Topic 7.5 Unresolved Tensions After World War I
Learning Objective
Explain the continuities and changes in territorial holdings from 1900 to the present.
Historical Developments
Between the two world wars, Western and Japanese imperial states predominantly maintained control over colonial holdings; in some cases, they gained additional territories through conquest or treaty settlement and in other cases faced anti-imperial resistance.
Territorial gains:
- Transfer of former German colonies to Great Britain and France under the system of League of Nations mandates
- Manchukuo/Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
Anti-imperial resistance:
- Indian National Congress
- West African resistance (strikes/congresses) to French rule
Reading Questions
- What territorial changes happened in Europe with Germany and The Austro-Hungarian empire?
- What territorial changes happened in The Middle East with the Ottoman empire?
- What territorial changes happened in East Asia with the Japanese empire?
- How did continued imperialism in South Asia cause anti imperial resistance?
- How did continued imperialism in Africa cause anti imperial resistance?
The Mandate System
Many colonies fought in WWI hoping for self determination- ability to rule themselves. Self determination was only given to some Eastern European colonies after WWI. Treaty of Versailles creates the Mandate System. The system established after World War I was to administer former territories of the German and Ottoman empires. Under this system the victors of World War I were given responsibility for governing former German and Ottoman territories as mandates. Europeans felt that colonies could not rule themselves. Many of the colonized elite that had formerly cooperated began to see the hypocrisy of imperialism. Having education on the Enlightenment principles, many of these elite began to rebel. Nationalist movements to end Imperialism began during this period.