Decolonization of the British Empire (1945–1997)

1. Postwar Labour government accelerates decolonization policy

   Jul 26, 1945Labels: Labour government, United Kingdom

   • Britannica
   • NatArchives

2. Indian Independence Act receives royal assent

   Jul 18, 1947Labels: Indian Independence, United Kingdom

   • Britannica
   • Legislation

3. Partition creates dominions of India and Pakistan

   Aug 15, 1947Labels: India, Pakistan

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

4. Burma (Myanmar) becomes independent outside Commonwealth

   Jan 4, 1948Labels: Burma, Myanmar

   • Britannica
   • NatArchives

5. Ceylon (Sri Lanka) becomes independent as a dominion

   Feb 4, 1948Labels: Ceylon, Sri Lanka

   • Britannica
   • SriLankaArchives

6. British Nationality Act creates CUKC citizenship status

   Jul 30, 1948Labels: British Nationality, United Kingdom

   • NatArchives
   • Legislation

7. Suez Canal nationalized, exposing limits of British power

   Jul 26, 1956Labels: Suez Crisis, Egypt

   • Britannica
   • PBS

8. Ghana becomes independent from Britain

   Mar 6, 1957Labels: Ghana, Gold Coast

   • Britannica
   • Britannica

9. Federation of Malaya gains independence

   Aug 31, 1957Labels: Federation of, Malaysia

   • Legislation
   • Britannica

10. Macmillan delivers “Wind of Change” speech in Cape Town

    Feb 3, 1960Labels: Harold Macmillan, Wind of

    • BBC
    • Britannica

11. Nigeria becomes independent within the Commonwealth

    Oct 1, 1960Labels: Nigeria

    • Britannica
    • NatArchives

12. Jamaica becomes independent from the United Kingdom

    Aug 6, 1962Labels: Jamaica

    • NLJ
    • Legislation

13. Trinidad and Tobago becomes independent

    Aug 31, 1962Labels: Trinidad and

    • Legislation
    • NALIS

14. Uganda becomes independent as a Commonwealth realm

    Oct 9, 1962Labels: Uganda

    • Britannica
    • Britannica

15. Kenya becomes independent after Mau Mau era and talks

    Dec 12, 1963Labels: Kenya, Mau Mau

    • Britannica
    • Britannica

16. Singapore becomes a sovereign state (end of merger crisis)

    Aug 9, 1965Labels: Singapore, Malaysia

    • Legislation
    • Britannica

17. Barbados becomes independent from Britain

    Nov 30, 1966Labels: Barbados

    • Legislation
    • Britannica

18. Lancaster House Agreement ends Rhodesia’s rebellion framework

    Dec 21, 1979Labels: Lancaster House, Rhodesia

    • Britannica
    • UKParliament

19. Zimbabwe becomes independent under Lancaster House terms

    Apr 18, 1980Labels: Zimbabwe

    • Britannica
    • Britannica

20. Sino-British Joint Declaration signed on Hong Kong’s future

    Dec 19, 1984Labels: Sino-British Joint, Hong Kong

    • Britannica
    • UNTC

21. Hong Kong transferred from UK to China

    Jul 1, 1997Labels: Hong Kong, People's Republic

    • Britannica
    • Legislation