Decolonization

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/decolonization

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core principle of decolonization?The United Nations Charter emphasizes the principle of self-determination for all peoples
2. Why did countries want independence?Countries wanted independence because they believed in self‑determination and wanted to decide their own future. They also grew tired of paying for a distant empire that was costly to run.
3. When did decolonization happen?Decolonization began after the American Revolution in the late 1700s, grew in the 1800s, and became very large after World War I and especially after World War II. It continued into the late 20th century.

Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Metropole: The home country or capital of a colonial empire.
Self-determination: The right of a people to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.
Nation-building: The process of creating a shared sense of national identity and loyalty among diverse groups within a state.