European colonial powers realized that colonial self government must be granted to their overseas possessions Reflect on your previous mapping activity. Independence was a slow process as Europeans wanted to control when it was granted, only when the colonies were ready Your map work illustrated that the road to independence occurred through peaceful negotiation or through violent resistance & confrontation

Factors Contributing to Decolonization The following factors spurred the post WW2 independence movements The Premise of the Atlantic Charter Colonial Nationalists Movements Cost of Maintaining Colonies Views towards colonialism by the USA & USSR To help with your understanding of these factors, begin developing your own summaries of these four components