Why did so many European colonies around the world receive their independance after WWII?
Three reasons. 1. Keeping empires is costly and most European countries were extremely poor at the end of WWII. Shedding their Empires meant they could balance the books. 2. There was a movement of nationalism in many of these countries and a belief that because (British Colonies especially) they had made so many sacrifices in assisting the allies to win WWII then they should be rewarded with their freedom. 3. It was American foreign policy to see the dismantling of European empires. Note what happened during the Suez crisis – the key to the failure of the Anglo French mission was the opposition to it by The United States.
