Decolonisation History PDF

# World: Decolonisation ## 9.1 Decolonisation: Asia - This lesson reviews the process of decolonisation in Asia and Africa. - In the first half of the twentieth century, decolonisation took place quickly in many Asian and African countries. - The process was accelerated due to: - Conflicts amo...

# World: Decolonisation ## 9.1 Decolonisation: Asia - This lesson reviews the process of decolonisation in Asia and Africa. - In the first half of the twentieth century, decolonisation took place quickly in many Asian and African countries. - The process was accelerated due to: - Conflicts among European colonisers - The occurrence of the First and Second World Wars - Anti-colonial movements in the colonies - European countries could not justify colonisation. ### Additional Information: - The process of decolonisation gained momentum due to the **Atlantic Charter**. - The Atlantic Charter was published together by Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of England) and Franklin Roosevelt (President of America) - The charter stated that allied nations including England and America did not intend to take over any country. - Changes would only happen according to the wish of the citizens of the respective country. - All people in the world have the right to make their own decisions. ### Getting to Know: - Collect more information regarding the 'Atlantic Charter'. - Organise a classroom discussion on the topic. - The exploitation of colonies from an intellectual platform contributed towards India's freedom movement. - The movement's culmination point reached under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. - England became aware of their declining power and started introducing internal autonomy to some colonies. - Germany and Turkey's defeat in the First World War led to new administration in the colonies under their control. - The 'League of Nations' introduced the system of trustees. - England and France were entrusted with the role of trustees. - India, Cyprus and Malta gained their independence. - In 1971, England withdrew its army from the Gulf of Iran. - England released its hold on Singapore. - Indo-China, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria were under French domination. - These countries became independent. - By the end of the twentieth century, South Africa gained independence. - Colonialism came to an end. - The process of decolonisation was completed. - The United Nations played a major role in facilitating this process. ### Maldives: - The Portuguese entered Maldives in 1507 and Maldives began paying tribute to them in Goa until 1573. - Muhammad Thakuruphanu Al Azam from Malabar ended Portuguese rule. - After his accession as the Sultan of Maldives, he made a treaty with the Dutch and gave them administrative responsibility. - The Sultan of Maldives began to pay tribute to the Dutch in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). - The British took over Maldives and built a naval base and radio transmission centre. - They took Indian labourers to work in the paddy fields. - Maldives became independent on 26th July 1965, by a treaty signed at Colombo. ### Sri Lanka: - The British ruled Sri Lanka (Ceylon) from 1798 to 1948. - They defeated the Dutch and the Portuguese to take over Sri Lanka. - There were uprisings in Sri Lanka against the British rule. - The British plantation owners brought in labourers from Tamil Nadu to work in coffee plantations. - The British dominated the production and markets of coffee, tea, rubber and coconut. - They developed Colombo as an international port city. - They also established colleges and universities in Sri Lanka and encouraged Buddhist Studies. - Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. ### Myanmar (Brahmadesh): - In 1599, the Portuguese defeated the king of one of the kingdoms in Myanmar. - In 1611, various dynasties defeated the Portuguese and amalgamated their kingdoms, forming United Myanmar. - United Myanmar adopted an expansionist policy and conquered Manipur and Assam. - This brought the British Indian territory under threat. - Three wars were fought between the British and Myanmar. - The first war in 1826 was won by the British. - They took over Assam and Manipur. - They also defeated Myanmar in the second war. - At about the same time, the French took over 'Upper Burma'. - The third war resulted in the British victory and they ruled over entire Myanmar. - The British administration annexed Myanmar as a province of British India. - In 1935, it was again separated from India and granted autonomy. - After 1937, people in Myanmar created an organisation called 'Burma Independence Army' under the leadership of Aung San. - This organisation helped the Japanese during Second World War. - This led to the British strengthening their hold in Myanmar. - The British learnt their lesson and appointed Aung San as Vice President. - The British granted independence to Myanmar on 4th January 1948. ## 9.2 Decolonisation: Africa - During the 15 year period of 1950-1965, people in the European colonies in Africa freed themselves from foreign rule. - The education system imposed by the Europeans was alien to them. - Ironically, African leaders were trained in this alien educational system. - This introduced them to American Independence