Independence Movements In Asia and Africa

Independence Movements In Asia and Africa

Document-Based Question:

•Evaluate the methods and roles of leaders and organizations in the movement for independence and change in the period between 21945 and 1975.

Document #1

• Who wrote it• When written• Why written• Intended audience• POV

1955: Bandung Conference

• April 18-24 1955: the Asia-Africa Conference was a watershed event in anti-colonial politics and modern international relations.

• 29 heads of state mainly from newly independent Asian and African nations, as well as representatives of national liberation movements and civil rights organizations, were present at this gathering.

• Aka the Bandung Conference, leaders included Indonesia's Sukarno, India's Nehru, and Zhou Enlai, from People's Republic of China (PRC).

• Participants advocated self-determination and autonomous government for peoples in the Asian-African region, and sought for the first time to build a collective voice that would command respect amongst the former colonial powers and within the United Nations organization.

• Participants debated issue of alignment w/either of Cold War blocs.• Although states such as the PRC, Turkey, Pakistan, and the

Philippines were aligned, many in attendance took up Nehru's call to move beyond defense arrangements that he viewed as only furthering the interests of the two superpowers.

1955: Bandung Conference

1955: Bandung Conference

• Debate: Whether Soviet Policies in E. Europe and Central Asia should be censured along with Western colonialism.

• Consensus reached in which "colonialism in all of its manifestations" was condemned, censuring the Soviet Union, as well as the West.

• China played an important role in the conference and strengthened its relations with other Asian nations.

• Chinese premier Zhou Enlai showed moderate attitude that quieted fears of anticommunists vis-a-vis China's intentions.

• Zhou Enlai signed declaration stating that overseas Chinese owed primary loyalty to their home nation, rather than to China – a sensitive issue for his Indonesian hosts and other participating countries.

Outcome: A 10-point "declaration on promotion of world peace and cooperation," incorporating the principles of the UN Charter was adopted unanimously:

• Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations

• Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations• Recognition of the equality of all races and of the equality of all nations large

and small• Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another

country• Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself, singly or collectively, in

conformity with the charter of the United Nations• (a) Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defence to serve any

particular interests of the big powers(b) Abstention by any country from exerting pressures on other countries

• Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country

• Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or judicial settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties own choice, in conformity with the charter of the United Nations

• Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation• Respect for justice and international obligations.

• Final text of the Conference underscored the need for developing countries to loosen their economic dependence on leading industrialized nations by providing technical assistance to one another through the exchange of experts and technical assistance for developmental projects, as well as the exchange of technological know-how and the establishment of regional training and research institutes.

Participants of Bandung Conference

Members of the Non-Aligned Movement, 2007 (light blue have

observer status)

Document #2

• Who wrote it• When written• Why written• Intended audience• POV

1954: French Defeat at Dienbienphu

Paris Peace Talks, 1969-1973

Nixon: Bombing Cambodia

Document #3

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India• 1885 saw the establishment of

the Indian National Congress whose goal was to increase rights for Indians under colonial rule.

• 1906 witnessed the creation of the Muslim League to protect Muslim adherents rights

The Amritsar Massacre - 1919

• 319 Indians (Hindu and Muslim) were killed during a peaceful demonstration in a park by General Dyer.

• The massacre was unprovoked• In the immediate aftermath millions joined the

“self rule” (swaraj) campaign.

• Gandhi began call for Indian unity which was to transcend religious differences.

• Most famous gesture was the “March to the Sea” where he collected salt which was prohibited by British law.

• Was a British educated lawyer who dressed as a commoner, fasted and attracted large crowds.

Mohandas Gandhi

• Movement’s spokesman was Gandhi who organized huge protests.

• He proclaimed a program of Passive Resistance or civil disobedience

• Consisted of demonstrations and work stoppages and boycotts

• This non-violence program was quite successful• Dr. King in America copied this strategy of civil

disobedience in the US civil rights movement.

•The Muslim League demanded creation of a Muslim state to be called Pakistan

•After WWII Britain granted Indian independence

•Immediately radical Hindus and Muslims began massive killings of each other.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah• Main goal was to

create a separate Muslim state.

• When Britain decided to leave India in 1947, India was partitioned:

India in the south Pakistan in the

northwest East Pakistan, now

Bangladesh, in the east

• Millions now moved to the area of their choice, or were forced to flee to avoid religious persecution

• 500,000 people were killed • Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu

who disagreed with his political aspirations.

• The two nations are still fighting.• Note: Both nations are now nuclear

powers

Document #4

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Document #5

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Document #6

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Document #7

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Document #8

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AFRICAN MOVEMENTS

• After the war France was determined to retain her colonies of Algeria and Vietnam.

