19: Decolonisation in Africa and Asia
Reasons for Britain wasn't under pressure from the international community. Less developed
retention of national/political consciousness. Seen as key to Britain's economic recovery
empire
WW2 and Atlantic Charter inspired the African educated elite. It caused an economic revolution
Nationalism in parts - urbanisation and industrialisation. New factories rose to fill important gaps (e.g.
beer and cigarettes) and to process raw materials. Africans were angered by increased
British control and they felt exploited. A great shift of feeling on questions of race -
Britain's defeat by Japan and Hitler's racial theories showed the unacceptable nature of
the notion of white superiority.
Reasons for Appeared in all parts of the world. Strategies varied, but all posed a challenge to
Decolonisation imperial governments. Macmillan's conviction of the strength of nationalism deepened
-Nationalist on a six week tour of Africa in 1960. Belgium and France were also giving up their empire
Movements - increasing others demands and making it harder to delay elsewhere. In 1960, 16 new
African states entered the UN. Newly independent states pressed for independence for
other colonial territories
Changing Maintenance of empire fell down the priorities list -Largely among the political class who
Attitudes in looked for the best way forward. By 1960, Macmillan appreciated that any action, other
Britain than a rapid devolution of power, might produce insurrection. Brutal suppression of
colonial peoples would damage Britain's credibility in the world and be condemned by
many Britons. Britons were increasingly indifferent to Empire and were unlikely to support
new military burdens, particularly if this meant reintroduction of National Service. Policy
makers could see no good strategic/ economic reasons for spending vase sums of
money and risking the loss of thousands of lives trying to rule people who had no wish to
be ruled
Changing Britain was less dependent on empire and more reliant on Europe. By the 1950s, Western
priorities in Europe experienced dramatic post-war recovery, with full employment and rising living
Europe standards making it less dependent on colonial support. Emergence of the European
Economic Community (EEC) from 1957 (Britain joined in 1973) helped refocus trade
within Europe itself. From the 1950s support for empire, especially business interest
dwindled in all the main European imperial powers
The Cold War Imperial powers, France and Britain were no longer dominant. USA and the USSR were
both hostile towards imperialism. Britain heavily depended on the USA for defence and
economic support - susceptible to American pressures to speed up decolonisation.
Worried that Africa may become a battle ground between east and west. Macmillan
wanted to construct new democratic states which would remain in the commonwealth
and be well disposed to Britain
Economic Britain couldn't afford to maintain costs of empire or to fight a series of long colonial wars
Concerns to maintain the colonies. Colonies grew more economically viable. The Great
Depression led to poor living conditions in Africa - growing discontent with British Rule
Approach to No immediate desire to grant independence. Wanted to develop them economically
Africa post to benefit their post-war recovery through the Colonial Development Cooperation and
WW2 extensive development initiatives
Gold Coast Andrew Cohen (Head of the African Department of the Colonial Office) saw it as the
most advanced colony politically and in their fitness to rule themselves and that
independence was likely but not for at least a generation. Decolonisation was quicker in
West Africa because there wasn't significant white population which complicated the
process. The rise of African elite would mean allowing some degree of African political
representation. Britain wanted to slow the process of decolonisation so it would be
beneficial to Britain and not damage their prestige
Burns Established a Legislative Council of 12 British nominees and 18 elected African members.
Constitution It was a majority of elected Africans, however, the final power still remained in the hands
1946 of the British Governor
Nationalism in A wave of unrest spread across the country, as protests against British colonial rule
the Gold gathered momentum. The Convention People's Party (CPP) was founded by Kwame
Coast Nkrumah in 1949 pressurised the British administration to make further concessions. The
CPP led a campaign of non-cooperation in January 1950 known as 'positive action'.
