Starter quiz
- ______ was the main crop grown on plantations in Britain's Caribbean colonies during the 17th century.
- 'Sugar' ✓
- The ______ caused widespread unemployment and poverty in Britain's Caribbean colonies.
- 'Great Depression' ✓
- In 1938, the British government sent a team led by Lord Moyne to the Caribbean to...
- investigate routes forward for Caribbean independence
- suppress independence movements in the Caribbean
- investigate the social and economic challenges in the Caribbean colonies ✓
- encourage workers from the Caribbean to migrate to Britain
-
- Universal ______ was introduced in Jamaica in 1944.
- 'suffrage' ✓
- After Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago decided to leave, the West Indian Federation was dissolved in...
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962 ✓
- 1963
-
- Alexander ______ became the first Prime Minister of independent Jamaica in 1962.
- 'Bustamante' ✓
Exit quiz
- Starting with the earliest, place these events in chronological order.
- 1⇔India and Pakistan became independent
- 2⇔Israel declared independence
- 3⇔The Republic of Ireland became independent
- 4⇔Ghana became independent
- 5⇔Jamaica became independent
- 6⇔Kenya became independent
- Which statement best describes decolonisation in the British Empire?
- It was always peaceful
- It was always violent
- It was sometimes peaceful and sometimes violent ✓
-
- In which British colonies was decolonisation a peaceful process?
- Jamaica ✓
- The Gold Coast ✓
- India
- Ireland
- Kenya
-
- In which British colonies was decolonisation a violent process?
- Jamaica
- The Gold Coast
- India ✓
- Ireland ✓
- Kenya ✓
-
- Which statement best describes Britain's responsibility for violence during decolonisation?
- Britain bears no responsibility for violence during decolonisation.
- Britain bears total responsibility for violence during decolonisation.
- Britain bears a great deal responsibility for violence during decolonisation. ✓
-
- Which of these factors often led to peaceful decolonisation?
- Gradual reform ✓
- International pressure ✓
- British resistance
- Violent suppression of independence movements
- A lack of thorough planning
-
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The British Empire experienced significant decolonisation after the Second World War.
- Although decolonisation was complex and experiences varied considerably, it was a peaceful process in many places.
- Decolonisation was more likely to involve violence in the colonies that were the most valuable to Britain.
- Decolonisation in Ireland, India and Palestine was a violent process involving controversial partition processes.
- British actions were directly or indirectly responsible for much of the violence that took place during decolonisation.
Common misconception
The British Empire was different from other European empires because Britain willingly relinquished control of its colonies and decolonisation was mostly a peaceful process.
While it was a peaceful process in some British colonies, decolonisation involved significant violence in other colonies. Even in colonies where decolonisation was relatively peaceful there was some violence (e.g., Accra Riots in the Gold Coast).
Keywords
Decolonisation - the process by which colonies ruled by an empire achieve independence
Nationalist - someone who strongly believes in and supports their own country, placing its interests above those of other nations
Partition - to divide into parts
Constitution - the basic principles or laws which govern a nation state
Reform - a change introduced to improve something, often a system or law