Independence Movements Around
the World
Indian Sub-Continent
India August 15. 1947 Partition of India (Hindu India,
Muslim East Pakistan and West Pakistan) Migration of People millions of Hindus and
Muslims crossed new borders Mass massacre of each other – 1 million killed Kashmir when independence was granted,
border conflicts ignited a war over Kashmir – a princely state in the Himalayas Hindu price in charge signed Kashmir over to India, but its
majority of Muslims wanted to be part of the newly created Pakistan
Two nations are still fighting over this region today
Sri LankaSri Lanka
India Jawaharlal Nehru 1St Prime
Minister of India Muhammad Ali Jinnah 1st
Governor of Pakistan January 30, 1948 Mohandas
Gandhi is assassinated by a Hindu extremist
1964 Nehru dies after working to build a modern, secular India Promoted social justice Green Revolution Built dams, hydroelectric power,
steel mills (India lacked natural gas and oil, which are two resources necessary to industrialization
India 1966 Indira Gandhi
becomes the new Prime Minister of India
1984 Indira Gandhi increases the production of food (Green Revolution) Assassinated by a Sikh
bodyguard 1984 Raji Gandhi
becomes Prime Minister Assassinated in 1991
Pakistan 1971 East Pakistan
(Bangladesh) breaks with West Pakistan (Pakistan)
Differed by language and culture
West Pakistan dominated the economy and the government
During the war, India aided Bangladesh for freedom from Pakistan and helped them gain independence
Sri Lanka Island located off the
coast of India Since 1981, Militant
Tamils want to separate from Sri Lanka
Civil unrest continues today in the small nation
Asia
Philippines Immediate goals rebuild
the economy and restore the capital of Manila
Bell Act Establish free trade between the United States and the Philippines for eight years, followed by gradually increasing tariffs
United States maintained a military force following independence
Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Elected
president of Philippines in 1965 until 1986 Established an authoritarian
regime Stole million of dollars from
the government Corazón Aquino elected
president in 1986, but Marcos refused to acknowledge her victory Public outcry led to the
exile of Marcos and placing Aquino in control
Instituted a new constitution Ended US leases on
military bases
Burma (Myanmar) Became a sovereign
republic in 1948 Aung San leader of the
Burmese Nationalist Army At first, cooperated with the
Japanese, then joined the British to fight the Japanese occupation
Defeated the Japanese, but was gunned down before independence
General Ne Win Set up a repressive government with the goal of a socialist state
Burma (Myanmar) Aung San Suu Kyi
1988, became active in the National League for Democracy Placed under house arrest
for almost six years for pro-democratic actions
1990 National League for Democracy won 80 seats in government during the election
Released in 1995 from house arrest, but is still under surveillance
Malaysia & Singapore 1957 Federation of Malaya
created Singapore, Malaya, Sarawak,
and Sabah 1965 Singapore separates
from the federation One of the busiest ports in the
world Lee Kuan Yew Prime minister
from 1965-1990
Indonesia Sukarno leader of the
Indonesian independence movement
Dutch were unwilling to give up their colonies
Through guerilla war, Indonesians gained their independence
1965 attempted coup on Sukarno, but suppressed by Suharto (a general)
Indonesia 1967 Suharto
officially named president Established a police state
with martial law Government filled with
bribery and corruption 1998 Suharto was
forced to resign
Africa
Ghana Africans allowed in legislative
council by British after WWII Kwame Nkrumah worked to
gain Ghana’s independence in the 1940s
1957 Ghana gains it’s independence
Pan-Africanism goal to create a unified, fully African society Organization of African Unity
(1963) Jerry Rawlings seized power
in 1979 and 1981, still in power today
Kenya Mau Mau wanted to frighten
white farmers into leaving Kenya Jomo Kenyatta refused to
condemn actions of Mau Mau – imprisoned by the British
Kenya granted independence in 1963
Kenyatta becomes the 1st president
Worked to unify the various ethnic and language groups
Kenya Daniel arap Moi takes
over control in 1978 Less successful than
Kenyatta at governing Protests led to Moi’s
government becoming slightly more democratic
Economy suffers a reversal and Moi’s government becomes very corrupt
Congo Most exploited colony
within Africa 1960 – Congo granted
independence from Belgium
Patrice Lumumba becomes 1st Prime Minister Ruled a divided nation Looked to the United
Nations and the Soviet Union for aid
Congo Moise Tshombe local
leader of the Katanga region Area rich in copper Backed by mining interests
Mobutu Sese Seko led a coup against Lumumba Seized power in 1965 Renamed Congo – Zaire
(1965-1997) Accused of stealing billions of
