Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to understand content and feature usage to drive site improvements over time. To learn more, review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Decolonization After 1900

Driving Question: What strategies and ideologies have been shared in common by liberation movements in different parts of the world?

After World War II, African American soldiers and civil rights leaders drew inspiration from global decolonization, recognizing shared struggles against oppression. In South Africa and Latin America, people fought against colonial hierarchies and elite rule, pushing back against racism and inequality. What did these struggles share in common? What made them unique?

Learning Objectives

  1. Compare the processes by which various peoples pursued independence after 1900.
  2. Use graphic biographies to support, extend, or challenge the overarching narratives from this region. 

Vocab Terms:

  • boycott
  • decolonization
  • mandate
  • massacre
  • nationalist
  • nonviolence
  • protectorate
STEP 1

Opener: Decolonization After 1900

STEP 2

The Middle East and the End of Empire

Communities in the Middle East hoped for independence from their respective colonial powers after World War II. However, the Cold War conflict between the United States and Soviet Union only produced further foreign interference in many nations in the region.

STEP 3

And Then Gandhi Came: Nationalism, Revolution, and Sovereignty

What are the features of successful independence movements, and how and why do these revolutions happen? The Quit India movement, led by the inspirational lawyer Mohandas Gandhi, is a case study of how a nonviolent revolution can succeed in its goals.

STEP 4

Resisting Colonialism: Through a Ghanaian Lens

We often think of resistance to colonialism in terms of armies and battles, and many independence struggles involved conflict. But resistance can also take many other forms—as seen in the case of the Gold Coast, better known today as Ghana.

Resisting Colonialism: Through a Ghanaian Lens External link

How did colonial subjects resist foreign control? Of course, there were vast differences, but we can get some answers by looking closely at Ghana as a case study.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 5

Comparison: Decolonization Methods

STEP 6

Closer: Decolonization After 1900

How did the man who led a successful movement for independence in Ghana become involved in diplomacy during the Cold War? Kwame Nkrumah’s biography provides evidence to help you to evaluate the connections between decolonization and the Cold War.

Extension Materials
Checkmark Alert Banner
John Green provides an in-depth look at how anti-colonial movements across the world won independence after World War II.
...

Decolonization and Nationalism Triumphant: Crash Course World History #40

The end of World War II brought about various nationalist and independence movements around the world.

Decolonization and Nationalism Triumphant: Crash Course World History #40 External link

After World War II, independence movements across the world sought freedom from empire. John Green describes how various nation-states were forged through nonviolence and revolution.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.