Stewart Wenner

DBQ Outline: Decolonization

Thesis:
The 20th century signified, for the most part, the end of colonial rule at
last. Colonies and their people finally won their independence from their
imperialistic mother countries. Not every nation fought control in the same
way, however. Some acted peacefully, through slow diplomatic negotiations.
Others, due to lack of results or simply impatience, turned to more violent
measures to turn out their rulers. No matter what the method, each colony
was independent at last.

Paragraph 1: Through tactful, diplomatic negotiations, colonies were

sometimes able to achieve their goals without the use of violence.

Document 2
-written by Aung San, Burmese nationalist leader
-from Burma Challenge, 1940
-main work would be the mobilization of the masses for the struggle
-planned country-wide mass resistance movement on progressive scale
-local/partial strikes of workers leading to a general strike
-mass demonstrations, civil disobedience, economic campaign
-tried to paralyze the British administration in Burma
-hoped for Japanese invasion of Burma
-shows extensive planning by independence leaders
-presents many of the methods used

Document 3
-written by Dmytro Pavlychko, Ukranian poet and key figure in reform
-from 1990 interview
-opposed to Union treaty
-move towards independence through parliamentary struggles
-immediate secession from Soviet Union is impossible, would provoke
chauvinistic reaction
-must be carefully done, with diplomacy
-quietly leave, “so that Gorbachev does not awaken”
-unity within Ukraine would mean definite independence
-no compromises/agreements until complete independence
-shows common mindset of independence leaders
-more careful planning, acting slowly but surely

Document 5
-written by Fakhri al-Barudi, Syrian Nationalist leader
-1941 speech before Syrian Chamber
-Free France proclaimed independence of Syria
-independence had been given and withdrawn multiple times (1936, 1937,
1938)
-proved French insincerity and faithlessness
-nationalists agreed to take power when Great Britain ensured their
independence (GB did this to hurt the Germans)
-only weapon against the colonial mandate by the League of Nations
Paragraph 2: Unfortunately, peaceful negotiations did not always work out,
resulting in the sometimes very bloody conflict between the colonizers and
the colonized – though the fighting was not always the choice of the
indigenous people.

Document 1
-chart of chronology of Filipino independence movement
-1899 to 1946 (long, drawn out)
-begins with US annexation of Philippines
-shows very slow progress of independence
-eventually coinage created, allowed in administration, national bank, etc.
-Independence Acts passed
-invaded in 1941 by Japan
-liberated by US, granted independence, gives benefits
-shows radical change that occurred in the imperialist ideology of some
nations
-independence took a while, but could happen effectively

Document 4
-written by Premier Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egyptian leader (nationalized Suez
Canal)
-from 1956 speech to Egyptian people
-hopes to not return to the destruction of political independence
-eradicate evils of the past
-120,000 Egyptians lost their lives digging the Suez Canal, paid eight million
pounds
-has become “state within the state”
-humiliated leaders
-Britain had 44% of shares, collected the profits
-of the 35 million pounds made at that point, the Egyptians received one
million
-shall not repeat the past, it is the property of Egypt
-shows defiant mindset, claim to drive out the British
-later invaded by Britain/France, forced to fight

Document 6
-written by Amilcar Cabral, Secretary-General of African Party for the
Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
-lecture in the United States from 1970 (assassinated 1973)
-armed liberation required mobilization/organization of much of the
population
-political/moral unity of social classes
-efficient use of modern arms
-end of tribal mentality
-rejection of taboos, social inequities
-democracy, self-criticism, responsibility of populations, schools, health
services
-development of popular culture, positive indigenous cultural values, national
culture, promotion of political and moral awareness of people
-describes necessary things for independence movements, what must take
place after

Document 7
-written by Revered Nbadaningi Sithole, president of Zimbabwean African
National Union
-from African Nationalism, 1958
-two methods African nationalism used (nonviolence, violence)
-men use methods that show results, discard others
-parliamentary participation wasn’t working out, so mass rallies began
-detailed oppression of white rule
-then resorted to violence, a desperate measure
-resulted in riots, boycotts, strikes, looting, stoning, destruction
-armed revolt was inevitable

Additional Documents:

-As all of these documents are generally from the point of view of the
nationalists who were fighting for independence, it would be interesting to
have a document from the opposite point of view (the colonizers) providing
insight as to their reasons for occupation and the process of decolonization

-Another document could be from one of Portugal’s colonies (who weren’t

made independent until the late 20th century), showing reasons why their
struggle wasn’t as effective and why Portugal wanted to hold on to them so
much