dollars from the government 1997 Mobutu overthrown
by Laurent Kabila – becomes Congo again
Algeria 1945 French troops fired
on Algerian nationalists 1954 Algerian National
Liberation Front (FLN) announced its fight for independence Used guerilla tactics
1958 De Gaulle returns to power in France
Algeria 1962 Referendum setting
conditions for Algerian independence Both sides agree on
referendum Independence granted in July,
1962 Ahmed Ben Bella 1st prime
minister and then 1st president Overthrown in 1965
Islamic Salvation Front (ISF) chief Islamic party, won local nd parliamentary elections in 1990-91
Civil war broke out and continues off and on today
Angola 1960 Three revolutionary
groups emerged Portugal sent in 50,000 troops
to put down rebels Discontent with the colonial wars
led to the toppling of the Portuguese dictatorship
1975 Portuguese troops withdraw from Angola
MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) took control of Luanda (capitol) Led to a civil war
Angola FNLA (National Front for the
Liberation of Angola) Backed by Zaire and the United
States Short-lived independence group
UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) Assisted by South Africa and the
United States 1988 United States pressed for
settlement between these groups 1989 shaky ceasefire
established 1995 began discussions about
representation of each group in the government
Middle East
Palestine and Israel Jews and Arabs each
have claims to this land Zionists people who
favor a Jewish homeland in Palestine Began settlement in late 19th
and early 20th century Balfour Declaration
statement from the British that the government will support the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine
Palestine and Israel
1947 United Nations calls for a partition of Palestine into a Palestinian state and a Jewish state
May 14, 1948 official formation of Israel
Israel and the Arab States in Conflict
Day after Israel is proclaimed a state, it was invaded by Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria Ended in a few months with an
Israeli victory Full scale war broke out in
1956, 1967, and 1973 Palestinian land never came
into reality Israel seized half of
Palestinian land in 1948-49 fighting
Egypt took the Gaza strip Jordan took the West Bank
Israel and the Arab States in Conflict
1956 Suez Crisis Egypt seized the Suez Canal
by orders of President Abdel Nasser
The British and French made an agreement with Israel
Israeli troops marched on the Suez Canal
Pressure from the world community forced the Israelis to withdraw and Egypt regained control of the Suez Canal
Israel and the Arab States in Conflict
1967 Six Day War Nasser and allies decided it
was time to defeat the Israelis
Israel struck first, hitting the airfields in Egypt, Iran, Jordan, and Syria
Israel lost 800 men and the Arabs lost 1500 men
Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, which created a buffer zone Some Palestinians were
left stateless
Israel and the Arab States in Conflict
1973 4th Arab-Israeli Conflict Anwar Sadat (leader of Egypt)
planned a joint Arab attack on Yom Kippur (holiest Jewish holiday)
Caused major Israeli causalities and lost some territory
Golda Meir (Prime Minister of Israel) launched a counterattack and regained territory and settled on an uneasy truce
Trading Land for Peace Anwar Sadat offered peace in 1977
Egypt would have peace if Israel would recognize Palestinian rights and return territory seized in 1967 from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria
US president, Jimmy Carter, invited Sadat and Menachem Begin (Israeli Prime Minister) to Camp David Camp David Accords treaty
signed by Egypt and Israel Egypt recognizes Israel and Israel
returns Sinai Peninsula 1981 Sadat assassinated by
Muslim extremists Egypt’s new leader – Hoshi Mubarak
– maintained peace with Israel
The Palestinians Demand Independence
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) led by Yasir Arafat Armed struggle against Israel in the
1970s-80s Israel bombed suspected bases in
Palestinian towns 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon in an
attempt to destroy strongholds, but was drawn into Lebanese civil war and were forced to withdraw
1987 Intifada – campaign of civil disobedience in the form of boycotts, demonstrations, attacks on Israeli soldiers, and throwing rocks Continued into the 1990s but with little
effect
The Palestinians Demand Independence
1993 Secret talks in Oslo, Norway led to an agreement Declaration of Principles – Israel
agreed to grant Palestinians self-rule in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Signed by Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
1995 Rabin assassinated by right-wing Jewish extremist
1997 Rabin’s successor, Benjamin Netanyahu, met with Arafat to work out plans for a partial Israeli withdrawal from Hebron, on the West Bank Peace has continued to be difficult
to reach