Africa and Asia in the Era of Independence

By: Rachel HicksAfrica and Asia in the Era of Independence

AFRICATheme 1Independences were mostly won by Nationalists Movements that involved some sort of mass mobilization Increased population growththe government wouldnt control the population or urban growthSome Effects: Rural landlessness, environmental deterioration, food shortages, lack of employment, lack of birth control use, high death mortality rates, not enough resources to take care of the high demand, slumsFood Shortages and Faminenot enough resources to take care of the high demandWorst cases: Ethiopia and Somalia

More effects of Theme 1:

Disease-HIV/AIDSHas caused millions of deathsMost who are affected by the disease have been too poor to afford the medicines to help treat the virusesTribesThere are so many ethnic groups that its hard to govern them and they have internal conflicts (most wars are between a states borders)

Theme 2Borders left behind by Europe led to a confusion of ethnicities, languages, cultural practices, and religions in each countryEgypt- Anwar Sadat (3rd Egyptian President) expelled Russian and opened Egypt to Western assisstance, and had 5-year plans based upon the Soviet UnionsTheme 3Nationalists leaders promised civil rights, jobs, and equality once got independenceGhana- NKwame Nkrumah tried to rule his way but nationalists retreated to a more authoritarian rule, he also made the price of cocoa fall which hurt the economyGoverned under military regimes (unlawful systems)Dictatorships:Egypt-Gaining power= Free Officers Movement allied with the Muslim Brotherhood (Hasan al-Banna tried to fix the poverty problems)

Theme 3 Egypt ContdGamal Abdul Nasser took power (1952) as part of the Free Officers movementused dictatorial powers to force radical, social, and economic reforms He redistributed land to peasants, provided free education, subsidized food prices, and created employmentlimited foreign investment and nationalized some foreign propertiesHe declared Egypt the owner of the Suez Canal

Theme 3South Africa (like Rhodesia/Zimbabwe)Under white minority rule1994-Nelson Mandela elected President, where he built a multiracial nation with equal opportunities for all citizens along with the National Congress Party

Theme 4EgyptState subsidies lowered prices of food staples and five-year plansAgricultureSouth AfricaWhites monopolized the economy

Theme 5Gender inequality (see Asia theme 5)South AfricaPracticed Apartheid (policy of racism) when under the white ruleWhites separated from all other groupsHomelands were created to designate an individual tribe to a land

ASIA(really the Middle East)Theme 1Had a high population growth due to food crops Used to have a high birth rates and low death rates but not starting to even outCities:Mass migration from villages to cities (few jobs=high competition)Had some of the largest cities in the worldSlums are the homes of urban dwellers (lack electricity, running water, sanitiation)Heavily dependent on food and resources from countrysidePractice deforestation for fuel and use the land for farming

Theme 2Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi encouraged Western styles (dress, education, etc.) and practiced the unveiling of women and the removal of Shana Law, but it wasnt favoredIndia- had a scientific sector, and developed communications systemTheme 3Iran/Iraq (most powerful dictatorships)Followers of Ayatollah KhomeiniIranian Revolution-made Iran an anti-western nation (emphasized religious purification and the rejoining of religion and politics central to early Islam)Saddam Hussein- Iraq dictatorTurned against own people Invaded oil-rich KuwaitGulf War- U.S. tried and pushed Hussein out of KuwaitIndiaLeaders favored socialism and state intervention for reforming their societyIndian National Congress were committed to social reform, economic development, and preservation of democracy and civil rightsHas remained one of the largest democraciesTheme 4Iran/IraqUsed oil wealth to industrialize and modernize

India :Private investment by farmersagriculture

Theme 5India:Had a larger middle class than any Asian or African nation but gained littleIndustrial and agrarian growth which generated revenues for promoting education, family planning, and other social measuresWomen (both Asia and Africa)Male dominated in political life (except Indira Gandhi)Lack of education helped lock in their secondary rolesForced into marriages at young ages and make large families so they didnt have opportunities to get education or a careerwomens civil and legal rights are ignored even though they are stated in that countries constitutionPoor medical care and food shortages usually lead to malnutrition in women