Independence in Africa

The Big Ideas

The Quest for National Self-Determination is Universal

Although most African Nations won Independence from Colonial Rulers after

WWII, many fell Victim to Military Regimes and one party states.

The Transition to Independence

• Colonial Rule over Africa by 1900• After WWII, most European Nations end Colonial Rule• Most countries were freed, but some white rulers held

on• 17 new nations by 1960; Mostly British Colonies• 11 more by 1965; Mostly British Colonies• France freed Morocco and Tunisia; kept Algeria- 1 million

French settlers lived there; Algerian nationals rebel• De Gaulle frees Algeria in 1962

• Portugal held on to colonies, led to guerilla warfare• Mozambique and Angola became free in 1970s.

Kwame Nkrumah• Gold Coast, 1st colony

freed• Renamed Ghana• Leader of new

country• African Socialism• Ownership of wealth

into hands of the people

South Africa• Afrikaners- Descendants

of Dutch settlers, 1600-1700• Ruling White Class• Repressive• Apartheid: Apartness• Segregation• African National

Congress (ANC) 1912 Against repression• Tried reform, little

success

South Africa- Apartheid• Blacks demonstrated

against Apartheid• 1960, protest in

Sharpeville- 69 killed• Many shot in back• 1962- ANC leader,

Nelson Mandela arrested (27 years)• Leads to more armed

resistance

Why might it be harder to establish a stable government than to achieve independence?• Easier to tear down the old than to build

up the new• Changing the culture/ legacy of

imperialism can be difficult

Obstacles of the New Nations

•Main Idea- The newly independent African states faced significant political, economic and health challenges.• For many, dream of good society still unrealized• New African Leaders come to power• Most come from urban middle class• Studied in Europe or U.S.- Western ideals

New Leaders• Jomo Kenyatta- Kenya• Educated in Britain• Formed Kenya African

National Union• Imprisoned for

supporting Mau Mau Movement• Led country to freedom-

1963• President from 64-78• Western style capitalism

Pan-Africanism• Unity of all Black Africans-

regardless of national boundaries

• Nkrumah supported along with Leopold Senghor of Senegal, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Jomo Kenyatta.

• Never became reality• Organization of African

Unity (OAU) founded in 1963• 2002, African Union 53

nation groups

The Obstacles of Africa• Economic Problems• Over reliance on raw export/materials• Price fluctuation- World market• Poor balance of trade- importing technology• Foreign debt- Debt crisis• Scarce money spent on military• Corruption and Bribery• Population explosion cripples economy; 3% by 1980• Drought; extended and expansive• Leads to malnourishment and starvation• Political unrest and civil war• Massive Poverty

Economic Problems cont.• Poverty bad in rural

areas- 75%• Migration to cities• Shantytowns• Overwhelms city

services• Massive Wealth Gap• Wabenzi- Mercedes

Benz people

The AIDS Epidemic in Africa

Health Problems-AIDS• Epidemic in Africa• 8% of Africans• 25 million of 38

million in world in Africa• 12 million children

plus lose both parents to AIDS• Become orphans

• Due to lack of funding, unable to stop epidemic• No drugs, no

education• Uganda has made

strides in promoting health and sex ed.• Lowered new

infection rates

Political Challenges • “One Person, One

Vote.” Nope…• Military Regimes and

one party states• Cold War plays out

here too• Marxist Ethiopia,

supported by Soviets• U.S. puts military

base in Somalia

Political Challenges; Ethnic• Ethnic fighting• Western Imperialism

and arbitrary lines drawn• Conflict in Nigeria

1960s• Ibo people killed by

northerners- migrate to home region

• Lt. Colonel Odumegu Ojukwu leads the Ibo, declares free nation of Biafra• 2 ½ years later,

bloody civil war, Nigeria reunited

Political/Ethnic Conflicts cont.• Central Africa-Rwanda• Hutu and Tutsi tribes• In 1994, Civil War,

