Nationalism and Decolonization
Vocabulary for Nationalism and Revolution around the World
Nationalism in China
The establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 began a new period in Chinese history. Communists had risen to power during the 1930s and 1940s by appealing to a large part of the population and by achieving military superiority. Under the communist dictatorship of Mao Zedong, however, programs such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution had negative economic results and restricted peoples' rights and freedoms. The next leader, Deng Xiaoping, made economic freedoms but not political ones. The communist government continued to maintain strict control over people's lives. To learn more about the Nationalist movement in China, please view the google presentation below.
Nationalism in India
After World War II, India was able to gain independence in large part due to the efforts of Mohandas Ghandi's peaceful protests as well as the demands of the Muslim League in India who spread the ideas of nationalism throughout India. Today, this region is the largest democracy in the world and forms two nations Hindu India as well as a Muslim Pakistan. To learn more how India was able to gain independence from Britain, watch this google presentation below.
The caste system is entrenched in India's culture after 2,000 years. Even though discrimination is illegal according to India's 1950s Constitution, it remains widespread in India especially in rural villages. Below is what the law says today....
Nationalism in Africa
A movement known as Pan-Africanism had been nourishing nationalist movements in Africa since the 1920s. Pan-Africanism emphasized the unity of Africans and people in African descent all over the world.
Although a few African nations had achieved independence before 1945, most gained independence only after World War II. Many Africans had fought in the war. They resented returning home to second class citizenship. Some Africans had migrated to cities during the war to work in defense industries. While they were there, they were exposed to nationalistic ideas. In addition, the Atlantic Charter, signed by President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in 1941, set forth the goal of self-determination for all nations.
Ghana, along the Gold Coast was a British colony up to 1957. American educated leader Kwame Nkrumah, inspired by Pan Africanism and by the writings of Mohandas Gandhi, organized a political party. Nkrumah used strikes and boycotts to battle British. In 1957, the British granted the Gold Coast independence, and Nkrumah became Prime Minister. Nkruman renamed the country Ghana, a name that linked to new nation to the its African past. In 1963, Nkrumah created the Organization of African Unity (OAU). This group promoted Pan-Africanism and the end of colonialism in Africa.
Kenya, was also a British colony. Its struggle for independence was led by Jomo Kenyatta. He was a spokesman for the Kikuyu people, who had been driven off their lands by European settlers. When some Kikuyu turned to violent means to gain liberation, the British jailed Kenyatta. Later, however, Kenyatta was released. In 1963, he became the first prime minister of an independent Kenya.
To learn more about African Nationalistic movements, watch this Google Presentation.
Below you can see a map of when former African colonies gained independence.
Nationalism in the Middle East
The Middle East is an are of great diversity and economic importance. It is also an area of great conflict. The creation of the state of Israel in 1948, and the refusal of neighboring Arab nations to accept Israel, set off years of conflict between the Arabs and the Jews. A revolution occurred in Iran that created an Islamic Republic. A growing influence in the area is that of Islamic fundamentalism. It is a movement to return to traditional Islamic ways. The aggressive actions of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein led to a war that involved many countries in the world. To learn more about Nationalism in the Middle East, watch this google presentation below.
The Persian Gulf War
When Iraq invaded Iran and later Kuwait to control oil fields just past their borders, the United Nations and the United States intervened.
Islamic Fundamentalism around the World
Chapter 19 Vocabulary
Chapter 20 Vocabulary
Chapter 21 Vocabulary: The Developing World
Chapter 22 Vocabulary- The World Today