Independence movements in the 20th Century | World History | Khan Academy
TLDRThe video script provides a historical overview of the shift from imperialism to independence movements in the 20th century. It begins with the map of European possessions before World War I, highlighting the extensive colonial holdings of Western European powers. The script then details the significant changes post-World War I, including the breakup of empires and the rise of the Soviet Union. The period following the war is marked by growing independence movements, with Egypt and Iraq gaining independence in the 1920s and 1930s. World War II further catalyzes these movements, leading to the independence of countries like Indonesia, Syria, Jordan, and the Indian subcontinent. The script also discusses the peaceful resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi and the partition of India and Pakistan. It touches on the non-aligned movement, the independence of African nations, and the role of figures like Jawaharal Nehru and Kwame Nkrumah. The summary concludes with the question of why so many countries gained independence in the second half of the 20th century, suggesting factors such as the exhaustion of imperial powers, psychological changes post-war, and the effectiveness of independence struggles.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Pre-WWI, Western European powers, including France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Italy, had significant global possessions, particularly in Africa and Asia.
- 💥 World War I led to the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, and the Russian Empire became the Soviet Union after the Bolshevik Revolution.
- 🚀 Post-WWI saw growing momentum for independence movements, with Egypt and Iraq gaining independence from the UK in 1922 and 1932, respectively.
- 🌞 World War II further catalyzed anti-colonial movements, with Indonesia claiming independence from the Dutch after Japan's defeat in 1945.
- 🏺 The Indian subcontinent's independence in 1947 under Mahatma Gandhi's peaceful resistance led to the partition into Pakistan and India, with contentious regions like Kashmir.
- 👥 The partition of India resulted in one of the largest migrations in history, with sectarian violence and the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
- 🇵🇰 Muhammad Ali Jinnah founded Pakistan, and Jawaharlal Nehru became India's first prime minister, advocating for non-alignment during the Cold War.
- 🌱 Jawaharlal Nehru coined the term 'third world' to describe countries that wished to remain independent of Western capitalist and communist blocs.
- 🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh became a key figure in the fight for independence in French Indochina, which evolved into the Vietnam War with US involvement.
- 🏛 Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, was a proponent of pan-Africanism and the unity of African nations for greater power and influence.
- 🇱🇸 The 1960s marked a significant acceleration in African independence movements, with most of the continent gaining independence by the end of the decade.
- ❓ The second half of the 20th century saw a wave of decolonization; reasons could include imperial fatigue, psychological changes post-war, effective independence struggles, or a combination of these factors.
Q & A
What significant changes occurred in the map of European possessions after World War I?
-After World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire were broken up, significantly altering the map of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, respectively. The Russian Empire exited the war following the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, leading to the establishment of the Soviet Union.
Which countries gained independence in the post-World War I period?
-Egypt gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1922, and Iraq, which had been under British control after the war, achieved independence in 1932.
How did World War II impact the momentum for anti-colonial independence movements?
-Exiting World War II, there was further momentum gained for various anti-colonial independence movements, leading to the independence of several countries that had been under colonial control.
When did Indonesia claim its independence and from whom?
-Indonesia claimed its independence in August 1945, nominally from the Dutch, after Japan's surrender following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
What significant event occurred in the Indian subcontinent in 1947?
-In 1947, the Indian subcontinent gained independence from British rule, leading to its partition into Pakistan and India, with regions having Hindu majorities becoming India and areas with Muslim majorities forming Pakistan.
Who were the key figures in the Indian independence movement?
-The key figures in the Indian independence movement were Mahatma Gandhi, who led a peaceful resistance, and Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, who was also instrumental in the non-aligned movement.
What was the significance of the non-aligned movement?
-The non-aligned movement, championed by Jawaharlal Nehru, aimed for newly liberated countries to maintain their independence by not aligning with either the Western capitalist countries or the communist bloc during the Cold War.
Who was a significant figure in the French Indochina independence movement?
-Ho Chi Minh was a significant figure in the French Indochina independence movement, which later evolved into the Vietnam War.
Which African countries gained independence in the late 1950s and early 1960s?
-Libya gained independence in 1951, and from 1956 to 1958, countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana, and Guinea achieved independence.
Who was the first president and prime minister of Ghana, and what was his vision for Africa?
