Decolonization: The Struggle for Independence in India and Algeria - Prof. Amy Milne-Smith, Study notes of World History

Download Decolonization: The Struggle for Independence in India and Algeria - Prof. Amy Milne-Smith and more Study notes World History in PDF only on Docsity! History 11.11.10 Decolonization - Two case studies: India and Algeria - Paths to independence - Problems of post-colonialism Decolonization happens all over the world. It starts in 1945. The majority of Africa and Asia were colonized all the way up to 1945 when these decolonization revolts began. Indian Independence - Up to this point, India had been under British rule for several centuries - In 1945, a spirit of nationalism started rising within the Indian people and they became sick of being controlled by Great Britain. o They wanted to live by their own values and without any British rule. - Britain had set themselves up for destruction from India by the tools they had given them such as infrastructure and education. o They had educated the Indians in values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and other ideas of the Enlightenment era. All of these things came back to bite Britain, rather than have the Indians on their side. o As far as infrastructure, Britain built roads and railroads across India to help transport commercial goods. o In 1885, Britain set up the India National Congress  This was the first spark of nationalism- BIG mistake for Britain. - Indian National Congress o This was run by a group of elite Hindu and Muslim Indians and set up for Indian independence. o Britain helped them set this up so that they still had a foot in the door of Indian politics, just like Canada did with Australia. o The Indian National Congress helps support Britain in WWI, but then after the war is over, Britain neglects them. - Faith of Indian Independence Movement o A huge player was Gandhi (1869-1948). He grew up as a mid-class Hindu and was married at the age of 13. He left home in 1888 for London to study law. Because he had lived in India and Britain, he under stood the law system of both countries. He thought that the British were helping the Indians until he went to South Africa and got a job for an Indian law firm. His eyes were opened to the true agenda of the British people. There was major racial segregation going on. Indians were second-class citizens who were exploited and maltreated, as well as the Africans. He spent twenty-five years in Africa. He came up decided to resist with tolerance and nonviolence. He was active in Congress and a major figure of the Indian Independence Movement. - Paths to Independence o Gandhi respected all religions. He was a great leader, even among different castes. He moved beyond castes and dressed like the lowest of the low. He talked with the lowest castes, ate with them, shook hands with them, and did anything with these “untouchables” that most people refused to do. He did this to bring unification among the people. o Gandhi wanted to boycott British goods- another form of nonviolent resistance. Instead, they would create their own goods. They would cut out the British middleman and reform the government. Gandhi thought that the Indians would be happier with less material goods. o Boycotts were the most dramatic form of resistance. People started buying Indian goods, rather than British goods. They also started boycotting British schools. o The British also took notice when peaceful protests began. During one of the protests, the British called for open fire in 1919. This made Britain look like the bad guy and went on until 1937 when the Government of India Act gives India certain freedoms. Basically, the Indians would make their decisions and then run it by the British before they went through with it. o The Government of Indian ended up not working because the people of India don’t like it. There is too much tolerance. o The biggest Muslim resistance came from Gena against Gandhi. Gena wanted a two-state solution of a mostly Muslim Pakistan, but Gandhi wanted one big, unified India. Muslim was the minority and Hindu was the majority for India as a whole, but in certain sections, this majority/minority was flipped. o WWII disrupted the Government of India Act. Churchill hated the Indian Independent Movement and Gandhi. The economic effects on Britain of WWII also affect India. Because of this, Britain gives them their independence, not because they want to, but because they have to because of their economic state. o The Separation of Pakistan wins in 1947, right before Britain decides to back out of India. Having two states really bother Gandhi because he gets independence, but also a divided state. o An East and West Pakistan existed until 1971. By 1948, ten million people made journeys from one state to the other because of the religious split that just occurred. Between India and Pakistan were the biggest spots of immigration. Gandhi was weak and was