Decolonization Movements Study Cards

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Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from their colonial rulers, leading to the end of colonial empires.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a nation's power and influence through colonization, economic dominance, and political control over other territories.

Nationalism

A strong sense of loyalty and devotion to one's own nation, often leading to the desire for self-governance and independence.

Mahatma Gandhi

An influential leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

Indian Independence Movement

A series of protests, campaigns, and acts of civil disobedience led by various Indian leaders, ultimately resulting in the independence of India from British rule.

Nelson Mandela

A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, after being imprisoned for 27 years.

Apartheid

A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994, enforced by the National Party government.

African National Congress (ANC)

The oldest political party in South Africa, founded in 1912, which played a key role in the fight against apartheid and the subsequent governance of the country.

Pan-Africanism

A movement that seeks to unify African people and promote their common interests, often advocating for political and economic cooperation among African nations.

Kenya African Union (KAU)

A political party in Kenya founded in 1944, which played a significant role in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

Mau Mau Uprising

An armed rebellion against British colonial rule in Kenya from 1952 to 1960, led by the Mau Mau movement, seeking independence and land reform.

Ho Chi Minh

A Vietnamese Communist revolutionary and statesman who served as Prime Minister and President of North Vietnam, leading the country in its struggle for independence from French colonial rule.

Vietnam War

A protracted conflict from 1955 to 1975 between North Vietnam (supported by the Soviet Union and China) and South Vietnam (supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies), resulting in the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.

Fidel Castro

A Cuban communist revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008, leading the Cuban Revolution and establishing a socialist state.

Cuban Revolution

An armed revolt led by Fidel Castro and his revolutionary forces against the U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista, resulting in the establishment of a socialist government in Cuba.

Che Guevara

An Argentine Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader who played a key role in the Cuban Revolution and later became a symbol of revolutionary movements worldwide.

Algerian War of Independence

A conflict between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) from 1954 to 1962, resulting in the independence of Algeria from French colonial rule.

Frantz Fanon

A Martinican psychiatrist, philosopher, and revolutionary who wrote extensively on the psychological and social effects of colonization and the struggle for decolonization.

Negritude Movement

A literary and ideological movement in the 1930s and 1940s, led by black intellectuals from French colonies, aimed at celebrating African culture and promoting racial pride and self-affirmation.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact

An agreement signed in 1931 between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, marking a truce in the Indian independence movement and the beginning of negotiations for self-governance.

Quit India Movement

A mass civil disobedience movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, demanding an end to British rule in India.

Jomo Kenyatta

A Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who became the first President of Kenya after the country gained independence from British colonial rule.

Mandela Effect

A phenomenon where a large group of people remember an event or detail differently from the way it occurred, often named after Nelson Mandela due to the widespread belief that he died in prison in the 1980s.

Soweto Uprising

A series of protests and demonstrations by black South African students in 1976 against the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools, resulting in violent clashes with the police.

African Union (AU)

An organization consisting of 55 African countries, established in 2002 to promote unity, cooperation, and development among African nations.

Mau Mau

A secret society and armed resistance movement in Kenya during the 1950s, primarily composed of members of the Kikuyu ethnic group, fighting against British colonial rule.

Viet Cong

A communist guerrilla force in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, fighting against the South Vietnamese government and its allies.

Bay of Pigs Invasion

A failed U.S.-backed military invasion of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles, aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro's government.

Angolan War of Independence

A conflict between the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and Portuguese colonial forces from 1961 to 1974, resulting in the independence of Angola.

Patrice Lumumba

A Congolese independence leader and the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was overthrown and assassinated in a coup.

Suez Crisis

A 1956 conflict between Egypt and a military alliance of Britain, France, and Israel, triggered by Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Canal, resulting in a diplomatic and military victory for Egypt.

Pan-Arabism

An ideology promoting the unity and cooperation of Arab countries, often advocating for the establishment of a single Arab state or federation.

Indian National Congress

A political party in India, founded in 1885, which played a key role in the Indian independence movement and has been one of the major political parties in the country since independence.

African Independence Movements

A collective term for the various movements and struggles for independence in African countries during the 20th century, leading to the decolonization of the continent.

Non-Aligned Movement

A group of states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc, often consisting of developing countries seeking to maintain their independence and neutrality.

Sankara Revolution

A period of radical social and economic reforms implemented by Thomas Sankara, the President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987, aimed at achieving self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on foreign aid.

Mozambican War of Independence

A conflict between the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and Portuguese colonial forces from 1964 to 1974, resulting in the independence of Mozambique.

Kwame Nkrumah

A Ghanaian politician and revolutionary who led Ghana to independence from British colonial rule in 1957, becoming the country's first Prime Minister and later President.

Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)

A political party in Zimbabwe, founded in 1963, which played a key role in the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

Rhodesian Bush War

A conflict in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1979 between the white minority government and various black nationalist groups, resulting in the end of white minority rule and the establishment of Zimbabwe.

Portuguese Colonial War

A conflict between Portugal and the African independence movements in its colonies of Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau from 1961 to 1974, resulting in the independence of these countries.

Sudanese Independence

The process by which Sudan gained independence from British colonial rule in 1956, marking the end of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan condominium.

Namibian War of Independence

A conflict between the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and South African forces from 1966 to 1990, resulting in the independence of Namibia.

Angolan Civil War

A conflict in Angola from 1975 to 2002 between the MPLA government, supported by Cuba and the Soviet Union, and various rebel groups, resulting in the establishment of a socialist government.

Mozambican Civil War

A conflict in Mozambique from 1977 to 1992 between the FRELIMO government and the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), resulting in the end of the civil war and the establishment of a multiparty democracy.

Ghanaian Independence

The process by which Ghana gained independence from British colonial rule in 1957, becoming the first African colony to achieve independence.

Zimbabwean Independence

The process by which Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) gained independence from British colonial rule in 1980, marking the end of white minority rule.

Sudanese Civil War

A conflict in Sudan from 1955 to 2005 between the central government and various rebel groups, resulting in the independence of South Sudan.

Namibian Independence

The process by which Namibia gained independence from South African rule in 1990, marking the end of apartheid in the country.

African Socialism

A political ideology that advocates for the social and economic development of Africa through collective ownership and control of resources, often associated with leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere.

Pan-African Congress

A series of meetings and conferences held by Pan-Africanists to discuss and coordinate efforts for the liberation and unity of Africa, starting with the first Pan-African Congress in 1900.

African Renaissance

A concept that promotes the revitalization and development of Africa, both economically and culturally, often emphasizing the need for African self-reliance and the recognition of African contributions to world history and civilization.

African Unity

The goal of achieving political and economic unity among African countries, often advocated for by Pan-Africanists and African leaders, leading to the establishment of the African Union.

African Economic Community

An organization established by the African Union in 1991, aiming to promote economic integration and development among African countries.

African Renaissance Monument

A statue located in Dakar, Senegal, symbolizing the rebirth and resurgence of Africa, inaugurated in 2010 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Senegal's independence.