What's covered
Key facts
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of mostly former British colonies that cooperate voluntarily.
Most African colonies gained independence from European powers during the late 1950s and 1960s, with 1960 itself known as the "Year of Africa".
Decolonisation is the process by which colonies became independent of their former rulers.
The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association made up largely of former British colonies; it is not an economic, military, or religious union.
Mahatma Gandhi led the non-violent Indian independence movement against British rule.
The 1947 Partition of British India created the independent states of India and Pakistan and triggered mass cross-border migration and violence — the first major step in Britain's post-war decolonisation.
In 1947 India gained independence from Britain.
The 1960 "Wind of Change" speech was delivered by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in Cape Town.
In 1947 India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain.
Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal Company in July 1956, triggering the Suez Crisis.
Sample questions
A taste of the 28 questions in this topic — answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
Which Indian leader led the non-violent independence movement?
- •Jawaharlal Nehru
- ✓Mahatma Gandhi
- •Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- •Subhas Chandra Bose
Which Egyptian leader nationalised the Suez Canal in 1956?
- ✓Gamal Abdel Nasser
- •King Farouk I
- •President Anwar Sadat
- •President Hosni Mubarak
Who led the Muslim League and became Pakistan's first leader at Partition?
- •Jawaharlal Nehru
- •Liaquat Ali Khan
- •Mahatma Gandhi
- ✓Muhammad Ali Jinnah
What did Macmillan's 1960 'Wind of Change' speech signal?
- •Africa would be left untouched by decolonisation
- •African leaders would be banned from London
- ✓Britain would accept African colonies becoming independent
- •Britain would invade more African colonies
Why was Partition followed by mass violence and migration?
- •Both India and Pakistan refused to accept independence
- •Britain reinvaded the region within a year
- ✓Religious communities ended up on the 'wrong' side of new borders
- •The new borders ignored the Himalayan geography
What is the Commonwealth of Nations today?
- •A military alliance against Russia and China
- •A religious organisation led by the Anglican Church
- ✓A voluntary association of mostly former British colonies
- •An economic union with one shared currency
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