500,000 Killed, mostly Tutsis• Tutsi gain power, Hutu

flee to DR of Congo• Civil War in Congo; 3.5

million people die, hunger and disease

The Darfur Region• In Sudan• Arab Militants-

“Reign of Terror”• Genocide of African

Tribal Groups• 450,000? Estimates• U.N. Millions need

assistance, millions have fled

New Hope• In the 90s, many

dictatorships fall• Desmond Tutu- worked to

free Mandela• Won a Nobel Peace prize in

1984• Leader of Non-violent

movement against Apartheid

• Apartheid ends in South Africa, 1994 due to Worldwide pressure and work of Tutu

• Mandela is freed 1990• F.W. de Klerk holds free

elections in 93• Mandela elected president

in 94• In Uganda, Idi Aman is

overthrown• Repressive dictator• Ethiopia, Liberia and

Somalia; fall of dictators• Civil wars do follow for

many of these countries

Society and Culture• Tension between old

world and new• African heritage vs.

Western ideology • Industrialization

changes the continent• Unlike the West,

changes forced on Africa• Cities more west;

Countryside, more traditional

Society and Culture cont.• Women’s roles• Independence

changed women’s lives• Vote or hold office• Some jobs, but not

access to many jobs like men• Arranged marriage in

the rural areas

African Culture• For artists; challenge

to find balance of new and old• Countries instruct

artists to depict scenes of traditional African life• Tourism/ lucrative

African Art• Cultural tensions

reflected in literature• Write about struggle

of roots vs new environment• Chinua Achebe;

Nigerian Novelist• “Things Fall Apart”• Traditional vs.

Western values

What dilemmas face Society and Culture in Modern Africa?• Constant tensions between traditional and

western culture• People in cities follow western ways• People in rural areas follow more traditional

ways-African Heritage• Artists face dilemma of balance between

western techniques, training and rich heritage of African art form

Conflict in the Middle EastBig Idea: Nationalism, fueled by religious passion, has led to recurring violence and

continuing efforts at international mediation

Conflict in the Middle East

•Main Idea: The creation of Israel as a Jewish State in Palestine led to decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs• New Nations emerge after WWII• Syria, Lebanon and Jordan gain

independence• All Muslim except for one….• Israel!!

Israel and Palestine• May 14, 1948, David

Ben Gurion- 1st PM proclaims state of Israel• Leads to conflict• Jews and Muslims • Zionism• Huge #’s of Jews flee

here in 20s and 30s• UN resolution; Divides

Jewish state and Palestinian state• Issues Today?

Nasser and Pan-Arabism• Colonel Abdul Gamal

Nasser- 50s • July 26, 1956 seizure of

Suez Canal• Britain, France and

Israel vs. Egypt, US and Soviets???• Nasser is hero to Egypt• Pan-Arabism- Arab

Unity

Pan- Arabism and UAR• Feb 1958- Egypt and Syria

unite- United Arab Republic- UAR

• Nasser 1st President of UAR• Hopes to unite all Arab

states• Other leaders suspicious• Oil rich nations going to

share with poor nations? • 61, Syria overthrown, UAR

falls • Nasser continues work on

Arab Unity

The Arab-Israeli Dispute• In 50s and 60s,

dispute escalates• 67, Nasser blockades

Israel• Six-day war• Israel dominates,

takes more territory from Palestinians and beats other Arab nations

The Arab-Israeli Dispute cont.• Nasser dies in 1970• Anwar el-Sadat

succeeds him• Attacks Israel in 73• UN ceasefire in 74• In 79, Sadat, Pres.

Carter and PM Begin sign Camp David Accords- Peace• Many Arab nations

refuse to recognize Israel

OPEC• Organization of

Petroleum Exporting Countries- 1960• Control price of Oil• Set world price• 1973, OPEC raises

prices, cuts production- oil shortages in the West• Massive world power

Yasser Arafat and the PLO• 1964- Palestine Liberation

Organization• Yasser Arafat leader, also

leader of al- Fatah, launches terrorist attacks on Israel • In 80s, Palestinians start Intifada, “uprising”• In 93, Israel and PLO

reach agreement• Terrorism is rampant in

Israel today

Turmoil in Iran and IraqIn 1979, an Iranian Revolution set up an Islamic republic headed by the Ayatollah Ruhollah

Khomeni, while in Iraq, the dictator Saddam Hussein tried to strengthen his role in the Middle East.

