HIS 102
Unit 14: Decolonization
Hong Kong in about 2008. After China's defeat in the First Opium War (1839-41), Hong Long island was permanently ceded to Great Britain.
The territory controlled by Britain expanded after the Second Opium War (1856-60), and then again in 1898, when Britain obtained
a 99-year lease on more territory. The harbor, islands and surrounding territory (a little over 1,000 km sq) was then transferred back
to the People's Republic of China on 30 June 1997 Hong Kong is a perfect example of a special case of the decolonization process at work.
Photo credit Cecilia Riek-Whitham.
What you
must do in this unit
What you can do in this unit
Some videos that you can watch for this unit
Extra Credit Options
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, in a one-page paper, assess the successes/failures of UN peacekeeping operations since 1945. Please be sure to cite your sources. A good starting point is U.N. Peacekeeping
Operations.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, read President John F. Kennedy On the Alliance for Progress (1961) and then Alberto Lleras Report on the Alliance for Progress (1963) and assess the rationale and the reality of the Alliance in a one-page paper.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit (maybe more), read President Sukarno of Indonesia: Speech at The Opening
of The Bandung Conference (April 18, 1955) and Prime Minister Nehru: Speech to Bandung Conference
Political Committee (1955) and Anwar el Sadat: Afro-Asian Solidarity and the World
Mission of the Peoples of Africa and Asia (1957) and write a one-page paper (maybe longer) in which you assess the rationale for the Non-Aligned Movement.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, read Nelson Mandela, Speech on Release From Prison (1990) (also available here) and then his Inaugural
Address (May 10, 1994) and write a one-page paper in which you elaborate upon Mandela's vision for South Africa.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, read A.L. Geyer The Case for Apartheid (1953) and write a paragraph summarizing the rationale of supporters of apartheid.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, read Jomo Kenyatta The Kenya Africa Union is Not the Mau
Mau (1952) and write a paragraph explaining Kenyatta's vision for his country.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, read excerpts from Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972), I Speak of Freedom (1961),
and write a paragraph explaining Nkrumah's vision for Africa.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, read U Thant The Congo Problem (1962) and write a paragraph explaining the problems faced by the Congo during the process of decolonization.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, read the Charter of the Organization of African Unity (May 25,
1963) and write a long paragraph in which you explain the rationale and structure of the OAU.
- For up to 5 points of extra credit, answer the UN paragraph study sheet questions.
- For extra credit, please suggest a
relevant website for this unit of the course. Send your instructor the title of the site, the URL and a brief explanation why you find the information interesting and applicable to the material being studied this unit.
Unit Learning Objectives
- Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to (1) demonstrate knowledge of the decolonization and modernization processes after World War II and (2) identify some of the countries that became independent after the war.
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