4.2.2
The 'Winds of Change'
The 'Wind of Change'
The 'Wind of Change'
Macmillan’s ‘Wind of Change’ speech was a public acknowledgement of the end of the British Empire.
Attitudes to the British Empire in Britain in the 1950s
Attitudes to the British Empire in Britain in the 1950s
- Despite the rise of nationalism across the Empire, showing even more clearly that local populations wanted to determine their own destiny, attitudes in Britain continued to support the Empire.
- Neal (2004) says that Britain's desire to keep preferential trade agreements with its colonies separated Britain "economically & politically from both US & Europe".
Macmillan's 'wind of change' speech
Macmillan's 'wind of change' speech
- Harold Macmillan was the Conservative Prime Minister of Britain in 1960. The Conservative Party had historically been more pro-Empire than the Liberal Party or the Labour Party.
- In Cape Town, South Africa in 1960, Harold Macmillan gave a speech stating that ‘the wind of change is blowing through this continent and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.’
- Britains who were pro-Empire and settlers in British colonies were aghast. Lord Kilmuir says "few utterances in recent history have had more grievous consequences...in Kenya, the settlers spoke bitterly of betrayal, and the ministers of the Federation approached the British government with equal suspicion."
Key excerpts from the wind of change speech
Key excerpts from the wind of change speech
- "It is a basic principle of our modern Commonwealth that we respect each other's sovereignty in matters of internal policy"- recognising people's democratic rights.
- "As I see it the great issue in this second half of the twentieth century is whether the uncommitted peoples of Asia and Africa will swing to the East or to the West. Will they be drawn into the Communist camp? Or will the great experiments in self-government that are now being made in Asia and Africa, especially within the Commonwealth, prove so successful" - showing the importance of the perceived threat of communism.
Macmillan on South African racial policies
Macmillan on South African racial policies
- "As a fellow member of the Commonwealth, it is our earnest desire to give South Africa our support and encouragement, but I hope you won't mind my saying frankly that there are some aspects of your policies which make it impossible for us to do this without being false to our own 55 deep convictions about the political destinies of free men to which in our own territories we are trying to give effect."
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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