SEAO.4

__**Indonesia**__ The Dutch colonized Indonesia in the 17th century It was occupied by Japan from 1942-1945 After WWII, with UN mediation, the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony and Indonesia claimed its independence. Click here for a timeline on Indonesia


 * __Malaysia__**
 * During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia
 * these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945.
 * In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaysia
 * became independent in 1957.

Click here for a timeline of Malaysia

The islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century They were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence.
 * __The Philippine Islands__**

[|Philippine Declaration of Independence]

Click here for a timeline on the Philippines

Click here for a timeline on Thailand
 * __Thailand__**
 * The only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power.

Click here for a timeline of Cambodia For more, see [|Cambodian History] from Mt. Holyoke College
 * __Cambodia__**
 * was placed under French protection in 1863
 * It became part of French Indochina in 1887.
 * Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953.


 * __Vietnam__**

The conquest of the country by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. Click here for the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence Click here for a timeline of Vietnam
 * It became part of French Indochina in 1887.
 * [|Vietnam declared independence]after World War II on September 2, 1945
 * France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by nationalist forces under Ho Chi Minh.

[|Multiple Perspectives on the U.S. War in Vietnam] contrasts the American and Vietnamese Declarations of Independence.

For more on the American war in Vietnam, see United States History II.20

Click here for a timeline of Laos
 * __Laos__**
 * came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century
 * it then became part of French Indochina.
 * The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand.

Click here for a timeline on Australia
 * __Australia__ ** :
 * In 1770, when Capt. James Cook took possession in the name of Great Britain.
 * Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries
 * they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.

Click here for a timeline on New Zealand
 * __New Zealand__**
 * became an independent Dominion in 1907.
 * In a move reminiscent of the European swindle of North American Indians, the Maori people, a Polynesian group thought to have arrived on New Zealand ca. 800 A.D., signed a treaty with the British in 1840
 * which put them under Queen Victoria’s rule.
 * Colonists soon arrived, with the British wresting complete control away from the Maoris in wars in 1843 and 1872.

Click here for a timeline on Fiji
 * __Fiji__**:
 * in 200 years, Fiji has run the gamut of governmental systems.
 * After about 100 years of colonial rule, Fiji gained independence from Britain in 1970.
 * Fiji was a democracy until two military coups in 1987, instigated by people descended from immigrants from India.
 * A 1990 constitution gave the local Melanesians most of the power, and many people of Indian descent left the island.
 * A different, more eve-handed constitution was passed in 1997, but that was followed by another coup in 2000.
 * Elections in 2001 led to five more years of democratic rule
 * followed by another military takeover in 2006, the leader of which, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has declared himself to be prime minister.

Click here for a timeline on Micronesia
 * __Micronesia__**
 * is in a “compact of free association” with the United States
 * the US protects it, but Micronesians rule themselves.
 * This arrangement was started in 1986 after a constitution was drafted in 1979
 * the relationship was reaffirmed in 2004.



Click here for the Samoan Constitution Click here for a timeline on Samoa
 * __Samoa:__**
 * independence in 1962 from administration by New Zealand made this the first Polynesian nation to declare independence.
 * Formerly Western Samoa, this nation was first under German control until the start of WWI in 1917, when it was taken over by New Zealand.

__**Papua New Guinea:**__ Click here for primary sources relating to Papua new Guinea's independence Click here for a timeline of Papua New Guinea
 * Achieved independence from Australia in 1975.
 * The island was previously made up of a British protectorate and a German colony.
 * From 1945 to 1975 it became a colony of Australia following World War II.
 * It is now a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth
 * Actually lead by local parliament

Sources:
 * www.aneki.com
 * CIA factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html