Chapter 19 : Nationalism in Asia, Africa, and Latin America After World War I, nationalist groups arose in Asia and Africa to challenge continued European rule. Turks formed the Republic of Turkey. Persians gave their country a new name: Iran. In North Africa, Egypt gained its independence, but Great Britain continued to control the Suez Canal, Palestine, and colonies in Africa. The British refused to grant India its independence, so Mohandas K. Gandhi and others led nonviolent protests against British rule. In China the nationalist army of Chiang Kai-shek vied for power with Communist forces. The military leaders of Japan believed they could solve the problems of a growing population and limited resources by conquering new territories, including China. Latin American countries resented their economic dependence on the United States and its periodic military intervention when American interests were threatened.