1957–1960Reputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Wind of Change: Africa Decolonizes
On the timeline · around 1957–1960 ·
What happened
Ghana led the way, becoming the first of Britain's African colonies to win independence in 1957. In February 1960, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told South Africa's parliament that 'the wind of change is blowing through this continent' and that Britain must accept the rise of African nationalism. Over the following years dozens of colonies across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean became independent nations.
Why it matters
Macmillan's speech signalled that Britain would no longer stand in the way of independence. The decade that followed saw the empire dismantled at astonishing speed, as more than twenty territories became sovereign states.
Sources
- South African History Online. The 'Wind of Change' Speech · Reputable source
- Imperial War Museums. The End of the British Empire after World War II · Reputable source