Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-2-the-winds-of-change [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa.md) › The 'Winds of Change' # The 'Winds of Change' History: AQA A Level The British Empire, topic 4.2.2 ## 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/a2a9ffcb-1e60-46e6-b1dd-2b48bd9953dd/commonwealth.png) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/805f68db-b69f-489e-8b69-b9ecb41f021e/plant-wind-.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Cape%20Town,%20South%20Africa-min.jpeg) - "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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Cape%20Town,%20South%20Africa-min.jpeg) - "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." ## Test yourself on The 'Winds of Change' - What was the significance of Macmillan’s ‘wind of change’? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/4dd48474-7381-4a8b-8d47-f52ec6b25dfd/section/ce755cb5-b315-4ad7-98d9-e0cb8130863f/session) - Previous topic: [4.2.1 Relations & Business with Iran after WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-1-relations-and-business-with-iran-after-ww2.md) - Next topic: [4.2.3 The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-3-the-suez-canal-crisis-1956.md) ## History: AQA A Level The British Empire contents ### 1 High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914 - 1.1 Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890 - [1.1.1 Empires over Time](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-1-empires-over-time.md) - [1.1.2 Key Questions About Empires](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-2-key-questions-about-empires.md) - [1.1.3 Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-3-expansion-into-africa.md) - [1.1.4 History of Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-4-history-of-egypt.md) - [1.1.5 Control of Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-5-control-of-egypt.md) - [1.1.6 Control of Sudan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-1-6-control-of-sudan.md) - 1.2 Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890 - [1.2.1 The British Empire & India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-1-the-british-empire-and-india.md) - [1.2.2 The British Raj](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-2-the-british-raj.md) - [1.2.3 International Relations with other Powers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-3-international-relations-with-other-powers.md) - [1.2.4 Scramble for Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-4-scramble-for-africa.md) - [1.2.5 The Informal Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-2-5-the-informal-empire.md) - 1.3 Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890 - [1.3.1 Trade & Commerce in the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-1-trade-and-commerce-in-the-empire.md) - [1.3.2 Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-2-infrastructure-of-trade-and-commerce.md) - [1.3.3 Products of Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-3-3-products-of-trade-and-commerce.md) - 1.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890 - [1.4.1 Explorers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-1-explorers.md) - [1.4.2 Missionaries](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-2-missionaries.md) - [1.4.3 Traders & Colonial Administrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-3-traders-and-colonial-administrators.md) - [1.4.4 Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-4-4-government-attitudes-towards-imperialism.md) - 1.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890 - [1.5.1 Relations with India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-1-relations-with-india.md) - [1.5.2 Relations with South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-2-relations-with-south-africa.md) - [1.5.3 British-Boer Relations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/1-5-3-british-boer-relations.md) ### 2 Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914 - 2.1 Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914 - [2.1.1 Consolidation & Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-1-consolidation-and-expansion-into-africa.md) - [2.1.2 Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-2-consolidation-and-expansion-in-south-africa.md) - [2.1.3 Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-1-3-historical-interpretations-expansion-into-africa.md) - 2.2 Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914 - [2.2.1 Policy in India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-1-policy-in-india.md) - [2.2.2 Policy in Egypt](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-2-policy-in-egypt.md) - [2.2.3 Native Policy in Colonies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-3-native-policy-in-colonies.md) - [2.2.4 International Relations with Other Powers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-2-4-international-relations-with-other-powers.md) - 2.3 Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914 - [2.3.1 The Benefits of Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-1-the-benefits-of-trade.md) - [2.3.2 Costs of the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-2-costs-of-the-empire.md) - [2.3.3 Debates Over Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-3-3-debates-over-trade.md) - 2.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914 - [2.4.1 Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-1-key-administrators-chamberlain-and-rhodes.md) - [2.4.2 Key Administrators - Baring & Milner](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-2-key-administrators-baring-and-milner.md) - [2.4.3 Key Administrators - Curzon](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-3-key-administrators-curzon.md) - [2.4.4 Government Attitudes to the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-4-government-attitudes-to-the-empire.md) - [2.4.5 National Efficiency & the Boer War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-5-national-efficiency-and-the-boer-war.md) - [2.4.6 Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-4-6-popular-attitudes-towards-imperialism.md) - 2.