Our major topic for this week will be decolonization
in much of the world. Taking a look at a world map from, say, 1945 and
comparing it to a recent map will show you just how much has changed in
the last 65 years. Here are several questions to ponder:
- Why does decolonization begin to happen when it does?
- Why are there so many paths to decolonization around the world?
Independence on the Indian Subcontinent - We'll
be covering a lot of ground these next few days. I'll do my best to
make sure you understand what I think you need to know and what is
mostly background. For now, I'll
use some mini-lectures to try and highlight key items and to provide a
forum for questions and comments.
"A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance." -Jawarhalal Nehru
- People you should know: Mohandas Gandhi, Jawarhalal Nehru, Indira Gandhi
- Terms you should know: Partition, Kashmir, Sikhs, Punjab, Golden Temple
- Countries to know: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Here's a Time magazine cover featuring the Partition of India.
Timeline of key events:
July 16, 1947 - British House of Commons announces partition in one month
August 14, 1947 - Pakistan given independence
August 15, 1947 - India given independence
1947 - estimated 1 million die in resettlement violence
January 30, 1948 - Gandhi killed by Hindu extremist
1947 - 1964 - Jawaharlal Nehru is Indian Prime Minister
1966 - 1984 - Indira Gandhi serves as Prime Minister
1984 - Attack on Sikh Golden Temple at Amritsar
1991 - Rajiv Gandhi assassinated
1998 - India (and Pakistan) successfully test nuclear weapons
We can also chat briefly about the situations in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Resources to check out on the Indian subcontinent:
- Here's the text of Gandhi's "Quit India" speech from 1942.
- Time 100: Person of the Century - Runner-Up: Mohandas Gandhi - Here's what Time magazine had to say about Gandhi and his impact on the 20th century. (If you are wondering, Albert Einstein was chosen Time's "Person of the Century.")
- India and Pakistan '07 - Here's the BBC site from the 60th anniversary of the Partition.
- India and Pakistan - 60 Years of Independence - Here's the PBS Online NewsHour site.
Some questions for us to consider:
- After 60 years, should we consider the Partition a success? Why or why not?
- What have been the main achievements of India so far? Its biggest failures?
- Do you think India will become a significant economic rival to the United States?
- Will there be war between India and Pakistan? If so, will it be nuclear?
To wrap up today and segue into tomorrow, I have your FINAL DBQ activity to work on. This one is called, "Decolonization and Revolution: 1945 to 1975," and it provides a nice overview of the period. This should be ready for discussion tomorrow.
HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Tuesday, May 19th
Continue your reading in Chapter 33 with Section 2, "Southeast Asian Nations Gain Independence" (pp. 1004 - 1009).
Have the "Decolonization and Revolution: 1945 to 1975" DBQ activity ready to discuss.
