AP World History 2020-Document Based Question

The First World War heavily affected relationships between Europeans and their

colonized peoples, specifically, it changed the way they treated their colonists. Before World

War One, Great Britain allowed their colonists freedom, however, it was halted when the First

World War began. Unlike the British, the French treated their colonized troops with respect.

Before the Great War, many European nations were seeking colonies as they industrialized. They

needed these colonies for cheap labor, materials, new markets, and to gain power over other

countries. Furthermore, the relationship between Britain and India was fractured when Indians

began uprisings against their colonizers in the late nineteenth century.

The British believed that because they had become involved in the First World War, their

colonies, such as India, needed to help them by sending troops. The First World War led to

feelings of racism towards the Indians by the British. In Document 5, it is said in the protest song

that, “Laborers and soldiers were forced to travel, leaving their land; and now the British blame

us for revolting?” This shows how they were dragged into a fight that wasn’t theirs, and were

forced to give their lives to the British cause. When the colonized people protested against the

treatment they were given, the British were angered by it. In Document 2, the Indian officer says

that, “Patriotism is responsible for all this bloodshed. We see now that all that patriotism means

is snatching away another man’s country, well it's the English who have taught us this.” This

quote exhibits how the British were expanding and showing nationalism at the expense of the

Indians. The British believed in Social Darwinism, the belief that the fittest for survival were

superior to others. The British used the belief of Social Darwinism and nationalism to justify

imperialism. The British pushed their own agenda during the First World War, and became blind
to the effect it had on their colonized peoples. The colonized peoples of India became vital to the

success of the British army, but were not treated respectfully by their colonizers. Both documents

demonstrate how the Indian troops became involved in the British conflict, and were vital to the

success of Great Britain, though they received unfair treatment.

During the Great War, the British had become very racist and enabled discrimination

against their Indian troops. In Source 6, the veteran of th Indian regiment in the British army says

that, “We were given worthless lands in some of the most remote parts of the island without even

a five-pound bill to assist us in making a shabby shelter.” This quote shows how poorly the

British treated their Indian troops after the First World War. The Indian troops were pulled into

the British conflict, and were not given much compensation. They treated them terribly and did

not honor their sacrifice because they were not British. They discriminated against the Indians

after the war, though they were vital to British success. In Source 4, the Indian soldier says that

he had to, “Go three nights without sleep, as I was on a truck, and the Europeans on the truck did

not like to sleep next to me because I am India. I am sorry the hatred between Europeans and

Indians is increasing instead of decreasing.” This quote exhibits how the Indian troops were

forced to suffer because of the prejudice the British soldiers had put on them. The soldier also

states that the war has caused tensions between the British and Indians to rise. This shows how

poorly the Indians were treated by their colonizers during the Great War, even though it was vital

they work together to win the war. The First World War led to discrimination against the Indians

to increase by the British, though the Indans were fighting for the British cause.

Though the British treated their Indian troops poorly, the French respected their

colonized troops from Africa. In Document 3, the picture shows French and African troops
sitting together with the caption, “Our black troops in the Great War say ...we came to kill

savages, the German ones!” This shows how the French accepted their colonized peoples and

treated them fairly as troops in the First World War. The First World War fostered a positive

relationship between the French and their colonized peoples, unlike the British. In Document 7,

the African veteran says that, “I demonstrated my dignity and courage, and I won the respect of

my people and the French colonial government.” This document shows how the African troops

were treated fairly with respect by the French. The Great War improved the relationship between

the French and Africans, which wouldn’t have been possible without the war. The Africans

gained the respect of the French during the First World War, which differed from the relationship

the British had with the Indians.

In conclusion, the First World War heavily affected relationships between the Europeans

and their colonized peoples, specifically, the way they treated them.