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914 - [2.5.1 Challenges in India](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-1-challenges-in-india.md) - [2.5.2 Challenges in Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-2-challenges-in-africa.md) - [2.5.3 Challenges in South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-3-challenges-in-south-africa.md) - [2.5.4 Historical Interpretations of the Boer War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-4-historical-interpretations-of-the-boer-war.md) - [2.5.5 Relations & Business with Iran](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/2-5-5-relations-and-business-with-iran.md) ### 3 Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967 - 3.1 Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947 - [3.1.1 Impact of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-1-impact-of-ww1.md) - [3.1.2 Palestine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-2-palestine.md) - [3.1.3 Ireland & WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-3-ireland-and-ww1.md) - [3.1.4 Impact of WW2 on the British Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-1-4-impact-of-ww2-on-the-british-empire.md) - 3.2 Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947 - [3.2.1 Administration in India & Palestine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-1-administration-in-india-and-palestine.md) - [3.2.2 Administration in Iraq & the Dominions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-2-administration-in-iraq-and-the-dominions.md) - [3.2.3 Imperial Defence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-2-3-imperial-defence.md) - 3.3 Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War - [3.3.1 Economic Impact of WW1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-1-economic-impact-of-ww1.md) - [3.3.2 Inter-War Trade & Commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-2-inter-war-trade-and-commerce.md) - [3.3.3 Economic Impact of WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-3-3-economic-impact-of-ww2.md) - 3.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914 - [3.4.1 Colonial Administrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-1-colonial-administrators.md) - [3.4.2 Trusteeship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-2-trusteeship.md) - [3.4.3 Gandhi](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-3-gandhi.md) - [3.4.4 Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-4-montagu-haig-and-linlithgow.md) - [3.4.5 Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-5-cameron-mitchell-cohen-and-furse-african-admins.md) - [3.4.6 Imperialist Ideals](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-4-6-imperialist-ideals.md) - 3.5 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947 - [3.5.1 Ireland & India 1914-1947](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-5-1-ireland-and-india-1914-1947.md) - [3.5.2 The Middle East and Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/3-5-2-the-middle-east-and-africa.md) ### 4 The Wind of Change, 1947-1967 - 4.1 Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967 - [4.1.1 Reasons for Decolonisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-1-reasons-for-decolonisation.md) - [4.1.2 Decolonisation in East & West Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-2-decolonisation-in-east-and-west-africa.md) - [4.1.3 Decolonisation in Central & South Africa](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-3-decolonisation-in-central-and-south-africa.md) - [4.1.4 Decolonisation in Asia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-1-4-decolonisation-in-asia.md) - 4.2 Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967 - [4.2.1 Relations & Business with Iran after WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-1-relations-and-business-with-iran-after-ww2.md) - [4.2.2 The 'Winds of Change'](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-2-the-winds-of-change.md) - [4.2.3 The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-3-the-suez-canal-crisis-1956.md) - [4.2.4 International Relations 1947-1967](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-2-4-international-relations-1947-1967.md) - 4.3 Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967 - [4.3.1 The Economic Impact of WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-3-1-the-economic-impact-of-ww2.md) - 4.4 Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967 - [4.4.1 Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-1-colonial-administrators-cohen-and-arden-clarke.md) - [4.4.2 Local Leaders in the Independence Movement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-2-local-leaders-in-the-independence-movement.md) - [4.4.3 Pan-Africanism in Nationalism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-4-3-pan-africanism-in-nationalism.md) - 4.5 Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967 - [4.5.1 Windrush & Immigration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-1-windrush-and-immigration.md) - [4.5.2 Commonwealth Immigrants Act](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-2-commonwealth-immigrants-act.md) - [4.5.3 Residual Impact of the Empire](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-5-3-residual-impact-of-the-empire.md) - 4.6 Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967 - [4.6.1 Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 1947](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-1-challenges-to-colonial-rule-post-1947.md) - [4.6.2 Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-2-kenya-and-the-mau-mau-uprising.md) - [4.6.3 Nigeria & Rhodesia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/aqa/4-6-3-nigeria-and-rhodesia.md)