Did religion play a more significant role than race in independence movements?

The significance of religion and race in independence movements varies greatly depending on the specific historical context.

In some cases, religion played a more significant role than race in independence movements. For instance, the creation of Pakistan in 1947 was largely driven by religious differences between Hindus and Muslims in British India. The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, advocated for a separate nation for Muslims, leading to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. Similarly, the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) was significantly influenced by religious tensions between predominantly Catholic Ireland and Protestant Britain.

However, in other instances, race was a more significant factor. The American Civil War, which led to the abolition of slavery and can be seen as an independence movement of sorts, was fundamentally about race. The southern states' economy was heavily dependent on slavery, and the conflict was driven by racial tensions and disagreements over the rights of states to allow slavery. Similarly, in South Africa, the struggle against apartheid was primarily about race. The African National Congress, led by Nelson Mandela, fought against a system of institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination.

In many cases, both religion and race played significant roles. For instance, in the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), both race and religion were significant factors. The conflict was between the predominantly Muslim Algerians and the French colonial powers, and was driven by both racial and religious tensions.

In conclusion, the significance of religion and race in independence movements is not uniform and depends on the specific historical and cultural context. It is also important to note that these factors often intersect and interact in complex ways, and it can be difficult to disentangle their relative significance.