The Colonies Become New
Nations
1945-Present
Section 1The Colonies Become New Nations
• After WWII political changes occurred
• Policy of Colonialism questioned
• Colonized people wanted freedom
Indian Subcontinent Achieves Freedom
• India moves towards independence
• Congress Party – India’s national political party. Most members were
Hindus at times had Muslim members
• Muslim League – organization founded in 1906 to protect Muslim
interest
Freedom Brings Turmoil
• Problem: who should be in power - Hindus or Muslims?
• Riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims
• August 1946 riots in Calcutta, 5,000 dead 15,000 injured
• Partition was proposed
Jawaharlal Nehru – leader of Indian National Congress
Muhammad Ali Jinnah – Leader of Muslim League
Louis Mountbatten – Last viceroy of India
India Granted Independence
August 15, 1947
- Becomes largest democracy
- Jawaharlal Nehru becomes nation’s 1st prime
minister for 1st 17 years
- Emphasized democracy, unity and economic
modernization
- Dies in 1964, Congress party had no strong
leader
Indira Gandhi becomes new Prime Minister
- Faced many threats especially from Sikh
extremists
- Sikhs wanted their own independent state
- Killed by own Sikh bodyguards
- Her son Rajiv (rah-JEEV) takes over, accused of
corruption. Is killed by a bomb in 1991
Pakistan Copes with Freedom
• East & West. Different culture, language, history, geography,
economics & ethnic background.
• Only Islamic religion united them
• Civil War- East had bigger population & home of central govt.
• March 26, 1971 East Pakistan declares itself independent. Known as
Bangladesh.
Bangladesh & Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
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Economic problems because of war
Election fraud
Natural disasters, cyclones & tidal waves
Per capita income a year $360
Sri Lanka
• Ethnically/religiously diverse
• Militant group called Tamil, want their own nation
• Conflict continues today
st
21
Century Challenges
India
• Growing population (1.2 Billion), expected to exceed China
by 2035
• Social inequality & threats of religious strife
• Tense relations with Pakistan
• Nuclear tests started in 1998
• Battle for Kashmir, ruler was Hindu, population majority
Muslim
U.N. initiates cease fire in 1949, conflict continues
Section 1 Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Why did British officials partition India into India and Pakistan?
In what ways did Pakistan also undergo a partition?
What is the main cause today of civil strife in Sri Lanka?
In what ways are the political tensions between Pakistan & India
similar to the U.S. & USSR’s political relations during the Cold War?
5. Why might India’s political and economic success be so crucial to
the future of democracy in Asia?
6. How did religious and cultural differences create problems for
newly emerging nations?
7. Why has the conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir
become such a huge concern to the world today?
Southeast Asian Nations
Gain Independence
Section 2
The Philippines Achieves Independence
U.S. & Philippines
• Bell Act: est. free trade between the
Philippines & U.S. for 8 years
• Despite some resistance it was approved
• U.S. wanted to keep military presence, 99 year
lease. Was shortened & ended in 1992
• Still dependent on U.S.
From Marcos to Ramos
• Ferdinand Marcos elected in 1965. Imposed
authoritarian regime from 1966-1986
• Martial law 1972-81
• Corazon Aquino would become new
President in 1986
• Forced into exile in Hawaii
• Recovered $475 million of stolen money in
Swiss Banks
From Marcos to Ramos
• New Constitution
• Fidel Ramos is President after Aquino
• Limited Presidential term to one 6-year
term
• Formation of Rebel Groups
• Moro National Liberation Front
British Colonies Gain Independence
Burma/Myanmar – 1948
- Repressive governments. Pro-democracy &
military
Aung San Suu Kyi – National League for
Democracy.
Placed on house arrest in 1990-95 & 2000-2002
Detained again in 2003
Gov’t currently being reformed
Malaysia & Singapore
Malaysia
-Resisted British efforts to unite Malaya
People in one state
- Federation of Malaya 1957
Singapore
- Once part of the Fed. of Malaya would
leave in 1965 became a city state.
- Strong economy
Section 2 Part 1 Questions
1. Why did the retention of the military bases in the Philippines anger
so many Filipinos?
2. What was the outcome of the 1990 Myanmar election? How did the
government respond?
3. Why did the U.S. demand a 99 Year lease on military bases in the
Philippines?