There was a nationwide boycott of British goods and a general strike that paralysed the
country and lasted for 21 days. The Legislative Council was enlarged and renamed the
Legislative Assembly, and the number of people who could vote for it increased but the
British Governor retained ultimate power
Reasons for Britain wasn't under pressure from the international community. Less developed
retention of national/political consciousness. Seen as key to Britain's economic recovery
empire
WW2 and Atlantic Charter inspired the African educated elite. It caused an economic revolution
Nationalism in parts - urbanisation and industrialisation. New factories rose to fill important gaps (e.g.
beer and cigarettes) and to process raw materials. Africans were angered by increased
British control and they felt exploited. A great shift of feeling on questions of race -
Britain's defeat by Japan and Hitler's racial theories showed the unacceptable nature of
the notion of white superiority.
Reasons for Appeared in all parts of the world. Strategies varied, but all posed a challenge to
Decolonisation imperial governments. Macmillan's conviction of the strength of nationalism deepened
-Nationalist on a six week tour of Africa in 1960. Belgium and France were also giving up their empire
Movements - increasing others demands and making it harder to delay elsewhere. In 1960, 16 new
African states entered the UN. Newly independent states pressed for independence for
other colonial territories
Changing Maintenance of empire fell down the priorities list -Largely among the political class who
Attitudes in looked for the best way forward. By 1960, Macmillan appreciated that any action, other
Britain than a rapid devolution of power, might produce insurrection. Brutal suppression of
colonial peoples would damage Britain's credibility in the world and be condemned by
many Britons. Britons were increasingly indifferent to Empire and were unlikely to support
new military burdens, particularly if this meant reintroduction of National Service. Policy
makers could see no good strategic/ economic reasons for spending vase sums of
money and risking the loss of thousands of lives trying to rule people who had no wish to
be ruled
Changing Britain was less dependent on empire and more reliant on Europe. By the 1950s, Western
priorities in Europe experienced dramatic post-war recovery, with full employment and rising living
Europe standards making it less dependent on colonial support. Emergence of the European
Economic Community (EEC) from 1957 (Britain joined in 1973) helped refocus trade
within Europe itself. From the 1950s support for empire, especially business interest
dwindled in all the main European imperial powers
The Cold War Imperial powers, France and Britain were no longer dominant. USA and the USSR were
both hostile towards imperialism. Britain heavily depended on the USA for defence and
economic support - susceptible to American pressures to speed up decolonisation.
Worried that Africa may become a battle ground between east and west. Macmillan
wanted to construct new democratic states which would remain in the commonwealth
and be well disposed to Britain
Economic Britain couldn't afford to maintain costs of empire or to fight a series of long colonial wars
Concerns to maintain the colonies. Colonies grew more economically viable. The Great
Depression led to poor living conditions in Africa - growing discontent with British Rule
Approach to No immediate desire to grant independence. Wanted to develop them economically
Africa post to benefit their post-war recovery through the Colonial Development Cooperation and
WW2 extensive development initiatives
Gold Coast Andrew Cohen (Head of the African Department of the Colonial Office) saw it as the
most advanced colony politically and in their fitness to rule themselves and that
independence was likely but not for at least a generation. Decolonisation was quicker in
West Africa because there wasn't significant white population which complicated the
process. The rise of African elite would mean allowing some degree of African political
representation. Britain wanted to slow the process of decolonisation so it would be
beneficial to Britain and not damage their prestige
Burns Established a Legislative Council of 12 British nominees and 18 elected African members.
Constitution It was a majority of elected Africans, however, the final power still remained in the hands
1946 of the British Governor
Nationalism in A wave of unrest spread across the country, as protests against British colonial rule
the Gold gathered momentum. The Convention People's Party (CPP) was founded by Kwame
Coast Nkrumah in 1949 pressurised the British administration to make further concessions. The
CPP led a campaign of non-cooperation in January 1950 known as 'positive action'.
There was a nationwide boycott of British goods and a general strike that paralysed the
country and lasted for 21 days. The Legislative Council was enlarged and renamed the
Legislative Assembly, and the number of people who could vote for it increased but the
British Governor retained ultimate power
