AP European History Flashcards: Decolonization
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
List three key factors that delayed independence for many African and Asian territories.
Independence was often delayed by the imperial powers’ reluctance to relinquish control, unstable political systems, and strategic alignments during the Cold War.
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List three key factors that delayed independence for many African and Asian territories.
Independence was often delayed by the imperial powers’ reluctance to relinquish control, unstable political systems, and strategic alignments during the Cold War.
What is decolonization?
Decolonization is the process by which colonial groups around the world sought and achieved independence from colonizing imperialist states, primarily during the 20th and 21st centuries.
What was the general attitude of imperial powers towards decolonization?
Imperial powers were often reluctant to relinquish control over their territories, leading to interference or resistance that delayed independence for many colonies.
How do the FLN in Algeria and the Viet Minh exemplify the challenges of decolonization?
These movements show that even with organized nationalist efforts, decolonization was a difficult process often prolonged by the colonizers' resistance and external pressures like the Cold War.
How did the Cold War affect the process of decolonization?
Cold War strategic alignments were a major factor in delaying independence, as imperial powers were reluctant to relinquish control over territories they considered strategically important in their conflict.
What was the principle of national self-determination?
Promoted by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson after WWI, it was the principle that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status, which raised independence expectations in the non-European world.
Did the presence of strong nationalist movements guarantee a swift path to independence?
No, despite the existence of strong indigenous nationalist movements like the FLN and Viet Minh, independence was often delayed by imperial reluctance and other factors.
Identify two examples of indigenous nationalist movements that sought independence.
Two prominent examples of indigenous nationalist movements are the National Liberation Front (FLN) in Algeria and the Viet Minh in Vietnam.
What was the impact of Woodrow Wilson's principle of national self-determination on colonized peoples?
It raised expectations for new policies and freedoms among non-European peoples, fueling indigenous nationalist movements seeking independence.
Describe the general nature of the decolonization process in the 20th century.
The process of decolonization was not uniform; it occurred with varying degrees of cooperation, interference, or resistance from European imperialist states.