Decolonisation and Indian independence

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Lesson notes

Why the British Empire declined after 1945

World War II left Britain economically weakened and unable to maintain its vast empire.
The war also undermined the moral authority of empire, as Britain fought against Nazi racism and oppression.
Nationalist movements in colonies grew stronger, demanding self-rule and independence.
The United States and Soviet Union emerged as superpowers opposed to European empires, putting pressure on Britain to decolonise.
The United Nations supported the principle of self-determination for colonised peoples.
Maintaining colonies became too expensive, and Britain faced domestic problems like rebuilding after the war.

The Indian independence movement

British rule in India began through the East India Company and was consolidated after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, when Queen Victoria became Empress of India.
The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885, became the main political party demanding independence.
Mohandas Gandhi led the movement for independence from the 1920s, promoting non-violent protest and civil disobedience.
Gandhi's methods included boycotts of British goods, peaceful marches, and fasting.
Other leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru also played key roles in the struggle for freedom.
The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, demanded a separate homeland for Muslims, called Pakistan.

Gandhi and non-violent protest

Gandhi believed in satyagraha (truth-force) and ahimsa (non-violence) as means to achieve political change.
The Salt March of 1930 was a famous act of defiance against the British salt tax.
Non-violent protests helped unite Indians across different regions and castes.
Gandhi's campaigns drew international attention and sympathy for Indian independence.
British authorities often responded with arrests, but the movement continued to grow.
Gandhi's approach inspired later civil rights leaders around the world, such as Martin Luther King Jr.

Partition and independence in 1947

After World War II, Britain was unable to hold onto India and agreed to grant independence.
In 1947, British India was divided into two independent nations: India (mostly Hindu) and Pakistan (mostly Muslim).
The partition was accompanied by widespread violence between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs.
Millions of people were displaced as they migrated across the new borders.
Estimates suggest that between 200,000 and 2 million people died in the violence.
Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu nationalist who opposed his tolerance of Muslims.
India became a republic in 1950, and Pakistan became an Islamic republic in 1956.

Independence movements in Africa

After India's independence, other colonies in Africa and Asia demanded freedom.
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from Britain in 1957.
Kenya achieved independence in 1963 after a violent uprising known as the Mau Mau rebellion.
Nigeria gained independence in 1960, and many other British colonies followed in the 1960s.
Nationalist leaders like Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana and Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya led their countries to freedom.
Some colonies had large white settler populations, leading to conflicts, as in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa.

Independence movements in the Caribbean

Caribbean colonies also moved towards independence after World War II.
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago became independent in 1962.
Barbados gained independence in 1966, and other islands followed in the 1970s and 1980s.
Many Caribbean nations joined the Commonwealth and maintained ties with Britain.
Independence often came after peaceful negotiations, though there were some protests and unrest.
Some smaller islands remain British territories today, but with greater self-government.

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent states, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire.
It was created to maintain cooperation and friendship among member countries.
Member states are equal and share goals like democracy, development, and peace.
The British monarch is the symbolic head of the Commonwealth, but not of all its member states.
Many former colonies joined the Commonwealth after independence, including India, Pakistan, and Ghana.
Today, the Commonwealth has 56 member countries from around the world.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.Which British monarch was declared Empress of India after the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
Easy
- AQueen Victoria
- BQueen Elizabeth I
- CKing George V
- DQueen Anne
2.In which year did India and Pakistan become independent?
Easy
- A1947
- B1857
- C1919
- D1965
3.Which country was granted independence by the United States in 1946 through the Treaty of Manila?
Easy
- AThe Philippines
- BCuba
- CPuerto Rico
- DHawaii
4.Which British colony, important as a base for the Western Allies during the Second World War, became the Dominion of Ceylon in February 1948?
Easy
- ACeylon
- BBurma
- CMalaya
- DSingapore
5.Which European power controlled Pondicherry and Mahar on the east coast of India until decolonisation?
Medium
- AFrance
- BPortugal
- CThe Netherlands
- DBritain
6.Which colonial power established control over Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia by 1887?
Medium
- AFrance
- BBritain
- CJapan
- DThe United States
7.In which year did Burma become independent?
Medium
- A1948
- B1935
- C1950
- D1962
8.Which country took control of the Philippines from Spain in 1898 following the Spanish–American War?
Medium
- AThe United States
- BBritain
- CFrance
- DJapan

