L8: Nationalism in Africa

AgendaObjective:To understand…1. The rise of

nationalism in Africa.

2. The similarities and differences in the nationalist stories of different African nations.

Schedule: 1. Lecture and

Discussion

Homework:Assessments

(Orange)Paragraph: Orange = Fri 1/30Yellow = Thurs 1/29Discussion:Orange = Mon 2/2Yellow = Fri 1/30

2.WWI Paper dueOrange = Fri 1/30Yellow = Mon 2/2

Africans in World War One• Over 2 million people

in Africa served in World War One

• Very few were in combat, most were used to carry heavy weapons and supplies

• Badly paid and given food which was either of poor quality or entirely foreign to them

• Hundreds of thousands killed

World War One Develops Nationalism

• WWI gave rise to a crucial change in the relationship between Europe and Africa.

• Like many of the other regions we have looked at, the unrecognized service and deepening exploitation of the war kindled a sense of nationalism in the region.

Two Strands of Nationalism in the 1920sColonial Reform

Movements•Rarely explicitly nationalist—tended to seek reform or a changed relationship with the colonial power, rather than an absolute break•Political organizations tended to overlap with pre-colonial political identities or ethnic identities •Example:

– Early African National Congress in South Africa

Pan-Africanism•Movement that encourages the solidarity of Africans world-wide•Believes that the fate of all African peoples and countries are intertwined •Pan-African Congress - a series of five meetings in 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1945 that were intended to address the issues facing Africa due to European colonization of much of the continent. •Key Leaders:

– Kwame Nkrumah (Kenya)– Marcus Garvey (Jamaican)– W.E.B. DuBois (American)

World War Two• African’s experience in the war,

cause them to reject any desire to reform the colonial system.

• Pushes virtually all African nationalist leaders to endorse independence

Nationalism in Ghana• Was a British Colony

Known as Gold Coast• Kwame Nkrumah

becomes prime Minister and renames the Gold Coast to Ghana.– The name linked the new

nation to it’s African past.• Nkrumah used non

violent protest such as boycotts and strikes to drive the British out.

• In 1957 Britain gave Ghana it’s independence.

• Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence in 1957.

Nationalism Spreads Out of Ghana

• In 1963 Nkrumah creates the Organization of African Unity (OAU)

• This organization promotes African unity and self-determination across Africa.

Nationalism in Kenya• British Colony• Push for independence

came after World War Two

• Leader for independence was Jomo Kenyatta.– Pan-Africanist

• Kenyatta was jailed in 1952 by the British for "managing and being a member" of the Mau Mau Society (violent organization).

• In 1963 Kenya gained it’s independence and Kenyatta was freed and became Prime Minister.

Nationalism in Algeria• French colony with one

million European settlers.• In the 1950s a strong

Muslim-based nationalist movement began.– Grew out of dissatisfaction

among the Muslim population which lacked political and economic status in the colonial system

• Algerian War– 1954-1962– Violent war for independence – France was dragged into a long,

drawn out conflict that lacked public support at home

• 1962 Algeria becomes a free and independent nation

Nationalism in Nigeria• British Colony• More than 200 ethnic groups lived

within Nigeria– Function of the Berlin Conference

• By 1940, Nigerians started campaigning for freedom by forming political parties.

• Following World War II, in response to the growth of Nigerian nationalism and demands for independence, successive constitutions legislated by the British government moved Nigeria toward self-government on a representative and increasingly federal basis

• 1957, Nigerians were allowed to elect their Prime Minister – the first head of the government.

• Between 1967-1970, Civil War broke out

• 1970-1999 series of military coups• 1999: Democracy resumes in Nigeria

Nationalism in South Africa• Contested possession of

both the British and the Dutch– First (1880-1881) and

Second Boer Wars (1899-1902)

• Sizeable colonial white population of both Dutch and British backgrounds.

• Whites developed a system where they held power while native blacks were systematically denied it.– For example, Natives’

Land Act of 1913 severely restricted the ownership of land by blacks

South Africa Gets Independence

• In 1931, South Africa became fully sovereign from the United Kingdom– This independence

movement was a DUTCH ETHNIC led movement for the needs of DUTCH people in South Africa (against the British)

• In 1948, the National Party was elected to power– It strengthened the racial

segregation begun under Dutch and British colonial rule.

• In 1961, the country became a republic completely free from the United Kingdom

Apartheid South Africa• The Nationalist Government classified all peoples into

four races and developed rights and limitations for each.– Whites:

• Less than 20% of the population• Enjoyed the highest standard living in all of Africa, comparable

to First World Western Nations– Blacks:

• Faired MUCH worse than whites on every measure: income, education, housing, and life expectancy

– Coloured– Indian

• Apartheid– System of racial segregation enforced through legislation– 1948-1994– 3.5 million non-white South Africans were removed from

their homes and forced into segregated neighborhoods in one of the largest mass removals in modern history

– Non-white political representation was abolished in 1970 and black people were denied their citizenship

The African National Congress

• Founded in 1912• Made up largely of African

“middle class”—teachers, lawyers, journalists, etc.

• Before 1948, the ANC was quite conservative—aimed at preserving what they saw as British political structures—and engaged largely in lobbying or petitioning as a means of action

• With the institution of Apartheid, things changed

African National Congress

• The ANC used boycotts and nonviolent protest against the policies of South Africa.

• The ANC tried to use legal means to bring about change, without success.

Nelson Mandela• Mandela became one of the

leaders of the ANC.• In 1960 during a peaceful

protest and the protestors were fired on and 60 were killed. This was known as the Sharpeville Massacres.

• Mandela then formed the “Spear of the Nation” movement. A violent movement against the South African government

• The movement an underground military group that campaigned against apartheid.

Nelson Mandela

• In 1964 Mandela was sentenced to life in prison when the ANC was banned and it’s leaders imprisoned.

• Mandela became a symbol of freedom.

• In 1990 Mandela was finally released from prison

• In 1994 Mandela was elected President of South Africa.

Movements to End Apartheid• Another leader who played a

role in ending apartheid in South Africa were Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

• Tutu along with other leaders were able to convince foreign nations to limit trade with South Africa.

• The United Nations placed an arms embargo on South Africa.

• The Olympic Committee banned athletes from participation

• International businesses left South Africa

• Musicians refused to play in Sun City and did benefit concerts for blacks in South Africa.

The End of Apartheid

• The nonviolent protest began to have an effect on the economy of South Africa.

• In 1989 F.W. de Klerk was elected President of South Africa and determined that reform was long past due.

• de Klerk – legalized the ANC– Released Mandela– Created a new constitution ending segregation

laws– Opened up free elections in 1994

South Africa post-Apartheid

• In 1993 both Mandela and de Klerk won the Nobel Peace Prize.

• In 1994 Mandela was elected President while de Klerk was elected Deputy.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like body assembled in South Africa after the end of apartheid.

• Anybody who felt they had been a victim of violence could come forward and be heard

• Those who committed violence could also give testimony and request amnesty (freedom) from prosecution.

• The TRC was a crucial component of the transition to full and free democracy in South Africa was generally regarded as very successful.