Struggle, French Revolution and Nationalism. - African people became aware of 'Nationalism' and national pride. - After the Second World War, nationalism got a further boost. - England and France gradually began to grant more rights to the Africans in their colonies. - This strengthened the independence movements in African nations. ### Bandung Conference: - India called the first conference of Asian countries in 1947. - Representatives of 25 Asian countries were present for the conference. - This conference shaped the concept of Asian regionalism. - The issues discussed were common problems faced by Asian people, the social, economic and cultural problems of the Asian countries and the need of mutual co-operation among Asian countries. - This conference was followed by the first conference of Asian and African countries held in 1955 at Bandung in Indonesia. - This was known as the 'Bandung Conference'. - The problems of Afro-Asian countries were discussed and it was decided to focus on world peace and mutual co-operation. ### Concept of African Unity: - H.S. Williams was the first person to think of African Unity. - He formed an organisation in London, called 'African Association' (later called as Pan-African Association). - He organised the association's first conference in 1900. - W.E.B. Du Bois, an American sociologist of African origin was present in this conference. - In 1919, a second conference of African leaders and thinkers was held at Paris, known as 'Pan-African Congress'. - W.E.B. Du Bois and his associates called a series of Pan-African congresses at various places. - This resulted in the idea of Pan-African unity taking deep roots in Africa. - The 5th Pan-African Congress held at Manchester in 1945 by people of African origin living in Manchester. ### Decolonisation in the African Continent: - Except Liberia and Ethiopia, the entire African continent was ruled by European powers. - European colonies in Africa, were involuntarily involved in the war. - Soon after the onset of the war England and France began to attack the German colonies in Africa. - After the defeat of Germany in the war, allied nations began to compete with each other for occupying German colonies in Africa. - The American President, Woodrow Wilson, suggested that the victorious European nations should act as trustees of the erstwhile German colonies and administer them only as protectorates. - It was necessary to give the colonies internal autonomy. - This brought a decision from the 'League of Nations' that England, France and Belgium should divide the colonies among themselves. - A Committee of 11 members was appointed by the 'League' to supervise the administration of the colonies. - The four British colonies, namely : Cape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal were amalgamated and the state of South Africa was created in 1920. - However, the dominance of the white people continued unchanged. - Egypt got its independence before the end of Second World War. - Following it, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Ghana became independent one after another. - At about the middle of the twentieth century, all 12 French colonies, such as Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali in central Africa became independent. - Along with it, Cameroon, Somalia and other colonies under the care of the League of Nations, and also other European colonies became independent, one by one. - Algeria had to give a tough fight to gain freedom. - Finally in 1962, it became independent by conducting a plebiscite. - In 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar were amalgamated and the independent state of 'The United Republic of Tanzania' came into existence. - Prior to Second World War, Italy had taken over Ethiopia and Libya and annexed it to the Italian empire. - During the Second World War, Mussolini, the dictator of Italy had used these two regions for launching attacks on Egypt and other British colonies in Africa. - The African battlefield in the Second World War had spread from Morocco and Libya in the north to Ethiopia and Somali Land on the eastern border of Africa. - The British empire in Africa was in danger because of the aggressions of Italy and the German General Erwin Rommel. - Indian soldiers in the British army who fought with great resilience. - With their help, the British could compel the combined armies of Italy and Germany to retreat. - Italy and Germany had to lose their colonies in Africa at the end of the Second World War in 1945. - The end of the Second World War created an environment in which the process of decolonisation gained momentum. - The Asian and African continents were filled with a heightened spirit of independence movements. - The awareness about these movements spread rapidly. - Many countries in both continents obtained their freedom. - However, developments in these countries were also being watched by America and Russia, the superpowers. - Each of them was trying to attract maximum countries on its side. - In the next lesson, we are going to study the 'Cold War' and its impact on India. ### Discuss in the class: - Make a list of the colonies of the British in Asia and Africa with their geographical locations. - Discuss in the class about their independence struggle and the dates of their independence.