Africa after World War II

Imperialism Review

During the late 19th century, European countries scrabbled to colonize parts of Africa.

In 1884-1885 European leaders met at the Berlin Conference to discuss how to divide Africa

By 1905, all of Africa was claimed except for Liberia & Ethiopia

Education of AfricansEducation of Africans

From the early 1900’s, Colonial powers had cultivated a small group of elite Africans who were sent to be educated in Western universities (US & Europe)Here they met others of

African descent.They later became the

leaders of independence movements in various African countries.

Nationalism in Africa

Sense of Nationalism grew among these educated AfricansBegan to dream of independence.Believed they could govern themselvesPan-AfricanismPan-Africanism

The idea that people of African descent should work together for their freedom

Stressed unity and cooperation among all Africans

World War I & the Pan-African Congress First Pan-African Conference was held July 23-25, 1900 I n

England. 37 delegates attended with 10 other participants &

observers from Africa, the West Indies, the UK, and the US

Wanted to stop racism & govern their own countries

W.E.B. DuBois (of the US) played a leading role by drafting a letter to European leaders appealing to them to stop racism and grant colonies self-government and demanding political rights to African-Americans.

Throughout both World War I and World War II, Europeans maintained control of their African colonies which provided resources and men for these conflicts

World War I African men fought for Allies, thousands died

Ex-soldiers wanted self-rule (independence)

1919: 1st Pan-African Congress Meeting to address issues facing Africa as a

result of European colonization Seen as a peace maker for decolonization in Africa There were six more meetings: 1921, 1923, 1927,

1945, 1974, 1994

World War II Atlantic Charter (1941) – Created at a

meeting between FDR & Churchill in 1941 that set out the goals of the post-war world. FDR included a provision that would give

autonomy (independence) to the imperial colonies.

Churchill misrepresented the intention of this provision & led Parliament to believe it only applied to German colonies. After the war, Europeans still saw themselves as “protectors” of colonial peoples.”

Africa plays huge role to help Allies The war increased industrialization &

urbanization in Africa Supply Allies with natural resources

& men African soldiers fought and died to free

Europe Once freedom (in Europe) was gained

and the war was over, African countries had their OWNOWN freedom in mind

After the War European powers were weakened by

World War II After the war, Africans believed they

deserved freedom (independence from Europe)

In 1945 , the 5th Pan-African Congress was held in Manchester England Considered the most important

of the 5 Congresses A number of resolutions were

passed such as the criminalization of racial discrimination and a resolution that condemned imperialism and capitalism.

90 delegates were sent, 26 from Africa Scholars, intellectuals & political

activists W.E.B. DuBois attended at age 77

Several of those who attended became future political leaders in Africa:

Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya)

Challenges of Independence Between 1951 & 1980 – most African colonies gained their

freedom. But the decolonization of Africa resulted in violent, inefficient

& corrupt socialist dictatorships or right-wing family dictatorships which held little regard to international rule of law and human rights.

The Challenges of Independence African leaders spent years fighting towards freedom, but had NONO

experience governing (Europeans wouldn’t let them govern) The result of this inexperience was that the new governments

were unstable Civil Wars (fighting within a country)

Rebel forces using children in their military & selling diamonds to buy weapons

Riots (mob violence) Genocide (systematic killing of a whole group of

people) (15) In some countries, military took control by force (Coup d’etat)

These governments not always fair, people had very few rights, and were jailed if protested

Most African countries are less then 50 years old (USA 237 yrs. old)