4.1.4
Decolonisation in Asia
Decolonisation in Asia
Decolonisation in Asia
World War Two became the death knell for the British Empire, welcoming a period of rapid and often rushed decolonisation.
Burma (now Myanmar)
Burma (now Myanmar)
- Aung San’s Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League fought against the British in World War Two, but then switched sides before the end of the war.
- Aung San campaigned for independence from British influence.
- In July 1947, Aung San was assassinated by soldiers hired by the former Prime Minister of Burma, U Saw. A British Army Captain, David Vivian was then imprisoned for selling weapons to U Saw.
- Burma was granted independence in 1948. The country fell into civil war, which has continued ever since.
The Malay peninsula
The Malay peninsula
- Britain tried to create a ‘Malayan Union’, but the area was very divided ethnically and was divided into 11 provinces.
- The Malay people opposed the establishment of the Malayan Union. The new union took powers from the Sultan and the United Malays National Organisation was founded. The UMNO was a new political organisation created purely to protest against the Malayan Union, which was created with little local population consultation.
- Their campaign of civil disobedience made the British reconsider. After consulting different ethnic and racial groups in Malaya the British created the Federation of Malaya in February 1948.
Malaysia
Malaysia
- In June 1948, the Malaya Emergency saw a guerrilla war take place between Malayan Communists, the Malayan National Liberation Army, and forces from Malaya, Australia, and New Zealand.
- In 1951, Henry Gurney (the British High Commissioner in Malaya) was assassinated by the Malayan Communist Party.
- In 1957, Malaya was granted independence under Prime Minister Tunku Rahman.
- In 1960, after a 12-year state of emergency and 6,710 MRLA fatalities, the state of emergency and guerrilla war ended.
- In 1963, the country was renamed Malaysia.
Singapore
Singapore
- Singapore is an island south of Malaysia that is 50km wide.
- In 1945, the British recaptured Singapore from the Japanese.
- In 1947, a Legislative Council with members elected by the Singaporean people was created.
- Lim Yew Hock's strong opposition to communist insurgents in Singapore helped him earn full self-government in 1958.
- In 1963, as part of the creation of Malaysia, Singapore joined Malaya.
- Ethnic tensions between the Chinese and Malayan population of Singapore led to Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia in 1965.
The rise of Singapore
The rise of Singapore
- In 1965, Singapore was a new country, 50km wide and 27km tall, with no freshwater supplies and a diverse ethnic population.
- Lee Kuan Yew was the Singaporean Prime Minister from 1959 and 1990. Lee is often cited as one of the only examples in history of a 'benevolent dictator'. His rule was authoritarian, mandating people to move from farms into apartments in cities, and enforcing policies very strictly. Lee tried to stamp out corruption in Singapore.
- In 2020, Singapore's GDP per capita was $65,000 relative to $11,000 in Malaysia.
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
Jump to other topics
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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