Not violent independences

• India: Britain gave India its independence in 1947. There were a lot of cultural, religion and ethnic problems. Two main political parties proposed different solutions: Gandhi and Nehru (Hindus) wanted a united India; others wanted  a Muslim country.

Finally Muslim Pakistan became independent from Hindu India. Pakistan´s Hindu eastern territory became Bangladesh (1971).

Violence accompanied independence in India, not directed at the British but between  different religious groups of Indians. Conflict still occurs over the Kashmir region.

• The Philippines became independent from USA in 1946.
• Ceylon and Burma gained independence from Great Britain. Ceylon   became Sri Lanka
• Jordan was granted independence in 1946.
• The French gave  Syria and  Lebanon independence in 1946.