DECOLONIZATION AND NATIONALISM TRIUMPH

• How did WWII affect the colonial empires?

  WWII weakened colonial empires because European powers were exhausted and their economies were damaged. This led to anti-colonial movements gaining strength
• Why was there tension within India’s independence movements? What was this source of disagreement?

  There was tension in India's independence movements because of disagreements over the role of religion in politics. Some wanted a secular state, while others advocated for a separate Muslim nation
• In what way was the Indianindependence movement very different from the partition of India that followed? What do you think was the cause of this difference?

  The Indian independence movement focused on gaining freedom from British rule, while the partition of India was about creating separate nations for Hindus and Muslims. This difference was due to religious divisions and political disagreements
• How were Indonesian farmers exploited in order to enrich the Netherlands?


  Indonesian farmers were exploited by the Netherlands through forced cultivation of cash crops like coffee and sugar, which enriched the Dutch colonial rulers at the expense of local farmers
• What kinds of challenges did African nations face after independence? How had imperialism contributed to those challenges

  African nations faced challenges such as political instability, economic dependence, and social divisions after independence. Imperialism contributed to these challenges by disrupting traditional societies, exploiting natural resources, and imposing artificial borders without regard for local ethnic or cultural boundaries
• Processes by which various peoples pursued independence after 1900

  1. Nationalist movements

  2. Anti-colonial resistance

  3. Diplomatic efforts
• Achieving independence


  • India - non-violent protests and negotiations led by Mahatma Gandhi
  • Algeria and Vietnam - armed struggle and guerrilla warfare
• End of World War II and the Cold War

  Played significant roles in facilitating decolonization
• Various peoples pursued independence after 1900 through a combination of nationalist movements, anti-colonial resistance, and diplomatic efforts
• What factors made it possible for anti-colonial movements around the world to achieve independence during this period? How did some factors have more influence on certain former colonies and less on others?

  Factors such as nationalist movements, international pressure, changing global dynamics, and the legacy of World War II made it possible for anti-colonial movements to achieve independence during this period. These factors influenced different former colonies to varying extents based on their unique historical, political, and socio-economic contexts