Revision notes

## Decolonisation and Indian Independence **What was decolonisation?** After 1945, European empires in Asia and Africa broke up as colonies became independent nations. In Asia, this process began with independence movements and ended with Timor-Leste in 2002. ### Why did the British Empire decline after 1945? - **World War II weakened Britain** financially and militarily, making it harder to hold colonies. - **Independence movements grew** in Asia and Africa, demanding self-rule. - **European powers declined**: Spain and Portugal faded in the 17th century, allowing the Netherlands, France and England to expand. - **Japan's wartime occupation** of British, French and Dutch colonies undermined the myth of European invincibility. - **International pressure**, including from the USA and USSR, turned against empires. ### India: the road to independence - By the mid-19th century, Britain controlled much of India through the **British East India Company**, plus Burma, Ceylon, Malaya and Singapore. - After the **Indian Rebellion of 1857**, Queen Victoria became **Empress of India**, tightening British rule. - **Gandhi** led the Indian independence movement using **non-violent protest** (civil disobedience, boycotts, marches). - **Partition and independence, 1947**: India and Pakistan became independent. Partition caused huge human suffering — mass migration and violence between communities. ### Independence elsewhere in Asia - **Burma**: occupied by Japan in WWII; a British-sponsored transitional government led to independence in **January 1948**. - **Ceylon**: important Allied base in WWII; Britain gave in to popular pressure and granted independence in **February 1948** as the Dominion of Ceylon. - **Cambodia**: remained under French rule after WWII; King **Norodom Sihanouk** led Cambodia to independence in **1953**, using the First Indochina War as leverage. - **Philippines**: US colony from 1898; became a US Commonwealth in 1936; occupied by Japan in WWII; the US recognised independence in the **1946 Treaty of Manila**. - **Hong Kong**: returned to Britain after WWII; controlled by a British governor until the **99-year lease of the New Territories expired in 1997**, when it returned to China as a Special Administrative Region. ### Africa and the Caribbean - Independence movements spread across Africa and the Caribbean after 1945, following the Asian example. - Former colonies became independent states, often joining the **Commonwealth**. ### The Commonwealth - A voluntary association of independent states, most formerly part of the British Empire. - It replaced empire with a partnership of equals. ### Key dates - **1857**: Indian Rebellion; Victoria becomes Empress of India. - **1947**: Indian independence and Partition. - **1948**: Burma and Ceylon independent. - **1953**: Cambodian independence. - **1997**: Hong Kong returned to China. - **2002**: Timor-Leste independent — end of decolonisation in Asia.

Decolonisation: The process by which colonies gained independence from European empires, especially after 1945.
British East India Company: A trading company that controlled much of India for Britain until the mid-19th century.
Indian Rebellion of 1857: A major uprising against British rule in India; afterwards Queen Victoria was declared Empress of India.
Gandhi: Leader of the Indian independence movement who used non-violent protest to challenge British rule.
Non-violent protest: Resisting authority through peaceful methods such as boycotts, marches and civil disobedience.
Partition: The division of British India in 1947 into the independent states of India and Pakistan, causing mass migration and violence.
Commonwealth: A voluntary association of independent states, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire.
Dominion: A self-governing nation within the British Empire, e.g. the Dominion of Ceylon (1948).
Treaty of Manila (1946): The treaty in which the United States recognised Philippine independence.
Special Administrative Region: The status of Hong Kong after it returned to China in 1997.

Flashcards

Why did the British Empire decline after 1945?

After 1945, Britain was weakened economically and militarily by the Second World War, and independence movements grew stronger. This led to the gradual retreat from its colonies.

Who was Mahatma Gandhi and what method did he use to fight for Indian independence?

Gandhi was a leader of the Indian independence movement who used non-violent protest, such as civil disobedience and boycotts, to challenge British rule.

What was the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and what was its consequence for British rule?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising against British rule. After it, Queen Victoria was declared Empress of India, which strengthened British control over the subcontinent.

When did India and Pakistan gain independence, and what event accompanied it?

India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947. It was accompanied by Partition, the division of British India into two countries.

What was Partition and what was its human cost?

Partition was the division of British India into India and Pakistan in 1947. It caused massive displacement and violence, with millions forced to move and many killed.

What is the Commonwealth?

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of countries, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire. It promotes cooperation and shared values.

Which Asian country gained independence from Britain in January 1948?

Burma gained independence from Britain in January 1948.

Which Asian country gained independence from Britain in February 1948?

Ceylon gained independence from Britain in February 1948, becoming the Dominion of Ceylon.

When did Cambodia gain independence from France?

Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953.

Who was Norodom Sihanouk and what was his role in Cambodian independence?

Norodom Sihanouk was placed on the Cambodian throne by France in 1941. He led Cambodia to independence in 1953, taking advantage of the First Indochina War in Vietnam.

When did the Philippines gain independence from the United States?

The Philippines gained independence from the United States in 1946, recognised in the 1946 Treaty of Manila.

Which European powers competed for colonies in Asia from the 17th century?

The Netherlands, France, and England (later Britain) competed for colonies in Asia, taking over from the earlier dominance of Spain and Portugal.

What was French Indochina?

French Indochina was a French colonial territory in Southeast Asia, established in 1862 and eventually including Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia by 1887.

When was Hong Kong returned to China and why?

Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, when the ninety-nine-year lease of the New Territories expired. It became a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

Which country was the last in Asia to gain independence, and when?

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste was the last Asian country to gain independence, from Indonesia in 2002.

What was the impact of the Second World War on Asian colonies?

The Second World War weakened European colonial powers and encouraged independence movements. Many colonies were occupied by Japan, which undermined the myth of European invincibility.

What was the British East India Company's role in India?

The British East India Company controlled much of India by the mid-19th century. It was a trading company that also governed large parts of the subcontinent.

Which countries did Japan colonise in Asia before the Second World War?

Japan colonised Taiwan in 1874 (officially ceded in 1894) and annexed Korea in 1910.

What happened to Burma during the Second World War?

Burma was almost completely occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army. Many Burmese initially fought alongside Japan, but most switched sides in 1945.

What was the First Indochina War and how did it affect Cambodia?

The First Indochina War was fought in Vietnam against French rule. Cambodia took advantage of this conflict to gain independence from France in 1953.

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