INDEPENDENCE FOR AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN COLONIES
French Colonies
The French Colonies such as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunis gained their independence without violence. After World War II, France trying to incorporate the colonies they had in Africa into France itself. France's prime minister, Charles de Gaulle tried to enforce this however many of the colonies in Africa didn't want to become a part of France but still wanted its connections with it. So in 1958 Gaulle gave the African colonies a choice to become a part of the French Community, keeping its ties with France, or becoming completely independent. Most of the African Colonies chose to be a part of the French Community but a few years later France granted all the African Colonies Independence.
MOROCCO
Morocco was occupied mainly by the French but also Spain. In the early 1920's, under the leadership of Muhammad And el-Krim, the Rif Berbers of Morocco rebelled. They created a Rif republic but it didn't last long because the French and Spanish took Morocco back over in 1926. In 1953 a nationalist leader Mohammed V ibn Yusuf was exiled but when nationalist and religious people called for his return France allowed him to come back in 1955. On March 2, 1956 Morocco gained its independence from France and Mohammed V took control of Morocco. He was succeeded by his son Hasan Il ibn Mohanned and later Morocco became a constitutional monarchy in 1977.
TUNISIA
Many advancements in independence and organizations were made before World War II however during the war Tunisia had to post pone its drive for independence. One of the nationalist leaders, Habib Bourguiba went to jail during this time and was exported to a jail in Italy. During WWII the Nazis tried to convince Bourguiba to help them with the North African War but Bourguiba declined and was freed in 1943. Bourguiba's plan for independence was to slowly convince the French however he was falsely claimed for bombing attacks and was sent to prison once again. This angered the people so in 1954 France backed out of Tunisia to decrease the amount of violence happening, but still held onto some aspects. Gradually after the independence of Morocco, Tunisia gained its independence on March 20, 1956.
ALGERIA
Algeria's war for independence started with an uprising in the Atlas Mountains in 1954. France has given independence to Morocco and Tunisia and Algeria wanted the same however France, like how Abraham Lincoln saw the south, saw Algeria as a part of the country France and declared them of treason and didn't give them independence. The French ended the revolt in 1958. In April of 1958 members of the ALN, a nationalist group, killed three French prisoners in return of three Algerian prisoners that the French killed. Many more events occurred including new leaders and voting disputes which set the stage of Algeria's independence. France then launched their last offense, the Challe, this effort was to drive the rebells out of Algeria however this didn't work. After a few other disputes France left Algeria allowing it to be independent on July 5, 1962.
SYRIA
Syria gained its independence through a peace treaty. France however wanted to make this treaty in favor of them allowing them to still control the Mountains in Syria. However a leader, Hashim al-Atassi called for a sixty-day strike and protest. Atassi then traveled to Paris to discuss the treaty and what it would do for both countries. In the end the treaty call for the emendate independence of Syria, Syria would have to back France in times of War, and France would take down forts and bring troops out of Syria. Atassi came back to Syria on September 27, 1936 with independence for Syria. He then became the president of the republic in the November. Syria gained its independence through the Franco-Syrian Treaty of Independence of 1936.
Declared independence from France on April 17, 1946
Declared independence from France on April 17, 1946
Italian Colonies
LIBYA
During World War II Libya was occupied by the Allies after the North African War. After the war was over Italy regained control of Libya but soon after on December 24, 1951 Libya became independent from Italy and became the United Nation of Libya. It was a constitutional monarchy with king Idris as the leader. Libya then found large amounts of oil reserves which boosted its economy and allowed Libya to thrive as a powerful state. However Libya had some difficulties while in its independence, on 1 September 1969 the Libyan Revolution was launched with Gaddafi has the leader. Gaddafi seemed corrupt later and was put on surveillance while being accused of having close ties to Italy and bombings. Libya would have to go through another revolution for peace.
British Colonies
KENYA
Kenya declared its independence in the 1950's. The people of Kenya had a dispute between the land. The Kenyan farmers did not want Kenya to be independent because it would cause them to loose their land. The Kikuyu, native people of Kenya, wanted independence and the land from the Kenyan farmers because the land was on high ground, good for farming and they considered the high land their ancestral homeland. The leader of the Kikuyu people was Jomo Kenyatta, he argued politically for the Kikuyu people's right to have that land back and its importance. The Kikuyu people formed and organization called the Mau Mau where they terrorized the Kenyan farmers and anyone who didn't agree with them. Mau Mau was a very violent group, but finally Britain regained control. However Britain regained control by torturing Mau Mau leaders and harming other participants of the Mau Mau. Although in a few years Britain accepted decolonization of Kenya and in 1963 Kenya became its own independent country with Jomo Kenyatta as their prime minister.
