British Empire 1947-67 Essay Plans
Decolonisation under: Atlee (Churchill) Eden Macmillan Wilson
India ‘47 Burma ‘48 Palestine ‘48 Sudan ‘56* Suez ‘56 Ghana ‘57 Malaya ‘57 Singapore ‘57
Cyprus ‘59 Nigeria ‘60 Sierra Leon ‘61 Tanzania ‘61 SA ‘61** Uganda ‘62 Kenya ‘63 Malawi ‘64
Zambia ‘64 Rhodesia ‘65 Gambia ‘65 Lesotho ‘66 Botswana ‘66 Aden ‘67
*agreement for independence reached under Churchill in 1953
**South Africa leaves the CW
‘The British did not withdraw from their Empire between 1947 and 1967. They were pushed out of it.’
Assess the validity of this view.
Withdrew Pushed out of it
Political developments – preparing to leave with Violent Nationalism – Violent clashes between Arab
political concessions e.g. Burns Constitution 1946 and Jews, Stern Gang had waged open war on
GC, brining Nkurumah into gov, Richards the British. AFPFL and BIA in Burma. Malayan
Constitution 1946, Macpherson Constitution 1951 Emergency – Britain had to make promises to
and further reform in 1954 in Nigeria. Agreement moderates in order to regain control. Guerrilla war
with Egypt over Sudan in 1953 led to Sudanese in Cyprus from EOKA. Nationalisation of the Suez
independence in 1956. Granting majority rule to Canal – went against previous agreement that
Nyasaland (1960) and Northern Rhodesia (1962) – respected the independence of the canal. Mau
Victoria falls conference. Mau Rebellion [however, countered successfully].
British decisions to leave – Britain chose to leave Kaunda’s civil disobedience turned violence,
Palestine after it disagreed with the UN’s plans threated to make Mau Mau look like a child’s
which would partition Palestine to a 55% Jewish picnic. Terrorism in Aden led Britain to abandoning
state despite them being only 1/3 of the the base in 1967
population. Britain made an agreement with Egypt Peaceful Nationalism – Development of nationalism
to withdraw troops from the Suez Canal in 1954. in India had led up to independence. MCA and
Decision to leave Tanganyika in 1961 as it had little UMNO created an alliance to campaign for
value to Britain. Leaving Uganda in 1962, fearful of independence in Malaya. Strikes in GC and
breakdown of order. Macmillan preferred a rapid Nigeria. Protests against the CAF, Nyasaland
devolution of power after 1960 (wind of change), African Congress, Banda. UDI 1965
he recognised that brutal suppression would be International Pressures - Suez Crisis forced Britain to
internationally condemned and condemned in withdraw from Egypt after the attempted invasion
Britain – whose people were increasingly indifferent (Sevres Protocol) – USA and all but 2 of the CW
to Britain having an empire condemned the attack, soviets threatened nuclear
weapons, financial crisis in Britain
J: Ultimately, with the exception of Southern Rhodesia, Britain made the decision of when to withdraw from its
empire as no nationalism movement successfully overthrew British authority. However, nationalism and international
pressures were significant factors which made Britain leave faster than it originally intended in many areas e.g.
Burma and Malaya. Britain was pushed to make the decision to withdraw from its empire faster than it originally
intended, but it was ultimately a decision that Britain made to accept the rapid devolution of power after 1960,
‘The break-up of the British Empire in the years 1945 to 1967 was the result of changed
international circumstances.’ Assess the validity of this view.
Changed international circumstances led to break Changed international circumstances did not lead
up of empire to break up of empire/other factors
Reliance on the USA – Britain relied on the USA for British actions – granting political concessions,
financial and military support (Marshall plan, NATO, suppressing nationalist movements by making
SEATO) so was susceptible to American pressures to promises, failing to develop colonies
speed up decolonisation. The Atlantic Charter economically/aggressive economic exploitation
showed American commitment to anti-imperialism. encouraged nationalism.