• French determination set off revolts in both areas.

• The 1954 revolt in Algeria was marked by bloody reprisals on both sides.

• Algeria gained independence in 1962 but bitterness caused many pro-French sympathizers to flee to France---thus developing a Islamic community in France with lingering problems today.

• Pan African movements began in the late 50s and were started by Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta--but African movements primarily were concerned with individual colonies.

•African movements began north of the Sahara where nations had long standing Islamic ties.

Nationalist Movements in Africa and the Middle East

Kenya South Africa Nigeria Leadership:

Jomo Kenyatta

Leadership:African National Congress

(ANC)W.E.B. DuBois

Pan-African Congress

Leadership:

Ibo women

Protests Against:Loss of LandForced LaborHeavy Taxes

Identification Cards

Protests Against:Loss of Political & Social

PowerJob restrictions

Identification Cards“Reserve” Living

Protests Against:Loss of land

Losing control of marketplace

Lack of Voice

Results:Kikuyu leaders jailed

Protests continued

Results:Apartheid - blacks

required to use separate trains, beaches,

restaurants, schools, and no interracial marriage.

Results: Women’s War – full revolt

Egyptian Independence• Gamal Abdel Nasser

overthrew the king and established the Arab Republic of Egypt (Gumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah).

• Nationalized industries.• Nationalized the Suez

Canal• Served as model for

others in Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa • Most nations had few trained

professionals (doctors, diplomats, businessmen, scientists).

• They had no trained people to run or rule a new nation

• In most colonies there were multiple languages since colonies were made along imperialist lines not African traditions.

• Most colonies had differing histories, customs and loyalties.

Rwanda• This area faced:• Human rights violations• Tribal division between

two tribes, the– Tutsi (15% of pop.) and – Hutu (85% of pop.)

• Ethnic upheaval, even to the point of attempted genocide (Summer 1994)

• 1962: Independence• Next: Hutu revolted

against Tutsi leadership• More than 10,000

people were murdered.• Fighting continued up

to the 1970s when a military coup by Juvenal Habyarimana created a one party republic.

• When Habyarimana died in plane crash in 1994 civil war broke out again.

• 3 months of fighting resulted in genocide which left 800,000 Tutsi dead.

• The following year 2,000,000 Tutsi fled to nearby Zaire

• This is largest incident of genocide in recent history resulting in lost of 1/3 of entire national population.

SOUTH AFRICA• 1910: the Union of

South Africa was established.

• British and Dutch colonists were given power, land and rights

• Blacks were entire excluded from the political arena

• 1923: Introduction of complete residential segregation.

• 1926: Blacks banned from work in many skilled occupations.

• 1948: Establishment of APARTHEID (racial separation).

• Removed 80% of the population from the political process.

• In the 1950’s the “homelands” were established.

• 15% of land (the worst) were allocated for blacks.

Nelson Mandela•1950s: Mandela

became the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), an organization whose goal was to abolish Apartheid.

• At first, Mandela followed Gandhi’s strategy of passive resistance

• 1960: Sharpeville Massacre saw the murder of 67 protesters. (protest was against the requirement to carry passes to travel in cities)

• Mandela now supported guerrilla warfare.• Mandela was arrested in 1964 and

sentenced to life in prison.• He was released in 1990• 1994: Mandela was

elected president in the first free election.

THE MIDDLE EAST• At end of WWI the area

was controlled by the League of Nations.

• France managed Syria and Lebanon

• Britain oversaw Palestine, Jordan, Iraq and Persia (Iran)

• Arabian Peninsula became– Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,– British-Controlled Yemen

and Aden, and – Kuwait and Oman

Israel

• Jewish refugees convinced Arthur Balfour that a Jewish homeland was necessary.

• 1917: Balfour Declaration declared “His Majesty’s Government” favors a Homeland for the Jewish People

• 1930’s: Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany saw a surge of Jews leave for British-controlled Palestine to escape Hitler.

• By 1940 nearly a half million had arrived.• At this point the Palestinians had the

numbers but the Jews had military training and world sympathy.

• After WWII, 1948, the United Nations created 2 Palestines--one for Jews and one for Muslims.

• Note: What other nations were partitioned?

• Germany, India, Ireland.

• When David Ben-Gurion announced the creation of Israel Muslims from six nations immediately attacked.

• Israel shocked the world by defeating the Muslims

• Israel seized the Palestine and the Palestinians no longer had a homeland.

• Jews from across the world flocked to the new nation.

The Six Day War• War broke out again in 1967.• It was a total victory for Israel who then took:

The West Bank from Jordan Golan Heights from Syria Gaza Strip and the Sinai from EgyptIn 1977 PM Begin and President Sadat of Egypt signed the Camp David Accords in which Israel returned the Sinai and Egypt (a Muslim nation) recognized Israel’s right to exist.