4. What was similar & different about elections that brought defeat to
the ruling governments in the Philippines and Burma?
5. How has Myanmar/Burma’s government progressed politically &
economically?
Indonesia Gains Independence
• Indonesia ruled by Dutch then Japan
• August 1945 Sukarno (only has one name)
proclaimed himself President.
• Dutch tried to control again, was no longer
supported by U.N.
• Wanted “Guided Democracy”
• No foreign investments, unmanageable
economy, 100% inflation
Instability and Turmoil
• Jr. officers attempted coup, put down my Gen. Suharto
• Seized power for himself. President in 1967 steps down
1998
• 500,000 to 1 million Indonesians killed
• Police state & martial law
• Annexed East Timor
• Megawati Sukarnoputri (Sukarno’s Daughter) becomes
President
Sukarno vs. Suharto
Sukarno
Political policies
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Became the first President of Indonesia
Led independence movement
tried to adopt some democratic political measures.
Eventual autocracy
Centralized gov’t & stronger military
”Guided Democracy”
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followed a socialist path, nationalized domestic
enterprises, confiscated foreign assets.
Wanted self sufficient country
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Rapid growth of communism in Indonesia
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Economic policies
Social policies
Suharto
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Imprisoned communists & their
leaders
Centralized gov’t & stronger military
Policies to attract foreign
investments
5-year plans, developed
infrastructure, industry and
agriculture, and exported natural
resources.
Anti-Chinese policy
East Timor
• Wanted to be independence from
Indonesia
• Harsh treatment since 1970s
• U.N. Sponsored referendum in 1999
• Voted to be independent, Indonesia
ignores it
• U.N. intervention, independence in 2002
Section 2 Part 2 Questions
1. How did Suharto come to power in Indonesia? How did Sukarno
rise to power in Indonesia?
2. What are some political, economic and social differences and
similarities between Suharto & Sukarno?
3. How was East Timor able to become an independent country? Do
you think Indonesia’s annexation of the country justified?
4. How did World War II play a role in the eventual decolonization of
southeast Asia?
5. From what you’ve learned about decolonization in Asia, what
similarities and differences do these countries have, in terms of
economy, social structure and political systems.
New Nations in Africa
Section 3
Negritude Movement
• A movement for African
independence that started before
World War II
• Celebrate African culture, heritage
& values
How did they achieve independence
• African nations achieve independence in
different ways
• Directly ruled nations – fought wars to
liberate themselves
• Indirectly ruled nations – easier transitions,
local officials knew how to govern. Was
already established.
Ghana Leads the way
Orig. name was Gold Coast
Kwame Nkrumah – leader of nonviolent
movement
• Organized protests and boycotts, most of the
time imprisoned
• Gold Coast becomes Ghana in 1957 after
independence
• Country has shifted back & forth between
civilian & military rule. Economic instablity.
Kenya Claims Independence
Kenyan Nationalist – Jomo Kenyatta
Mau mau (mow mow) group – secret society made
up mostly of native Kenyan farmers forced out of
highland areas by British
• Wanted to push white farmers into leaving the
highlands
Before You Read
1. Why would the Africans want the Europeans to leave
Africa?
2. What do you think would be the best way to get the
Europeans out of Africa?
3. What do you think would be the worst way to get the
Europeans out of Africa?
After you Read
1. Overall, were the methods used to obtain independence in Africa
peaceful or violent? Why do you think Africans chose this method?
2. Based on what you read, which country do you think had the
easiest time changing from being under colonial rule to being
independent? Support your answer.
3. Based on what you read, which country do you think had the
hardest time changing from being under colonial rule to being
independent? Support your answer.
Algeria Struggles with Independence
• Before WWII Algeria population: 1
million French colonists, 9 million Arab
and Berber Muslims
• French did not want to share power
• Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN)
• FLN fought against French
• Independent in July 1962
Algeria Struggles with Independence
• Ahmed Ben Bella becomes 1st President
• Wanted socialist state, overthrown in 1965
• Rise of religious fundamentalists who
wanted an Islamic state
Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) won elections in 1990
• War between Islamic militants & government,
continues today
Freedom & Turmoil for Congo
• Belgian Congo – exploited for rubber &
copper
• Congo not prepared for independence
• Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in 1965
• Harsh ruler, one party rule, gifts to supporters
• Ruled for 32 overthrown in 1997
• Next to rule Laurent Kabila (autocratic ruler)
• Democratic Republic of Congo
War Tears Angola
• Portuguese withdraw from Angola in
1975
• Popular Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA) communist leaning,
took over Angola, USSR & Cuban
support
• Civil war breaks out
• National Union for the total
Independence of Angola (UNITA), U.S.
backed
• Peace accord in 2002
Section 3 Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who were the Mau Mau of Kenya, what was their goal?
