The End of Empire


Contradictions of the colonial empires: Major factors for the collapse of the colonial empires were the numerous contradictions between European ideals and the nature of colonial rule. How were Christians, heirs of the Enlightenment, and democratic states able to justify the stark injustices of colonial rule? A new international climate after WWII: Decolonization also saw some clear conjunctures of new forces after WWII. The war weakened Britain, France, and Holland, and the United Nations offered a new forum for arguing the anticolonial cause. Several of the colonizers began to prepare to divest themselves of their colonies but also to establish favorable postcolonial economic relationships. New elites challenge colonial rule: Several generations of Western rule had produced various new elites that could use their Western education, their military service for the colonizing power, and their knowledge of how to mobilize a mass-based nationalist party to challenge colonialism. A number of charismatic leaders rose up in various colonies. In settler colonies or intransigent empires like the Portuguese territories, volunteers joined the ranks of freedom fighters to end foreign or white domination.

What is “Indian?”: Prior to the twentieth century, South Asia’s diversity made it impossible to define who an “Indian” was. Few identified as Indian, but rather by region, caste, or religion. Indian National Congress, 1885: This nationalist organization claimed to represent all Indians. Initially it worked for more inclusion within the British system, but later it called for independence. At first it was a very elite organization. Impact of WWI: The First World War changed the situation in India. Britain failed to live up to its promises for reform, and there was a series of violent acts of repression. Added to this were the economic deprivations of the war and the deadly influenza epidemic. Mohandas Gandhi’s Satyagraha: Into this situation came a British-educated lawyer who used a calm and modest charisma to build a popular movement of Hindus and Muslims against British rule. Called “truth force,” this non-violent non-cooperation was designed to shame the British into quitting India. Gandhi wanted women to play a role in the movement. Boycotts and marches were an important part of his strategy. All-India Muslim League, 1906: Not everyone agreed with the Congress Party. Muslims were uncomfortable with plans for a democratic majority Hindu state and with the Congress Party’s Hindu rhetoric. They represented the largest of the dissenting parties. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Pakistan: The head of the Muslim League, Jinnah wanted the creation of a Muslim majority state to protect Muslim rights. Partition, 1947: The British decided to quickly divide India into a Hindu majority India with Muslim majority Pakistan’s on either side. In the year of independence and division, 12 million refugees moved either east or west, with 1 million.

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