African Nationalism and Independence

1. Why were many Africans able to win independence after WWII?

• Atlantic Charter: supported “the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they will live” – US and Britain

• Negritude Movement: pride in African culture

• European powers were weakened after the war.

• The Cold War helped nationalists and condemned imperialism – US and Soviet Union

• European nations saw they must give up colonies - video

The Decline of the Colonial Powers

The Decline of the Colonial Powers

The Rise of the Superpowers

The Rise of the Superpowers

During the 1950s and 1960s, the history of most African countries was characterized by the achievement of political independence

Africa Produced Many Newly-Independent Nations

in a Very Short Time

Africa Produced Many Newly-Independent Nations

in a Very Short Time

And often found themselves caught in a battle between

the two superpowers

British Colonies Were Some of the First to Seek

Independence because

British Colonies Were Some of the First to Seek

Independence becauseBritain felt hypocritical about colonialism.War left her weak and unable to afford colonies.A New African educated middle class began to emerge in the cities.

2. What nation was 1st to gain Independence? When? What is the

significance?

• Ghana– Independence Song

• 1957• It occurred through peaceful means

– Slow transition • Centralization of power• raised the hopes because could lead to

more independent nations in Africa

African Interactive Map

3. Who was Kwame Nkrumah?

• Nationalist leader in Ghana– Educated abroad

• Strikes and boycotts to protest British rule

• 1st Prime Minister of Ghana

• Supported Pan-Africanism Kwame’s Song Independence Speech and Questions

4. Purpose Pan-Africanism

• Africa must be freed from colonial rule• Called for the unifying of all of Africa• Slogan “Africa for Africans”

Portrait of a Nation: Ghana

5. Who was Jomo Kenyatta?

• Nationalist leader in Kenya– Educated abroad

• He demanded political & economic reforms from British

• Massive uprisings: Mau Mau: African resistance army (Land and Freedom Army)

• 1964 became the first president of Kenya

African Interactive Map

Ethnic Groups MapKikuyu 22%: The Kikuyu homeland is around Mount Kenya. Land ownership is the most important social, political, religious, and economic factor. Kikuyu farmers produce most of the fresh produce that is consumed in Nairobi as well as coffee and tea for export.

Luhya 14%: The Luyha's traditional homeland is around Kakamega in western Kenya. The Luyha suffer from high population density which effects their farming economy as cultivation occurs on plots that get smaller with each generation. They are important producers of sugar-cane.

Luo 13%: The Luo live for the most part on the shores of Lake Victoria. They are fishermen and farmers. The Luo also played an important role during the independence struggle and many leading politicians have been Luo including Oginga Odinga, Tom Mboya, and Robert Ouko.

Kalenjin 12%: The Kalenjin have become politically powerful. They live primarily in the Rift Valley Although mainly pastoralists, the Kalenjin have taken up some agriculture and also produce honey. ,

Kamba 11%: The Kamba homeland, which is east of Nairobi towards Tsavo national park

Meru 6%: The Meru live mainly on the northeast side of Mount Kenya. They are farmers and also produce tea, coffee, pyrethrum, maize, potatoes and miraa, a stimulant popular with Muslims.

6. Identify Mau Mau

• Armed resistance groups in opposition of whites who refuse rights to blacks– Land and Freedom Army

• Attacked white settlers• Guerrilla warfare

– is a form of warfare – refers to conflicts by a small group of armed

civilians– Military tactics: ambushes, sabotage, raids,

surprise, and mobility

Kenyans Worry Election Will Bring Repeat Of Tribal Violence • NPR Report• Kenya's luxury housing boom

7. What nations experienced independence peacefully?

• Nigeria• Tanzania• Uganda • Zambia • Malawi

Tanzania

• Tanganyika region was placed under United Nations

• Independent movements sprung up around this time, including the Tanganyika Africa National Union (TANU), headed by Julius Nyerere.

• Support for TANU and the first elections were planned for Tanganyika.

• December 9, 1961, Tanganyika became an independent republic and became known from then on as Tanzania.

8. Who was Julius Nyerere? What did he support?

• 1st President of Tanzania– Educated abroad

• Socialism for self-reliance

• He argued one-party system could achieve democracy = reflected African tradition of consensus

African Interactive Map

Patrice Lumumba

General Joseph Mobutu

The Congo

Patrice Lumumba

Lumumba escaped but was captured by army forces. His captors later transferred him to Katanga, where he was assassinated on Jan. 17, 1961. Lumumba's death sparked worldwide demonstrations. The protesters said the West was meddling in Africa’s affairs. They believed that Western countries, especially Belgium and the United States, had sought Lumumba’s removal from power.

The Congo

General Joseph Mobutu

For more than 25 years, Mobutu had complete power. Until 1990, Zaire had only one political party, which supported Mobutu's policies. That year, Mobutu announced governmental reforms under which opposition parties were allowed to form. In 1991, a national conference was held to rewrite the Constitution

9. The Congo• 1960: Independence from Belgium 14 million

people – 200 separate groups• All had political and economic interest = civil war

= disaster• Sign that Africans can’t handle independence• Patrice Lumumba: 1st Prime minister; foreign

help turned to USSR; remove and murdered– Congo should control its own extensive mineral

wealth

• General Joseph Mobutu: military rule; Zaire; US support

Article African Interactive Map

Today the Congo IsExperiencing Punishing

War!

Today the Congo IsExperiencing Punishing

War!

Michael Kamber for The New York Times

About 5,000 people fleeing the ethnic warfare in and around Bunia, Congo, sought safety at a camp on Monday.

10. What were the goals of African Nationalist leaders?

• To create a sense of unity among diverse groups in order to win independence

• Self-government• Governments followed British

Parliamentary System• To create stability, develop economy,

education

Parliamentary System Presidential System

Legislative Branch Parliament elected by voters. The majority party in Parliament chooses the prime minister.

Congress elected by voters. Legislative and executive functions are separate.

Chief Executive(Government Head)

Prime minister who heads council of ministers, or "Cabinet"

President, elected by voters, nominates cabinet members.

Head of State Often a constitutional monarch. Legislatures often choose a ceremonial president, who acts as head of state.

President is head of state.

Elections Prime minister can call new elections.

Held at fixed intervals.

Political Parties Often a multiparty system. Government is formed by a ruling coalition of cooperating parties.

Usually a two-party system with third parties holding marginal power.

Examples Israel, Great Britain, and her former colonies, such as India.

The United States, Mexico, and Brazil.

Parliamentary vs. PresidentialParliamentary System

• Prime Minister is not directly elected

• No division of executive and legislative powers

• Separate Head of state and head of government

• Executive power (PM) is accountable to the legislature

• Stronger Party Discipline

Presidential System• President is directly

elected by the people• Division of legislative and

executive powers.• Is both head of state and

government• Is not accountable to the

legislature.• Weaker party discipline

(relative to parliamentary)

Other governments:

• One-party rule• Military rule

– General Joseph Mobutu: Congo renamed Zaire

• Autocratic rule– ruling with absolute authority– Many postcolonial African governments took

on this form of government

11. What are the goals of the Organization of African Unity?

• 1963: help guide African nations to end colonial rule and self-government

• Economic cooperation• Deal with regional problems • Work to settle disputes between countries

12. Explain the Colonial Legacy in Africa

• Anti-colonialism sentiment• Created African desire to modernize and

improve their standard of living• Colonial rulers did little to prepare Africans for

independence– Weakened traditional leaders/limited experience– Artificial boundaries: include rival ethnic group and

created minorities

• Colonial rulers made material improvements

African Interactive Map