Glossary
Angolan Civil War
A prolonged civil conflict in Angola (1975-2002) that began immediately after its independence from Portugal, fueled by Cold War proxy rivalries.
Example:
The Angolan Civil War saw external powers like the US, USSR, Cuba, and South Africa supporting different factions, prolonging the conflict.
Anti-Colonial Movements
Organized efforts by colonized peoples to resist and ultimately overthrow foreign imperial rule, often employing various methods from peaceful protest to armed conflict.
Example:
The widespread Anti-Colonial Movements across Africa and Asia challenged European dominance, leading to the eventual collapse of vast empires.
Biafra secessionist movement
A movement by the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria to secede and form the independent Republic of Biafra, leading to the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970).
Example:
The Biafra secessionist movement resulted in a devastating civil war and a severe humanitarian crisis due to famine.
Convention People’s Party
A political party founded by Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, instrumental in leading the country to independence through boycotts and political organization.
Example:
The Convention People’s Party mobilized widespread support among Ghanaians, pressuring the British to grant independence.
Decolonization
The process by which colonies gained independence from their colonizers, primarily occurring after World War II, involving political, cultural, and economic freedom.
Example:
After World War II, many African nations achieved decolonization, ending centuries of European imperial rule and reshaping the global political map.
Ho Chi Minh
A Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).
Example:
Ho Chi Minh led the Viet Minh independence movement from 1941 onward, establishing the communist-ruled Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945.
Indian National Congress (INC)
A major political party in India, founded in 1885, that played a central role in the Indian independence movement against British rule.
Example:
The Indian National Congress (INC), under leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, became the dominant political force advocating for a free India.
Indochinese Communist Party
A political party founded by Ho Chi Minh, which played a leading role in the Vietnamese independence movement against French colonial rule.
Example:
The Indochinese Communist Party organized resistance against both French and Japanese occupation during World War II.
Kwame Nkrumah
A prominent Ghanaian nationalist leader who played a crucial role in Ghana's independence from British rule and became its first president.
Example:
Kwame Nkrumah championed Pan-Africanism, advocating for the unity and liberation of all African nations.
Loi-cadre
A French reform law passed in 1956 that allowed for greater local self-governance in French West Africa, paving the way for eventual independence.
Example:
The loi-cadre was a strategic move by France to grant limited autonomy, hoping to maintain influence while responding to nationalist pressures.
Mahatma Gandhi
A key leader of the Indian independence movement, known for his philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience (Satyagraha).
Example:
Mahatma Gandhi famously led the Salt March, a powerful act of nonviolent resistance against British salt taxes in India.
Mau Mau movement
A violent anti-colonial uprising in Kenya (1952-1960), primarily by the Kikuyu ethnic group, against British colonial rule and land policies.
Example:
The British responded to the Mau Mau movement with brutal suppression, including detention camps and forced relocations.
National Liberation Front (FLN)
A socialist political party and armed revolutionary organization that fought for Algeria's independence from France through guerrilla warfare.
Example:
The National Liberation Front (FLN) waged a brutal and protracted war against the French, leading to significant casualties on both sides.
Nationalism
A strong sense of identity and unity felt by people who share a common language, culture, or history, often leading to a desire for self-governance.
Example:
The rise of nationalism in Vietnam fueled the desire for independence from French colonial rule, uniting diverse groups under a common cause.
Negotiated independence
A method of decolonization where independence is achieved through diplomatic discussions, agreements, and peaceful transitions of power between the colonizer and the colonized.
Example:
Ghana's path to independence was largely through negotiated independence, involving political dialogue and boycotts rather than armed struggle.
Partition of India
The division of British India into two independent dominion states, India and Pakistan, in 1947, leading to widespread violence and displacement.
Example:
The Partition of India resulted in one of the largest mass migrations in human history, as millions moved across the newly drawn borders.
Quebecois separatist movement
A political movement in Quebec, Canada, advocating for the province's independence or greater autonomy from the rest of Canada.
Example:
Despite referendums, the Quebecois separatist movement has not yet achieved its goal of an independent Quebec.
Secessionist movements
Movements within a newly independent or existing nation where a particular region or ethnic group seeks to break away and form its own independent state.
Example:
The secessionist movements in Biafra (Nigeria) and Quebec (Canada) illustrate internal challenges to national unity after or during decolonization.
United Nations
An international organization founded in 1945 to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts, which often supported decolonization efforts.
Example:
The newly formed United Nations provided a platform for newly independent nations and advocated for the self-determination of remaining colonies.
Warred for independence
A method of decolonization where independence is gained through armed conflict, guerrilla warfare, or violent uprisings against the colonial power.
Example:
Algeria warred for independence against France in a brutal conflict that lasted for years, resulting in significant loss of life.