African Independence Notes

When did African countries become independent?

• Between 1945 and 1990, more than 50 nations in Africa became independent.

• Different European nations gave up their colonies with different levels of struggle.

• Some just handed them over, others fought terrible wars before giving up.

What is African Nationalism?

• The struggle fought by Africans to gain control over their own nations from the European empires.

• Nationalism is devotion to your country.

• The African part just makes it about Africa.

What was the Pan-African Movement?

• It was a group that wanted to help all people of African decent all around the world.

• Many of the people who led African nations to independence were members.

What effect did WWII have on imperialism in Africa?

• It made the European colonizers much weaker. They could not keep their colonies down.

• At the end of WWII, there were only a few independent African countries: Ethiopia, Liberia, Egypt (kind of), and South Africa (under racist white rule).

• Also, many Africans had helped in the war and wanted their reward: freedom.

How did Europeans try to hang on to their empires?

• Sometimes through fighting.– France in Algeria– Britain in Kenya

• Trying to start governments in them friendly to the home country.– France in West Africa, became part of France– Britain in southern Africa, part of the

“Commonwealth”

When did most African nations become independent?

• The 1960s.

• In the year 1960 alone, 17 countries became independent.

What were some problems faced by independent African nations?

• Few roads, railroads, etc.

• Ethnic conflict

• Dependence on former colonizer.

• No business, just exporting of cash crops and mining products.

• Corrupt government, little rule of law.

• Some places are getting better today.

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