• 1981: Radical Muslims assassinated Sadat.

• Since 1977 Israel and Palestinians have fought over the land

• The PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) was created and dedicated to reclaiming the land and establishing a Palestinian state.

• Regular Intifada’s (uprisings) have been used along with terrorism against Israeli citizens to aid in the destruction of the Jewish state

• New Hostilities began in 2000. Israel elected Ariel Sharon as PM and he built a wall between Palestine and Israel for protection.

• When PLO leader Yassir Arafat died in 2004 the new president signed a armistice with Israel ending the Intifada.

Biography: Kemal Ataturk• Nationalist leader of

Turkey who is responsible for modernizing and westernizing his country after World War I. This enabled Turkey to resist imperialist attempts at takeover by various European powers.

• Westernization: To adopt western ideas and culture.

• Modernization: To change something to make it conform to modern standards (example outlawing wearing the Fez)

(1881-1938)

Iranian Revolution

Reza Shah Pahlavi

• After WWII and the departure of the allies the Shah began a program of Westernization.

• Land reform in the form of ownership increased

• Education improved• Women’s received the

rights of voting, higher education, professions, and western dress.

• The reforms upset Islamic fundamentalists who thought that the Qur’an should be the law of the kingdom (theocracy).

• After President Carter visited to congratulate the Shah on his progress revolution ensued.

• The Shah was deposed in 1979 and Iran became a theocracy led by the Ayatollah Khomeini.

• Westernization ended---women wore traditional clothing and national law was based on the Qur’an

4 Views of Traditional Iran

• Iran was invaded by Iraq in1980• Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was

supported by the US• The war between the two nations

lasted nearly 8 years with neither side gaining anything.

• The Ayatollah’s death in 1989 created a power struggle between fundamentalist and a small minority of reform minded pro-Westernizers.

An Economy Based on Oil

OPECORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES

• By 1960 the Middle Eastern states realized the power their oil gave them on the global market and they formed OPEC (Venezuela also joined).

• OPEC set the world price for oil and controlled the amount available.

• In 1970 they cut supply and prices skyrocketed. • Since the 1980s OPEC has largely failed to keep its

members in line and lost some of its power.• Some OPEC nations have used oil revenue to build

national infrastructure while others have let the money go into the hands of a small minority.

The Gulf War• In 1990 Iraq, lead by Hussein, invaded

Kuwait to gain control of the oil fields.• Success would have given Iraq control of

nearly 20% of the world oil reserves.• The United Nations sent forces to drive Iraq

out of Kuwait.• The UN then placed restrictions of Iraq• Hussein remained in power for 10 more

years while ignoring the clauses of the peace treaty.

• In 2003 a coalition (US and GB) invaded Iraq to remove Hussein. A new government is still being formed.

More Unrest in Arab States• In the 1980s the USSR sent

troops to Afghanistan at the request of the Afgan Marxist leader Nur Muhammad Taraki

• Most Afghanis opposed the plan• Resistors called “holy warriors”

attacked Soviet forces.• As Soviet problems at home grew

the troops withdrew.

• After 14 years of fighting and 2 million deaths the victorious power was the Taliban an Islamic fundamentalist group.

• The regime imposed strict Islamic law and restrictions of women.

• It also provided protection for the terrorist groups Al Qaeda lead by Saudi Osama bin Laden.

• Al Qaeda has intense dislike for the USA, Israel and Saudi Arabia

• Al Qaeda resents the presence of infidels (westerners) in Saudi Arabia since it is the home of the two major Islamic holy sites.

• Al Qaeda particularly resents the USA because:

US support of Israel US troops in Saudi Arabia US support of globalization which

weakens Islamic values and beliefs (al-Qaeda’s view).

To support their cause al-Qaeda destroyed the World Trade Center in New York on September 11,

2001.

Nationalism in Latin America

MEXICO

• At the beginning of the 20th century Mexico was ruled by Porfiro Diaz a general.

• The Revolution of 1910 was started by the elites that were not in favor with Diaz.

• By 1911 the peasants had joined lead by men such as Zapata and Pancho Villa

• A democratic constitution was created in 1917

• Every president was assassinated during his term until Lazaro Cardenas took over in 1934

• The country was stable until the 1990s when some democracy began to appear.

Brazil

• Nation was run by the elites (coffee and rubber exporters)• Created a gap between rich and poor.

• Vargas took over in 1930 and created an authoritarian regime

• Argentina was represented by landowners (cattle and sheep)

• Military revolts were common until Juan Peron, supported by the Nazis took over in 1943

ARGENTINA