-Kwame Nkrumah was the first president and prime minister of Ghana, known as one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity. His vision was for a unified Africa, believing that a united continent would have more power and influence than a fragmented one.
What was the general trend of independence movements in Africa during the 1960s?
-The 1960s saw a significant acceleration in the independence movements across Africa, with most French, British, and Belgian colonies achieving independence, leading to a world that more closely resembles the current geopolitical landscape.
What were Jawaharlal Nehru's views on nonalignment as expressed in his 1956 speech in Washington DC?
-Jawaharlal Nehru's views on nonalignment were that it was a positive and dynamic approach to international relations. He believed in the right of each country to freedom and to decide its own policy and way of life, without submitting to what was considered evil or aligning with any military or alliance pact.
Outlines
🗺️ Imperialism and Independence Movements Pre and Post World Wars
The first paragraph outlines the extent of European, particularly Western European, imperialism at the beginning of the 20th century. It highlights the significant territories held by major powers like France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, and Italy across Africa and Asia. The paragraph then describes the profound changes to the map of Europe and the world due to World War I, including the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires and the rise of the Soviet Union. Post-war, there's a noted shift towards independence movements, with Egypt and Iraq gaining independence in 1922 and 1932 respectively. The narrative moves into World War II and its aftermath, which further fuels anti-colonial sentiment and leads to the independence of nations like Indonesia, Syria, Jordan, and the Indian subcontinent, with a focus on the peaceful resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi. The partition of India and the creation of Pakistan are also discussed, along with the contentious issue of Kashmir. The paragraph concludes with the founding figures of India and Pakistan, their roles in the independence movement, and the introduction of the non-aligned movement and the concept of the 'third world'.
🌍 The Rise of African Independence and the Non-Aligned Movement
The second paragraph focuses on the 1950s and the significant wave of independence movements across Africa. It details the liberation of countries like Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana, and Guinea, with a special emphasis on Ghana and its leader Kwame Nkrumah, a key figure in the Organization of African Unity and a proponent of pan-Africanism. The paragraph then paints a picture of the rapid spread of independence across the continent during the 1960s, leading to a world that resembles the current state of global politics. It includes a speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, highlighting India's commitment to nonalignment and the right of every country to self-determination. The paragraph ends with a series of reflective questions on the reasons behind the widespread decolonization in the second half of the 20th century, pondering the motivations and influences that led to the end of imperialism and the birth of newly independent nations.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Imperialism
💡Independence Movements
💡Non-Aligned Movement
💡Partition
💡Decolonization
💡Pan-Africanism
💡Cold War
💡Third World
💡Imperial Powers
💡World Wars
Highlights
European possessions in the world were significant before World War I, especially by Western European powers like France and Britain.
World War I dramatically changed the map of Europe, leading to the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires.
Egypt gained independence from the UK in 1922, and Iraq followed in 1932 after being under British control post-WWI.
Post-World War II saw a surge in anti-colonial independence movements, with Indonesia claiming independence from the Dutch in 1945.
Syria and Jordan gained independence from France and the UK, respectively, between 1944 and 1946.
The Indian subcontinent's independence in 1947 was marked by peaceful resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi and resulted in the partition into Pakistan and India.
The partition of India led to one of the largest migrations in history, with sectarian violence and the contentious region of Kashmir.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah founded Pakistan, and Jawaharlal Nehru became India's first prime minister, advocating for non-alignment during the Cold War.
The term 'third world' was coined by Nehru to describe countries not aligned with either the Western capitalist or communist blocs.
French Indochina, including North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, gained independence with Ho Chi Minh as a prominent figure.
Significant African independence movements occurred in the 1950s, with Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana, and Guinea gaining independence.
Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, was a founder of the Organization of African Unity and a promoter of pan-Africanism.
The 1960s saw an acceleration in African independence movements, with most of Africa becoming independent by the end of the decade.
Jawaharlal Nehru's speech in Washington DC in 1956 emphasized India's policy of nonalignment and the right of each country to decide its own policy and way of life.
The question of why many countries gained independence in the second half of the 20th century is explored, considering factors like imperial fatigue, psychological changes, and the efficacy of independence struggles.
The world fundamentally changed from an imperial structure dominated by Western European powers to a more independent and recognized global community post-WWII.
Transcripts
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