Decolonisation
Decolonisation was the process by which colonies in Africa, Asia and elsewhere gained independence from European powers after 1945.
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Decolonisation was the process by which colonies in Africa, Asia and elsewhere gained independence from European powers after 1945.
- India became independent in 1947
- Many African countries followed in the 1960s
- Independence often brought new challenges
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Decolonisation?
Within History, which covers ancient civilisations, empires, revolutions, world wars and the making of the modern world, this topic explains Decolonisation. History topics connect events, people and ideas across time, so each one here gives a clear summary and a way to test your understanding.
Check that you can explain Decolonisation in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Decolonisation helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
Decolonisation in detail
Decolonisation was the process by which colonies gained independence from European powers, mostly after World War Two. Factors included the weakening of European powers by the war, growing nationalism, the influence of the UN and the USA and Soviet Union, which opposed colonial rule, and the example of India.
Independence came peacefully in many places, such as Ghana in 1957, but through violence elsewhere, such as in Algeria, Kenya (Mau Mau) and Vietnam. Over 100 new states appeared in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. New nations faced challenges including borders drawn by colonial powers, poverty, and political instability, while also building identities.
How the interactive helps you understand Decolonisation
Watch the globe in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the globe responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Decolonisation.
Real-life uses and examples
- Judge how important Decolonisation was by weighing evidence from more than one source.
- Explain the causes and consequences of Decolonisation in a well-structured paragraph.
- Compare Decolonisation with another event to spot patterns of change and continuity.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating one source as the whole story when you study Decolonisation.
- Describing events without explaining why they happened.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Decolonisation
What is Decolonisation?
Decolonisation was the process by which colonies in Africa, Asia and elsewhere gained independence from European powers after 1945.
What are the most important points about Decolonisation?
The main points are: India became independent in 1947; Many African countries followed in the 1960s; Independence often brought new challenges.
Why is Decolonisation useful?
Understanding Decolonisation helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
How can I practise Decolonisation?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Decolonisation?
Related topics in History include Apartheid in South Africa, The United Nations, Migration in History.