AROUND THE AP WORLD DAY 21: NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES
Overview of Newly Independent States in Unit 8
Introduction to the Course Exam Description
- The information for the AP World History exam is derived from the Course Exam and Description (CED), which contains essential details on what students need to know, particularly pages 40 through 176.
Transitioning to a New Phase
- The discussion introduces a new phase in world history, likening it to a new era in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, emphasizing that newly independent states are akin to new characters facing unique challenges.
Redrawing Boundaries Post-Decolonization
- European imperialists left poorly drawn borders; thus, newly independent states had to redefine their boundaries. Examples include:
- Israel emerged from British Palestine with fluid borders influenced by occupation dynamics.
- Cambodia declared independence from French Indochina in 1953 after struggles against colonial rule.
- The partition of India led to significant border changes and resulted in over a million deaths during civil unrest between India and Pakistan.
Economic Development Efforts
- Newly independent governments aimed at guiding economic development despite seeming redundancy:
- In Egypt, Abdul Nasser oversaw the construction of the Aswan High Dam for irrigation and electricity control.
- Sri Lanka's first non-hereditary female ruler, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, nationalized private schools to enhance education for future workforce development.
- Julius Nyerere in Tanzania built the TAZARA railway as part of post-colonial infrastructure efforts.
Migration Patterns Following Independence
- Unique migration trends emerged post-independence focused on movement towards metropoles (mother countries):
- Former colonies often migrated back due to cultural familiarity; South Asians moved toward Britain while Filipinos migrated to America due to shared language and culture experiences stemming from colonial ties.