Between WWI & WWII India, China, Japan, Africa, and Latin America

Europe dominated the global political order at the beginning of the 20th Century, but some colonies negotiated their independence.

India In the beginning of the 20th century, Indian nationalism threatened the British empire’s hold on India. Indian National Congress promoted self-rule Mohandas Gandi Studied law in London Returned to India in 1915 Advocated passive resistance Amritsar massacre – 319 killed

India Independence video clip The India Act British offered a political compromise when repressive measures failed Even with Gandhi’s support, it failed Local princes did not cooperate Muslim & Hindu problems Ali Jinnah proposes splitting India and creating Pakistan India Independence video clip Start at 1:38

China Revolution in 1911 results in the fall of the Qing dynasty Anarchy & local warlords take over regions Unequal treaty system resulted in major foreign influence After WWI, many expected the U.S & Britain to terminate unequal treaty system but Paris Peace Conference gave Japan increasing control

China May Fourth Movement results (1919) Protests foreign interference Marxism increases in popularity Chinese Communist Party founded Mao Zedong Sun Yatsen creates Nationalist People’s Party (Guomindang or Kuomintang) Some members of CCP join Guomindang Accept support from Soviet Union

China Sun Yatsen dies, Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) takes over Launches military action to unify China Became Anti-Communist Civil war breaks out between communists and anti-communists Mao Zedong leads communist Chinese The Long March to Shaanxi Province results in many joining communists Promotes Maoism; Chinese form of Marxist-Lennism

Mao Zedong 1:07 – 9:14

Japan Japan’s limited involvement in WWI gave it an economic boost Profited from selling goods to allies Gained a larger foothold in China & Korea Affected by the Great Depression Military officials and ultranationalists blamed Western influence Demanded renewed expansion in Manchuria to provide Japan with the natural resources it needed to fuel its industries Manchurian Railroad – Mukden Incident

Japan League of Nations condemned Japan for the Mukden Incident and invasion of Manchuria, so Japan withdrew Ultranationalists forced the government to accept military domination Suppressed democratic freedoms Revived ancient warrior values Built a cult around Emperor Hirohito from the League.

Japan The Japanese government followed the Manchurian incident by nullifying the agreements it had made to limit its navy, and in 1937, Japan attacked China, starting the Second Sino-Japanese War. Japan had ambitions to conquer China, but the onset of World War II in 1939 changed Japan’s focus. Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy in September 1940, cementing the alliance known as the Axis Powers.

Africa African colonies participated in WWI, creating weakness and instability Many natives in the colonies began rebelling against European domination African nationalism grew and a new social class – the “new elite” – emerged These Africans understood the world of the “colonizers,” yet were African nationalists However, it took another world war before their ideas were translated into independence.

Latin America Reaction against U.S. influence Explore alternate political ideologies, especially Marxism Fidel Castro in Cuba José Carlos Mariátegui in Peru Artist Diego Rivera in Mexico Augusto César Sandino in Nicaragua U.S. continues with economic domination of Latin America Dollar Diplomacy “Good Neighbor Policy”