Global Independence Movements and Colonial Legacies

Colonial History and Independence in Africa

• Algeria (North Africa): A French colony from 1830 to 1962, it was previously part of the Ottoman Empire. It is 99% Islamic and was subject to Napoleon's plans.
• Libya (North Africa): Under Ottoman rule from 1551 to 1911, it then fell to Italy under Mussolini. It gained independence in 1953.
• Morocco (North Africa): Colonized by France and Spain, it gained independence in 1956 through nationalist movements led by the King.
• Somalia (East Africa): Colonized by Italy, the UK, and Spain for its coastal trade value; independence was later marked by military coups.
• Senegal (West Africa): A French colony and the westernmost point of Africa, it was strategic for trade. It underwent peaceful decolonization around 1960.
• Nigeria (West Africa): Colonized by Britain in 1885, it is the most populated country in Africa with over 250 ethnic groups. It gained independence in 1960.
• Niger (West Africa): A French colony since 1922, it saw peaceful decolonization in 1960, though the French legacy remains impactful.
• Cameroon (Central Africa): Violently colonized by Germany in 1884, then by France and Britain in 1916. It remains bilingual today and gained independence in 1960.
• Namibia (Southern Africa): Colonized by Germany in 1884 and then by South Africa in 1915, it achieved independence in 1990.
• South Africa: Settled by the Dutch and then the British starting in the 1500s, it was extremely valuable for its resources and location.
• Kenya (East Africa): A British colony from 1895 to 1920, used primarily for farming. The Mau Mau Rising (1952–1960) failed, but the export economy persisted until independence in 1963.
• Sierra Leone (West Africa): A UK colony where freed slaves were sent; the capital is Freetown. It faces lasting colonial legacies and gained independence in 1961.
• Mali (West Africa): Formerly known as French Sudan, it was colonized by France in 1892. It relied on forced labor and an export economy until independence in 1960.

Independence in Asia and the Middle East

• Malaysia (Southeast Asia): Colonized three times by Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain, followed by Japanese occupation in WWII. It gained independence in 1957.
• India (South Asia): Following gradual British colonization, Mahatma Gandhi led non-violent resistance, leading to independence in 1947.
• Myanmar/Burma (Southeast Asia): Colonized by the British and briefly by Japan. Mostly Buddhist, it was separated from British India and gained independence in 1948.
• Philippines (Southeast Asia): Colonized by Spain, then the USA, and Japan. After fighting for independence for 350 years, it achieved sovereignty in 1946.
• Iraq (Middle East): The Ottoman and Persian empires fought for control before a British mandate was established post-WWI via the League of Nations. It achieved early independence in 1932.

Colonial History in the Americas and Europe

• Jamaica (Caribbean): Claimed by Columbus for Spain in 1496 and taken by the British in 1655. Slaves were brought for trade and transport; independence was reached in 1962.
• Ireland (Europe): A UK colony where the Easter Rising was crushed. Following a Civil War in 1921, it gained independence in 1922, though Northern Ireland remains part of the UK.
• Brazil (South America): Colonized by Portugal in 1500, it is the fifth largest country. It experienced a nearly bloodless decolonization when Portugal left in 1825, leaving lasting economic and cultural legacies.
• DR Congo (Central Africa): A Belgian colony that gained independence in 1960. It faced Cold War conflicts and 37 years of political dependence before achieving true independence.
• Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (Northern Europe): Former Baltic USSR satellite states. Estonia and Latvia were freed after WWI, but Latvia was occupied by Nazis in WWII (which was devastating for the Jewish population). Lithuania gained independence when the USSR fell (1990–1991). All used peaceful means, including the Singing Revolutions and the Baltic Way.