Unit 8.5 - Decolonization

"The Sun Sets on the British empire, wait they still own some islands."

Creation Date: Fri Mar 14 2025

Publication Date: Tue Apr 01 2025

Who, How, and Why

Who

• The British Empire
• The French Empire
• Belgium
• The Dutch Empire
• Anyone in Europe who had an empire

How

• Negotiated Independence
  • Educated officials from both sides negotiated for independence
  • Mostly peaceful transition with new democratic governments
• Independence War
  • Caused do to empires not want to let go
    • Also due to high population of Europeans in region
  • Lead to local groups rising up against government
  • Would usually lead to autocracies forming

Why

• Most Empires devastated after both WW1 and WW2
• Many fought for their empire in hopes of independence
• Many people from colonies became educated and could negotiate for their ethnic populations
• If Europeans didn’t let go then resentment would brew and then revolts becoming war.

Notable Examples:

• India & Pakistan - Negotiated

  • Main body was the Indian national congress
  • Leader was Ghandi
  • Lead peaceful protest through India
  • Got assassinated 1948
  • India, Pakistan, Bangladesh became independant nations

• Ghana - Negotiated

  • Part of British empire
  • Many came back to Ghana Educated
  • Negotiated to become democracy

• Algeria - War

  • Was integrated into France
  • Large french population
  • Pissed of natives
  • Civil War for independence

• Angola - War

  • Was under rule of Portugal
  • 3 united ethnic groups
  • Sized independence when Portugal got coup
  • Later fell into civil war due to ethnic groups wanting power