Lessons in American History Using Primary Sources
A Series of Webquests
By Laura Thompson
UPS 12: Decolonization & Revolution (1945 – 1975)
Historical Context – After WWII, major independence
movements emerged. Revolutions also occurred across the world. Their shared
goal was to change the leadership of countries such as India, Vietnam, Cuba,
China, Ghana and Israel. Demands for independence swept the colonies of Africa.
At the same time, revolutions transformed Cuba and China. Strong leaders shaped
these movements for independence and change.
Driving
Question: What were the methods and roles of leaders and organizations in the
movement for independence and change in the period between 1945 and 1975?
Evaluate these methods and roles?
Part A |
The following documents present information about
the revolution and independence movements that swept the world after WWII. Examine
each document carefully. In the space provided, answer the question or
questions that follow each document. |
Document 1 -
http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/declaration.shtml. This excerpt is adapted from the "Declaration Against Colonialism"
which was adopted by the UN in 1960.
The General Assembly Mindful of the determination proclaimed by the
peoples of the world in the Charter of the United Nations to reaffirm faith
in the fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human
person…Solemnly proclaims the necessity of bringing a speedy and
unconditional end to colonialism in all its forms…and to this end declares
that:
|
What was the
main idea of this UN declaration?
Document
2 - http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1945vietnam.html.
The following is an excerpt adapted from the Vietnamese Declaration of
Independence, written by Ho Chi Minh in 1945.
The whole Vietnamese people, animated by a common
purpose, are determined to fight to the bitter end against any attempt by the
French colonialists to reconquer their country. |
What course
of action did Ho Chi Minh recommend to the Vietnamese people?
Document
3 - http://www.indiaspace.com/quotes.htm.
This excerpt was written by Mahatma Gandhi. In this adaptation, he describes
his method for fighting for the independence of India. Gandhi led the Salt
March in 1930. In this march, he employed passive resistance.
Passive resistance is a method of securing rights by
personal suffering; it is the reverse of resistance by arms…If I do not obey the
law and accept the penalty for its breach, I use soul-force. It involves
sacrifice of self. |
What method
of working toward independence did Gandhi recommend to the Indian people? What
was Gandhi's goal?
Document
4 - http://thinkexist.com/quotation/during_my_lifetime_i_have_dedicated_myself_to/144637.html.
These are the words of Nelson Mandela in 1994. He fought tirelessly for the end
of apartheid in South Africa.
During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the
struggle of the African People. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic
and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal
opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But, if
needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. |
What change
did Mandela recommend for South Africa? Why?
Document
5 - http://thinkexist.com/quotes/Kwame_Nkrumah/.
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader in Ghana's fight for independence. He described
the movement with these words in 1965.
Independence for the Gold Coast [Ghana] was my aim.
It was a colony, and I have always regarded colonialism as the policy by
which a foreign power binds territories to herself by political ties, with
the primary object of promoting her own economic advantage. …thus we have witnessed the greatest awakening ever
seen on this earth of suppressed and exploited peoples against the powers
that have kept them in subjection. This, without a doubt, is the most
significant happening of the twentieth century. |
What was the
"most significant happening of the 20th century," according to
Nkrumah?
Why was he
opposed to colonialism?
Document
6 - http://thinkexist.com/quotes/Jomo_Kenyatta/.
Jomo Kenyatta was the leader of the fight for
independence in Kenya. He became Kenya's first president. In 1964, he said the
following about this fight.
The land is ours. When Europeans came, they kept us
back and took our land. The freedom tree can only grow when you pour blood on
it. |
Why did
Kenyatta call for independence?
Why was he
opposed to colonialism?
Document
7 - http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-3/mswv3_26.htm.
This excerpt is adapted from a speech by Mao Zedong in 1945.
Our aim…is to build up the confidence of the whole [Communist]
Party and the entire people in the certain triumph of the revolution…We
must…raise the political consciousness of the entire people so that they may
willingly and gladly fight together with us for victory. We should fire the
whole people with the conviction that China belongs not to the reactionaries
but to the Chinese people…We firmly believe that, led by the Chinese
Communist Party…the Chinese people will achieve complete victory. |
What was Mao
attempting to do in this speech?
What method
of change did Mao recommend?
Document
8 - http://www.marxists.org/history/cuba/archive/castro/1953/10/16.htm.
This excerpt is adapted from a speech Fidel Castro gave in his defense at a
trial in 1953. In this speech, Castro rallied the support of the Cuban people
to fight against the dictator.
When we speak of struggle, the people means the vast
unredeemed masses, to whom all make promises and whom all deceive; we mean
the people who, to attain these changes, are ready to give even the very last
breath of their lives—when they believe in something or in someone… These are the people the ones who know misfortune
and, therefore, are capable of fighting with limitless courage! To the people
whose desperate roads through life have been paved with the brick of
betrayal...We…say…Here you have it, fight for it with all your might so that
liberty and happiness may be yours. |
Which
"people" did Fidel Castro feel were the basis of the Cuban
Revolution?
Part B |
What were the methods and roles of leaders and
organizations in the movement for independence and change in the period
between 1945 and 1975? Evaluate these methods and roles? |