Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byArleen Melton Modified over 9 years ago
1
The Winds of Change: The End of the European Empires
2
Unit 2 Overview EQ: When, if ever, is the use of violence for political ends justified? 5 weeks (today through 11/22) Case studies: India + Algeria Major assessments Essay: why did the nonviolent movement eventually succeed in India? Discussion on EQ
3
Decolonization Decolonize: to allow a colony to become self-governing or independent Wave of decolonization in the late 20 th century
4
The World in 1945 1945: 750 million people in non-self-governing territories (1/3 of world pop)
5
Today: 17 non-self-governing territories, pop. 2 million
6
The Big Picture Post-WWII wave of independence movements A turning point: Indian independence, August 15, 1947 1947-1962: African independence
7
Why decolonization? WWII Economics Nationalism
8
Europe no longer dominated the world as it had at the start of the century. That’s more like it. What happened? Effects of WWII: The Big Picture
9
Effects of WWII: Changing Ideology Defeated by an Asian power less prestige Western Allies defeated oppressive regimes during war tarnished ideology
10
Effects of WWII: US Becomes a Superpower Anti-colonial stance Wilson’s Fourteen Points FDR + Winston Churchill Atlantic Charter: free trade and self-government for the world’s peoples Break imperial trading blocs opportunity for new markets War for freedom and liberty
11
Effects of WWII: The Cold War (from the US perspective) The US Freedom! Democracy! Capitalism! The USSR Dictatorship! Imperialism! Communism! US supports decolonization for ideological reasons Preoccupation with avoiding Communist takeovers (think Lumumba)
12
Why it happened so quickly: Economics Colonies shrank in importance Niger: France: 44 billion francs on cotton production. 1,000 tons produced out of 300,000 projected Tanganyika: Britain spent 40 million pounds on peanut growing failed miserably
13
Why it happened so quickly: Nationalism Nationalism: a political belief that promotes strong identification with one’s nation. A people must be: Independent Self-governing United by national culture
14
Nationalism Holding on by force The Colonized: Dynamic leaders with political/military organizations and one ideology The Colonizer: waging war in name of belief that is no longer relevant
15
Why not just leave? Economic factors Home away from home National identity
16
Winston Churchill: Inevitability and Dignity “It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind…But at least, let us not add—by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle—at least let us not add, to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame.”
17
A Fork in the Road Constitutional change backed by political action (Southeast Asia and Africa) Prolonged, bloody revolutionary wars (Algeria, Vietnam)
18
India: Independence through Nonviolent Protest British Raj, 1858-1947 Sepoy Mutiny, 1857 Gradual, nonviolent independence movement Independence and Partition, 1947
19
Algeria: Independence through Violent Struggle French colony, 1848-1962 “Civilizing” the country Tremendous violence Algerian War, 1954- 1962
20
Debates ESSENTIAL QUESTION: When, if ever, is the use of violence for political ends justified?
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.