Turmoil in Iran and Iraq• Shah Mohammed Reza

Pahlavi- U.S. chief ally in Mid East

• Many Iranians did not approve of Shah, to west influence

• Flees country and Khomeini takes over

• Islamic Republic established

• In 1979- Iran Hostage situation, 52 hostages takes, 442 days

• Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq since 1979

• In 1980, Saddam launches brutal war on Iran

• Uses children to clear minefields and poison gas on civilians

• Battle over Strait of Hormuz

• War drags on, issues never resolved

• Cease fire in 1988• Khomeini dies in 89

And now….• 15-2 on Guided Reading and Section Assessment 2, questions

4 and 5. • Tomorrow…

Section 3: Terrorism

Modern Terrorism• Big Idea- Terrorists kill

civilians, take hostages, and hijack planes to advance their goals.Do not organize or negotiate • Strong beliefs; enough

to die for their cause• Their goals can vary• IRA- unite Northern

Ireland

Modern Terrorism cont.• State Sponsored

Terrorism- work for one nation to undermine the government of another• Iraq, Iran, Syria,

North Korea• Many causes of

terrorism

• Modern vs. Traditional Islamic cultures• Extremists stir up

resentment against the wealthy by those who live in poverty• Israeli-Palestine

conflict- if it was solved, might create peace

Why target the U.S.?• Since WWII, a majority of

terrorist attacks carried out by Middle Eastern groups against Western countries

• Several reasons; U.S. role in enriching wealthy families involved in oil

• Western ideologies and culture spreading in the Middle East- Fundamentalist Islamic backlash

• Political and Financial support of Israel

Modern Terrorism cont.• Conservative Islamic society in Iran

1979• Changes women’s roles- going

backwards• After WWII, King of Afghanistan

seeks support from Soviets• 1978, Soviet friendly leaders in

power. 1979, Soviets invade, install Babrak Karmal as PM.

• U.S. supports rebels, Islamic Afghans • Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda

contributes to rebels• In 1996, Taliban takes control of

Afghanistan and buildup al-Qaeda• Bin Laden wants to drive Westerners

out Islamic countries and in 1998, calls on followers to kill Americans

The Attack of 9/11• Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of

people killed• Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda

linked to attack• U.S. and allies attack

Afghanistan, Taliban in October 2001

• Government toppled by Christmas

• New Leader, Hamid Karzai, many challenges ahead

• Patriot Act passed and Department of Homeland Security formed- Anti-terrorism

The Iraq Factor• The Big Idea: In

March 2003, a U.S.-led coalition attacked Iraq, believing that it possessed weapons of mass destruction; when none were found, many questioned the decision to begin the war

• January 2002, Pres. Bush makes “Axis of Evil” speech- Iraq, Iran and North Korea

• Iraq is immediate threat- WMDs

• Bush seeks support from Congress and the world in 2002, to justify the war.

• UN sends weapons inspectors, but the U.S. readied for war.

• March 2003, U.S. led coalition attacks Iraq.

The Iraq Factor• May 1, 2003, Bush declares

victory• In 2004, no WMDs found;

Intelligence was flawed• Many Iraqis happy Hussein is out

of power, but unhappy with U.S. and coalition presence in Iraq.

• Insurgent, terrorist attacks increase

• Very costly; rebuilding Iraq and in lives

• June 28, 2004, power officially transferred to Iyad Allawi- interim prime minister

• Large challenge ahead

Class Discussion- Soc. Seminar

• Discuss the topic questions with the class• Express your views, use evidence to support your

views, or ask clarifying questions in response to other students views• Keep answers to a minute in length• Be respectful of your fellow classmates• Everyone needs to actively participate• Have fun!

Topic Questions: Terrorism

• What comes to mind when you hear the word terrorism or terrorist?• What/How do you define someone as a terrorist?• What causes people to become terrorists?• Can you understand the viewpoints of a terrorist?• Does terrorism work? Do they achieve their goals? • Do other parts of the world consider the U.S. to

be a terrorist organization? Why?• Will the future get better or worse? Will there be

more acts of terrorism in the future?

Terrorism• What current events

or policies in the world might cause future terrorists to form?• How much of your

privacy are you willing to give up for security? Does this make you safer?