Main Idea: The European colonies in Southeast Asia became
independent countries in the postwar period.
A.
US & the Philippines
1.
Gain independence
1946
2.
US military
presence causes conflict: strategic base locations vs. proof of US
imperialism—gave up bases in 1991
3.
Ferdinand Marcos
imposes authoritarian rule and is eventually forced out of office & into
exile
a
Recovered $475 million of country’s money he had stolen
B.
British Colonies
1.
Burma leaves British Commonwealth –renamed Myanmar
a
Aung San Suu Kyi—pro-democracy, 1990 won election but put
under house arrest by Communists until 1995; won Nobel Peace Prize
2.
Malaysia & Singapore: split
a
City-state of Singapore: economically prospers
C.
Indonesia
1.
Japanese occupation
destroys old colonial order
2.
Dutch attempt to
regain control, grant independence 1949
3.
1965-7 Suharto
seizes power & imposes martial law