Nationalist Movements after WWI

What led to the Nationalist Movements? Most movements started before WWI; WWI gave them a needed push African and Asian soldiers fighting Europeans in Europe Colonies supplied troops and raw materials Devastation of the war crushed the myth of the European being a superior being

Key Ingredients of Nationalist Movements Western-educated leaders Charismatic leaders who could spread the ideas from the elite to the masses Non-violent protest

India Indian National Congress party led Indians to independence and governed during the early decades of the postcolonial era Leaders began stressing the gross inequality between the British and the Indians in India (economy devastated, land devastated, racism) Difficulty over the role of religion in the movement and emergence of B.G Tilak (first leader who appealed to the masses and stressed that Indian nationalism should be based on Hinduism)

India- Reforms Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909- provided educated Indians opportunities to vote and serve on legislative councils Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919- increased the powers of the Indian legislators and put provincial administration in their hands

Mohandas Gandhi Stress on non-violent protest- satyagraha- peaceful boycotts, strikes, non-cooperation Western-educated with attributes of a Hindu guru, which gave him the mass peasant support the movement needed 1920s-1930s mass protest surged

Egypt Quest for independence and nationalism early in Egypt and eventually led to the British occupation in 1882 Lord Cromer dominated Egypt and the gap between rich and poor grew Landlords allied themselves to British regime, so resistance left up to the middle class- sons of the effendi (professional class) In India lawyers led the independence movements but in Egypt journalists did

Egypt A few movements emerged but were unable to unite the masses and British put down uprisings Dinshawai incident –1906- where the British hung four villagers after a skirmish between the British and the villagers This demonstrated the hostility of the masses and galvanized support for popular protest 1913- British grant a constitution and representation in parliament

Revolt in Egypt 1919 Defense of Suez canal during the war drained resources from Egypt- increased unrest Egypt denied participation at settlement at Versailles Riots exploded everywhere (women, students, intellectuals) Emergence of the Wafd party- focus for unified action British withdrawal in stages beginning in 1922 Military coup in 1952 by Gamal Abdul Nasser

Middle East Turks defeated in WWI and Ottoman Empire disappeared 1923 Turkish Republic under Attaturk Reform program modeled on the west Arab nationalists turned to Britain and France who betrayed promises to preserve Arab independence and occupied land after the war

Middle East (contd) League of Nations mandate to promise Palestine to the Jews and Zionists angered Arabs (Balfour Declaration- British pledge in 1917 to support the creation of a Jewish state) Dreyfus Affair in 1894 – Theodor Herzl (Austrian journalist) stunned at French mobs reacting to Alfred Dreyfus (French Jew accused of passing secrets to Germans)- led to the creation of the World Zionist Organization

Africa Most western-educated elites loyal to British and French in WWI Africa provided manpower and materials Local rebellions due to recruitment of Africans and economic shortages caused by war Lost promises after WWI lead to an attempt to build pan-African movement 1930s protest increased due to Great Depression

Africa (contd) 1920s and 1930s beginning of organization of protest- Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. DuBois – charismatic nationalist figures Pan-African organizations- though largely failed did arouse anti-colonial sentiments Negritude literary movement, led in part by the great Senagalese poet, Leopold Sedar Senghor combated the racial stereotyping of the Africans British granted more freedom for political voice than the French Movement gave way to independent colonies struggling themselves