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History, Civics & Social Studies · Grade 10

Decolonization and Contemporary Connections

Between 1945 and the 1990s, most colonized peoples won independence. Learners analyze why empires ended, compare negotiated, nonviolent and armed paths to independence (India, Ghana, Vietnam, Algeria, Kenya), examine Cold War pressures, non-alignment and the end of apartheid, and evaluate decolonization's lasting legacies in borders, economies, migration and institutions.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 130 minutes
  • Decolonization check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, estimate, highlight a text, pick map regions and match pairs
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Explain the causes of decolonization after 1945, including nationalist movements, weakened empires and new international principles.
  • Compare paths to independence, including negotiated, nonviolent and armed struggles.
  • Analyze how the Cold War, non-alignment and the struggle against apartheid shaped the postcolonial world.
  • Evaluate the legacies of colonialism and decolonization in today's world using evidence.

Lessons

  1. Why empires ended 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  2. Paths to independence 6 steps3 practiceabout 34 min
  3. Cold War, non-alignment and apartheid 5 steps4 practiceabout 32 min
  4. Legacies and connections 5 steps4 practiceabout 34 min
  5. Decolonization check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 10th grade social studies

Guide for grown-ups