What sparked the present day civil struggle in Algeria?
What prompted Portugal to eventually grant Angola its freedom?
How did the way in which European colonists carved up Africa in
the 1800s lead to civil strife in many new African nations?
5. Why would the United States and the USSR participate in the civil
war in Angola?
6. Why do you think revolution swept so many African nations
following their independence from European rule?
Conflicts in the Middle East
Section 4
Main Idea
Division in Palestine after World War II
made the Middle East a hotbed of
competing nationalist movements
Why it Matters
The conflict in the Middle East
threatens the stability of the world
today.
Israel Becomes a State
• Land now called Palestine consists of Israel,
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
• Jews & Palestinians claim land is theirs
• Jews forced out in 2nd century, those who
wanted a Jewish state were known as Zionists
• League of Nations appointed Britain to
oversee the Palestine after WWI
• Balfour Declaration- letter to British Jewish
leader – creation of Jewish state.
Israel Becomes a State
• In 1947 U.N. decides to partition
Palestine into a Palestinian & Jewish
state
• 55% of area went to Jews who only
made up 34% of population
• Palestinians outraged at U.N.
• Announcement of independent Israel
on May 14, 1948
Israel & Arab States Conflict
• 1956 Suez Crisis
• Invasion by Israel then France & Britain to
regain control of canal. Put down
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser
• Israel & Europeans withdraw, control left
to Egypt
• Nasser & Egypt backed by USSR
• Six Day War
The Palestine Liberation Organization
• Even though they had their own homeland, Jews
claimed most of it
• Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) pushed for
formation of a Palestinian state
• Made up lawyers, teachers, laborers, soon guerilla
fighters who insisted in armed struggle
• Yasir Arafat chairman of PLO
• Carried out attacks towards Israel
• Some Arab neighbors supported PLO
Efforts at Peace
• July 2000 Pres. Clinton hosted 15 day
Summit meeting between Ehud Barak &
Yasir Arafat – no compromise made
• 2nd Intifada second
Palestinian uprising against Israel
• No settlement made to this day, conflict
still occurs
Israeli-Palestinian Tensions Increase
Intifada – “uprising”. Palestinian expressed
frustrations in widespread campaign of
civil disobedience
Put pressure of Israel to negotiate with
Palestinians
Oslo Peace Accords - set of agreements
between the government of Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Signed in 1993.
Oslo Accords
Terms:
Minister Yitzhak agreed to grant Palestinian self-rule in
the Gaza Strip & West Bank, beginning in town called
Jericho
Section 4 Questions
1. What historic claims do both the Palestinians and Jews make to the
land of Palestine?
2. What land did Israel gain from the wars against its Arab neighbors?
3. What were the terms of the Oslo Accords?
4. How was the creation of Israel similar to the establishment of an
independent India?
5. Why do you think all the Israeli-Palestinian accords ultimately have
failed?
Central Asia Struggles
Section 5
Freedom Brings New Challenges
Central Asian Republics: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, & Kyrgyzstan
Economic struggles- still have some of the poorest
countries to this day
Ethnic & religious strife- fighting among different ethnic
groups
Afghanistan & the World
• Long history of struggle. Russian fighting for access to
Indian Ocean & Britain wanting the land
• 1973 military leader overthrown the government, rival
group takes over, close with Soviets.
• Mujahideen (holy warriors): fought against Soviets
Rise of Taliban
• Mujahideen successful against Soviets
• Taliban – conservative Islamic group now in control, controlled 90% of
country by 1998
• Viewed as positive force at first. Eventually accused of housing
terrorist groups in Afghanistan
• Rise of Osama Bin Laden & Al-Qaeda, 9/11 attacks
• invasion of Afghanistan in October of 2001
Before & After Taliban Rule