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The dusk of Imperial Britain 1922-1960 - Coggle Diagram
The dusk of Imperial Britain
1922-1960
Introduction
Beginning of 20th c
1/4 globe territories
1/3 world pop°
"splendid isolation"
diff regimes in emp bf WW2
white dominions
self-gov
o/ colo
direct rule
20th c ; movmt == indep
decolonization process essentially post WW2
Emp becomes
1931-49 Brit Commonwealth of Nations
1949 Commonwealth of Nations
Loss of empire aft WW2
need to find new allies
Eur ??
USA "special relationship"
1962
American observer
"Britain has lost an Empire and not yet found a role"
Interwar Period : Trying to hold the Empire together
Impact of WW1
concept of self determination
peace treaties, new countries
reward for war effort
++ local nationalisms
colo = sense of unity
1918-1945 Britain tries to hold empire togeth
++ nationalism == instability
forced to make concessions + grant ++ autonomy
common trend
direct rule == self-gov==indie
// AFT WW2
direct rule == indie
1918 -1945 Different regimes, different transitions
Ireland
1922 Partition
Irish Free State/ Northern ireland = dominion
1949 Republic
inspired o/ nationalism
White dominions
self-gov since mid 19th c
pressed for ++ autonomy
foreign policy espec
1931 Statute of Westminster == Brit Comm of Nations
colo == dominions == commonwealth
Brit x longer legislate dominions
dominions x subordinate to UK or one another
"free asso° of sovereign states ; states equal in status; common alegiance to the Crown"
India
direct rule == self-gov
1919 gov of India Act
autonomous provinces in charge of health, educ°, agric
1935 some provinces = self-gov
governor/ vice roy
emergency power only
defence, tariffs, foreing affairs
UK "India x ready for indie"
minorities too big
need resources
Aft WW2 : the Cold War, short reminder
Brit : a bone btwn 2 superpowers
1945 Brit among winners but weakest of 3
intnat decline x immediatly apparent
suez crisis
45-47 C.W
Brit firmer than Ame // Soviets
1946 USSR x pull out of Iran as planned
TURN 1946
UK realized too weak to fight communist threat in Greece
Hugh Dalton, chancellor of Ex asked help from US
47 Marshall Plan
Brit terrified that USA would go back to isolationism
The role of the UK in Germany
leading role in germ occupation zones
Ernest Bevin, foreign secretary
unite western zones + single currency
1948 Berlin Blockade
him who dvpd airlifts
Loss of International influence, eco consequences
1948 The Brussels Pact
protect western countries // soviet influence
1949 NATO
ame superstructure, british foundation
1950 UK overstretching financially
Welfare State
Devaluation of the Sterling
Korean War
India : the Jewel in the Crown
India during WW2
In advance of Africa in its dvmt of opposition to brit rule
indie expected since 1935
WW2
"Quit India" mvmt
// Leader of muslim league used tensions to get indep region for muslims
1947 indie
The questionable role of the UK at the end of WW2
Brit simply decided to withdraw
// growing hostility Muslims // Hindus ; unable to reach agreement
20/02/47 Attlee announced UK leave india in June 48
June 1947 Indep planned for August
emergency
transfer of pow on 14/08/47
Partition inevitable
East Pakistan, West Pakistan, India
Autumn 1947
Horrendous violence
500 000 D
12M Homeless
Gandhi assassinated January 1948
Other Imperial Problems
Ireland unfinished business
1937 I.F.S ratified Statute of Westminster + became part of Brit. Commonwealth under new name
Eire
continued to pursue total indie
1949 Rep of id
conflict cath + prot not resolved tho
The Troubles ; 68-98
WW2 = neutral
1922 Egypt made independent
But Brit control foreign policy
1936
Brit forces sent to protect canal + remained until 1950s
Iraq + transjordan = same situation
Palestine was ++ than complex
1917 Balfour declaration
“the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” Arthur James Balfour, foreign secretary
UK tried to find solution
pbm even more acute aft WW2
Survivors of Holocaust wanted to settle in Palestine
Attlee wanted to hold onto Palestine == againt jewish immig°
Jewish + Arab terrorist groups settled in reg°
BRIT lost control of situation
1946 Zionist group bombed King David Hotel = ++ 90 D
left + handed situation to UN
Israel created
The Suez debacle + its repercussions on the UK
The crisis itself
July 1956 Nasser = Nationalisation of canal
Eden + FR = use Israel as cover to occupy canal
USA + UN //
6/11 humiliating retreat
Eden lied = forced to resign 1957
Harold MacMillan
Consequences
International + Domestic terms
USA policeman of the w
UK
x longer impress former colo
2nd rate on intnat sc
soct x bothered
4/11 USSR == Hungary
Asa Briggs
"The year 1956 seemed the symbolic break"
From the empire to the Commonwealth of Nation, to Europe
1931-1949, 1949 = Commonwealth
restricted trade area
help UK financially (fail)
push back commun threats
help colo from brit rule to indie
restrict risk of C.W
Q head of 54 countries
bi annual meetings
1960s turn to Europe
for trade
1961 1st application
rejected in 1963
1967 2nd appli°
1972 3rd appli°
1973 = in
Conclusion
Decolonisation, post WW2
accepted decolo°= promote Commonw
today
54 countries, 20% globe territories, 1/3 pop°
pow of attraction = some countries x former colo
Mozambique
Diplomatic + eco + cult connection
Post war British foreign policy
Cold War + Decolo°
link w former empire
"special relationship" w Usa
Churchill 1946
agree on military inventions
famous couples
Thatcher / Reagan
Blair / Clinton
Blair / Bush
asymmetrical relationship
reluctantly turning towards Europe
Brit in 20th c
from world leader to average world pow
retains notions of its former glory : nostalgia ?