European Retreat from Empire

1. European Retreat from Empire

2. After WWI, what changes did African and Asian countries demand? Sought self-determination and independence from Western imperialists After WWI, European nations returned to the pattern of imperialism with Africa and Asia After WWII, Europe’s Asian and African colonies again sought independence. This time they were SUCCESSFUL!

3. Positive Effects of Colonization on European Power Positive Effects of Colonization on Indigenous People Better transportation Better medical care Western education Convert to Christianity Steady employment • Profit • Capital exploitation • Adventure • Larger living space • Spread the word of the Gospel • Cheap raw material • Availability of market for produced goods

4. Negative Effects of Colonization on European Power Negative Effects of Colonization on Indigenous People Poor working conditions Death and disease Breaking of traditions and relationships of ethnic groups Breakup of villages • Threat of rebellion • Being a minority • Gov’t costs of maintaining empire • Deployment of military • Training indigenous people

5. What would be the underlying forces behind indigenous people wanting to gain independence? • Freedom from mistreatment • Self-rule • Humane conditions for living and working • Return to traditional customs

6. African Independence Movements • In 1945, only four independent nations in Africa • Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, South Africa • By 1959, Morocco, Libya, Sudan, Ghana, and Guinea gained independence • By the end of the 1960s most African nations gained independence from their colonial rulers—Britain, France, Belgium, and Portugal

8. France and Algeria • voting structure had given the French more power than the native Muslim people of Algeria • violent clashes between the Muslims and the French directly after World War II spur on even more Algerian nationalism • civil war breaks out in 1954 between Algerian nationalists led by the National Liberation Front and the French – the war divides French opinion and does not end till 1962 • under General Charles de Gaulle, France eventually grants Algeria independence in 1962 • many Muslims who supported France either flee Algeria for France or are massacred

9. The British Retreat from Colonial Empires in Africa and Asia • the British noticing the costs of maintaining an empire and wanting to avoid conflict start withdrawing from their colonies • 1948 – Burma and Sri Lanka become independent / British withdraw from Palestine • 1957 – Ghana becomes independent • 1960 – Nigeria becomes independent • British withdraw from Cyprus, Kenya, and Aden under pressure from militant movements • withdrawal has led to poverty and instability in Africa, but stability and economic growth in Asia

10. Britain and India • Britain controlled India since mid-18thcentury • India was the crown jewel of Britain’s overseas empire • India was divided politically, ethnically, and religiously between Hindus and Muslimsgave Britain the power to keep control • Indians basically paid for British rule, as Britain dominated the country through a divide and rule strategy

11. Indian nationalism • After WWI, Hindus and Muslims organized nationalist movements • New leaders emerged • Gandhi studied law in Britain and embraced the idea of “passive resistance”

12. Gandhi’s actions • Insisted on religious tolerance amongst Indian people • led Salt March to the sea breaking the British monopoly on salt • imprisoned many times, where he became a martyr by going on hunger strikes • During WWII, Gandhi insisted Britain leave India and Britain could not control it anymore • After Britain withdrew in 1947, sectarian warfare erupted between Hindus and Muslims • Gandhi killed by Hindu extremist in 1948

13. Indian Independence Movement • Movement more organized due to leadership from Indian National Congress Party and Muslim League • Mohandas Gandhi worked with other independence leaders in India • Practiced non-violent civil disobedience • India gained independence on August 15, 1947

14. Results in India • After Britain withdrew in 1947, war between Muslims and Hindus ensued • India splitPakistan (Muslims) and India (Hindus)

15. Conflict Between India and Pakistan • Gandhi’s vision of a country of many religions does not come true • India is partitioned into two; India for the Hindus and Pakistan under Ali Jinnah for the Muslims • India and Pakistan have come to the brink of nuclear war over the ownership of the northern territory of Kashmir

16. France and Vietnam • France occupied Indochina since 1857 • 1930 Ho Chi Minh began a nationalist movement with the Indochina Communist Party • communist, anti-colonial, and nationalistic Vietnam leader Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam’s independence from France in 1945 • 1947 civil war erupted

17. France and Vietnam • civil war breaks out in 1947 • After losing China to communism in 1949, the U.S. began to aid France financially in Vietnam • the French are crushed at Dien Bien Phu • peace accord in 1954 splits Vietnam in two • North Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh and the communists • South Vietnam – French controlled

18. Vietnam and the Cold War • the United States believing that North Vietnam was a puppet of the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China form the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization to combat the communists • France withdraws from South Vietnam in 1955 leaving Vietnamese political groups to fight for its power • United States supports Ngo Dinh Diem, a strong anti-communist nationalist (but certainly not for democracy) • the National Liberation Front with its military wing the Viet Cong make it a goal to overthrow Diem • Diem becomes more repressive • in 1963, Diem is assassinated by an army coup, supported by the United States • the United States, hoping for popular support in South Vietnam support Nguyen Van Thieu to be in charge • Kennedy is assassinated and his successor Lyndon Johnson steps up the commitment to South Vietnam especially after the an attack on an American ship in the Gulf of Tonkin

19. The Vietnam War • 1965-1973 – major bombing attacks of Vietnam • at war’s peak – 500,000 American troops are stationed in Vietnam – 58,000 Americans killed • 1969 – Vietnamization – President Nixon’s policy to gradually withdraw troops from Vietnam • peace negotiations start in 1968, but no treaty till 1973 • 1975 – South Vietnamese troops evacuate country, but are routed by the North Vietnamese turning all of Vietnam over to the communists / South Vietnam capital renamed Ho Chi Minh City • Vietnam’s results in the U.S. • war hurt American prestige, • many European nations felt the United States neglected them to fight an aggressive colonial war • produced enormous divisions and debates in the United States