Decolonization refers to the process by which colonized territories gained independence from imperial rule. There are two main definitions - one views it as territories legally becoming independent sovereign states, while the other sees it as reversing the impacts of European imperialism on political, economic, social and cultural aspects. Decolonization occurred as colonized peoples thirsted for freedom, World War II weakened colonial powers' perceived invulnerability, and anti-colonialism grew internationally through organizations like the United Nations. Scholars like Tony Chafer, Martin Shipway, and Martin Thomas have contributed to the study of decolonization.

1. Decolonization
Decolonisation

2. Why teach about
Decolonization
 It is not a specific objective/standard in the
Georgia Standards.
 There is wiggle room to make time for a
discussion
 Teaching it tells the story of resistance and
gives agency to colonized people.

3. Defining Decolonization
 The process of imperial governments
leaving colonized territories and at
which point those territories begin
governing themselves.

4. Opposing Definitions
View 1
 a process by which
legally dependent
territories obtained
their constitutional
independence and
entered the world stage
of international
relations as sovereign
states.
View 2
 the reversal of the
process of European
imperial expansion with
all its political,
economic, social,
cultural and linguistic
consequences.

5. How Decolonization work is organized
 Colonized peoples thirst for Independence
 World War II making colonial powers
look less invulnerable
 Focus on anti-colonialism in in
international arenas such as the U.N.

6. Contributing Scholars
 Tony Chafer
 Martin Shipway
 Martin Thomas

7. Additional Resources
 Todd Shepard (2014) Voices of Decolonization
 Martin Shipway Decolonization and its impact
 Chafer, Tony, The End of Empire in French West Africa:
France’s Successful Decolonization?
 Nwaubani, Ebere, The United States and Decolonization
in West Africa, 1950-1960
 Chamberlain, Murial Evelyn, Decolonization: The Fall of
the European Empires, Historical Association Studies
 Darwin, John, Britain and Decolonization: The Retreat
from Empire in the Post-War World