In the context of the cold war, Britain wanted to Nationalism – nationalism appeared across the
make sure that it left democratic states which world. Strategies varied but all posed a threat to
would remain well disposed to the west. [however, imperial governments. SA left the CW in 1961 which
sometimes, America was more concerned with encouraged nationalism in S Rhodesia. E.g. Ethnic
Britain preventing the spread of communism rather tensions and emergency in Malaya [SEA was not
than making Britain decolonise – for example due to international circumstance, USA was more
countering Communist insurgency in Malaya] concerned with suppressing communism in Asia
Decolonisation under: Atlee (Churchill) Eden Macmillan Wilson
India ‘47 Burma ‘48 Palestine ‘48 Sudan ‘56* Suez ‘56 Ghana ‘57 Malaya ‘57 Singapore ‘57
Cyprus ‘59 Nigeria ‘60 Sierra Leon ‘61 Tanzania ‘61 SA ‘61** Uganda ‘62 Kenya ‘63 Malawi ‘64
Zambia ‘64 Rhodesia ‘65 Gambia ‘65 Lesotho ‘66 Botswana ‘66 Aden ‘67
*agreement for independence reached under Churchill in 1953
**South Africa leaves the CW
‘The British did not withdraw from their Empire between 1947 and 1967. They were pushed out of it.’
Assess the validity of this view.
Withdrew Pushed out of it
Political developments – preparing to leave with Violent Nationalism – Violent clashes between Arab
political concessions e.g. Burns Constitution 1946 and Jews, Stern Gang had waged open war on
GC, brining Nkurumah into gov, Richards the British. AFPFL and BIA in Burma. Malayan
Constitution 1946, Macpherson Constitution 1951 Emergency – Britain had to make promises to
and further reform in 1954 in Nigeria. Agreement moderates in order to regain control. Guerrilla war
with Egypt over Sudan in 1953 led to Sudanese in Cyprus from EOKA. Nationalisation of the Suez
independence in 1956. Granting majority rule to Canal – went against previous agreement that
Nyasaland (1960) and Northern Rhodesia (1962) – respected the independence of the canal. Mau
Victoria falls conference. Mau Rebellion [however, countered successfully].
British decisions to leave – Britain chose to leave Kaunda’s civil disobedience turned violence,
Palestine after it disagreed with the UN’s plans threated to make Mau Mau look like a child’s
which would partition Palestine to a 55% Jewish picnic. Terrorism in Aden led Britain to abandoning
state despite them being only 1/3 of the the base in 1967
population. Britain made an agreement with Egypt Peaceful Nationalism – Development of nationalism
to withdraw troops from the Suez Canal in 1954. in India had led up to independence. MCA and
Decision to leave Tanganyika in 1961 as it had little UMNO created an alliance to campaign for
value to Britain. Leaving Uganda in 1962, fearful of independence in Malaya. Strikes in GC and
breakdown of order. Macmillan preferred a rapid Nigeria. Protests against the CAF, Nyasaland
devolution of power after 1960 (wind of change), African Congress, Banda. UDI 1965
he recognised that brutal suppression would be International Pressures - Suez Crisis forced Britain to
internationally condemned and condemned in withdraw from Egypt after the attempted invasion
Britain – whose people were increasingly indifferent (Sevres Protocol) – USA and all but 2 of the CW
to Britain having an empire condemned the attack, soviets threatened nuclear
weapons, financial crisis in Britain
J: Ultimately, with the exception of Southern Rhodesia, Britain made the decision of when to withdraw from its
empire as no nationalism movement successfully overthrew British authority. However, nationalism and international
pressures were significant factors which made Britain leave faster than it originally intended in many areas e.g.
Burma and Malaya. Britain was pushed to make the decision to withdraw from its empire faster than it originally
intended, but it was ultimately a decision that Britain made to accept the rapid devolution of power after 1960,
‘The break-up of the British Empire in the years 1945 to 1967 was the result of changed
international circumstances.’ Assess the validity of this view.
Changed international circumstances led to break Changed international circumstances did not lead
up of empire to break up of empire/other factors
Reliance on the USA – Britain relied on the USA for British actions – granting political concessions,
financial and military support (Marshall plan, NATO, suppressing nationalist movements by making
SEATO) so was susceptible to American pressures to promises, failing to develop colonies
speed up decolonisation. The Atlantic Charter economically/aggressive economic exploitation
showed American commitment to anti-imperialism. encouraged nationalism.
In the context of the cold war, Britain wanted to Nationalism – nationalism appeared across the
make sure that it left democratic states which world. Strategies varied but all posed a threat to
would remain well disposed to the west. [however, imperial governments. SA left the CW in 1961 which
sometimes, America was more concerned with encouraged nationalism in S Rhodesia. E.g. Ethnic
Britain preventing the spread of communism rather tensions and emergency in Malaya [SEA was not
than making Britain decolonise – for example due to international circumstance, USA was more
countering Communist insurgency in Malaya] concerned with suppressing communism in Asia