EGYPT
Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence granted Egypt independence from the United Kingdom. It was issued on February 28, 1922 and it gave Egypt independence with the exception of four areas: foreign relations, communications, the military, and the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. This declaration did respond to Egypt's demands however it also caused disputes about the Anglo-Egyptain Sudan which caused a war, later the Anglo-Egyptain Treaty of 1936 was signed.
KUWAIT
In 1961 Great Britain started to make its first moves for granting Kuwait its independence, Great Britain allowed Kuwait to try its own people under law that they had made. Soon after on June 19, 1961 Kuwait was granted its full independence. However Iraq claimed Kuwait because before it was a part of the Ottoman Empire. England had to mobilize its troops to ward off Iraq's army from Kuwait. In 1963 Iraq's prime minister died so Iraq and Kuwait agreed to the "Agreed Minutes between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq Regarding the Restoration of Friendly Relations, Recognition, and Related Matters", but there were still disputes on boarders. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also had boarder arguments but in 1969 they signed an agreement to share the Divided Zone, where both countries can drill oil on and off land in this neutral area.
JORDAN
Britain gave Transjordan its independence on May 25, 1946 with out many fighting and violence. Shortly after Transjordan changed its name to Jordan and was recognized as its own country. Jordan's leader, King Abdullah, had great plans for Jordan and one step was to expand its territory. Jordan then annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Many countries disagreed with this action such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria and they lead to the expulsion of Jordan from the Arab league. King Abdullah was later assassinated coming from the mosque in Jerusalem.
Jordan continues for its total power and still today has many disputes and arguments about territory and ideas.
Jordan continues for its total power and still today has many disputes and arguments about territory and ideas.
IRAQ
During World War I the Ottoman Empire was split creating many smaller countries in the Middle East, one of these countries was Iraq. Great Britain was given Iraq by the league of nations and Iraq became a mandate to Great Britain. The Hashemite monarch was made to control Iraq by the British in 1922. On October 3, 1932 the Kingdom of Iraq was granted independence from Great Britain, however they still maintained close ties in military and economical aspects. This however cause a lot of dispute between the government and the people. An example of distrust between the Iraqi government and the people was during WWII, the people started pro-axis revolts in 1941 however Britain intercepted and Iraq joined the Ally side. This angered the people and caused them to overthrow the government. For 20 years Iraq was governed by a series of different ways until in 1979 Saddam Hussein became the dictator.
IRAN
Iran gained its independence from Great Britain and shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Pahlavi created the White Revolution where he planed to industrialize, modernize, and make new political reforms to make Iran a world power. This revolution angered many traditional people and during this time communistic ideas were outlawed increasing the amount of prisoners. This clash with communistic ideas and Islamists turned into a revolution and forced Mohammad Reza to abdicate on February 11, 1979 this was the Iranian Revolution. Iran then was the Islamic Republic on April 1, 1979 with Khomeini as their supreme leader.
Ottoman Empire
YEMEN
Yemen was a strong state that withheld the Portuguese, Ottomans, and many other countries from taking them over. Yemen was recognized in 1911 to be its own area from the Ottoman Empire, and during World War I they supported the Ottoman Empire. After the war the Ottoman took its troops out of Yemen and on November 17, 1918 they had complete independence. After their independence there were still two different states in that area, so in May 22, 1990 they unified and created one country, Yemen.
TURKEY
Turkey won its independence through the Turkish War of Independence from May 19, 1919 to July 24, 1923. This war was against the Turkish Nationalist and the Allies. Mustafa Kekmal Ataturk and other nationalist created the Grand National Assembly (GNA) and after the Turkish-Armenian, Franco-Turkish, and Greco-Turkish wars the Treaty of Lausanne was signed in July of 1923. When the Allies left Anatolia the GNA made the republic in Turkey which was declared on October 29, 1923. With this the Ottoman Empire came to an end and Ataturk's reforms helped the Turkish Nation move forward.