Movements Against Imperialism

Last Time You learned about how some lands became colonies of other European countries. Do you think these colonies wanted independence from their colonial rulers?

YES! Example: European Colonies After World War One (WWI), many of European colonies began to fight against imperialism. They were tired of being ruled by outsiders.

Nationalism in Africa Black Africans had fought in World War I in British and French armies. Many Africans hoped they would be rewarded with independence after the war. However, the peace agreement after World War I was a disappointment. Germany was stripped of its African colonies, but these colonies were awarded to the victors, France and Britain.

Africa calls for independence Africans, having learned ideas about freedom and nationalism from the British and began to seek reform. In Kenya, Harry Thuku organized a Kenyan protest of high British taxes. He was thrown in prison. When an angry crowd stormed the jail, shots were fired by police which killed at least 20 people.

Africa calls for Independence Similar events took place in Libya where African nationalists tried to overthrow Italian colonial rule South Africa, Egypt, Somaliland and Morocco all called for independence from European countries between 1919 and 1939

It was especially hard for the British to stop independence movements Because they had so many colonies that it was hard to keep track of the nationalist movements within the entire empire.

Great Britain in the Middle East Great Britain once controlled many lands in North Africa and Southwest Asia. Ex: Egypt British Museum Exhibit

Egypt Egypt had been a protectorate of Great Britain, but they wanted to be totally independent of British rule so they started to revolt against the British in Egypt.

Egypt gets independence In BUT British troops stayed in Egypt and Great Britain continued to control Egypt’s relations with other countries.

Independence movements in India India was Great Britain’s biggest and richest colony. But, like most British colonies, India wanted independence from Great Britain.

Help during the world wars Like the Arabs and Egyptians, Indian soldiers also helped the British fight during WWI.

Help during the world wars After WWI was over, the Indian people felt that the British should appreciate the help the Indians gave them during the war and grant their independence.

Indians felt they were ready for independence Indians learned English and about British culture. Some even traveled to England to go to school to learn about British government and laws to model Indian government on Great Britain.

Mohandas K. Gandhi Gandhi was one man who went to Great Britain to study law. He had great respect for Great Britain and their government.

Mohandas K. Gandhi Gandhi believed that Indians were ready to govern themselves but Great Britain refused to give India independence. So Gandhi started a movement for independence.

Non-Violence Gandhi believed that violence against the British was not the way to get independence.

Boycott Instead, Gandhi believed in non-violent method like boycotting English goods or refusing to buy anything that was British.

Civil Disobedience Gandhi also encouraged his followers to not follow British laws that were unfair to Indian citizens. One example of such a law was a high tax on salt. Indian people could ONLY buy salt from the British government and it was against the law to try to make your own salt.

Salt March So, Gandhi decided to spread word that he was going to break the law and get his own salt from the ocean. He rounded up many followers to walk with him all the way to the ocean to get salt, breaking the British law.

No Taxes Gandhi also encouraged Indian people to refuse to pay unfair British taxes.

Results: Gandhi and his supporters were thrown in jail many times and some were beaten by the police. But they NEVER retaliated against the British. They never used violence against the British.

Results Over time, people really came to love Gandhi and felt VERY strongly that the British were treating Indians unfairly. Indians got together and created their own constitution and elected their own government representatives in 1935

Indian Independence In 1947, India finally gained independence. But during the movement for independence Indians began to have different ideas about how their country should be governed because of relgious differences.

Religious differences in India. Most Indians were Hindus but millions of other Indians belonged to the Muslim (Islam) religion. Hindus and Muslims disagreed about how people should live.

Differences between Hindus and Muslims 1. Hindus have many gods Muslims have only one god. 2. Hindus believe cows are holy and do not eat beef Muslims believe that pork is dirty and do not eat pork 3. Hindus have the idea that people who are rich or poor deserve their fate so they don’t need to be treated equally. (Caste system) Muslims believe that the only way to go to Heaven is to follow Islam. Non-Muslim practices like eating pork are evil.

Differences between Hindus and Muslims Hindus and Muslims didn’t understand one another and they began to fight. Gandhi was assassinated by a Muslim. In just one day, fighting between Hindus and Muslims led to more that 5,000 deaths.

Great Britain tries to help To try to make India peaceful, Great Britain split India into 2 countries (one was Hindu and the other was Muslim). India: Hindu Pakistan: Muslim

Reflection Questions 1. Why did colonies want independence? 2. What are two examples of colonies that gained independence and became their own countries? 3.How did Gandhi think Indians should try to get independence from Great Britain?