AIM: HOW DID DECOLONIZATION AFFECT AFRICA? JOURNAL ENTRY Write a paragraph explaining when you think it is appropriate for a nation to revolt against an imperial ruler. Explain when and if you believe that it is ever appropriate to undertake military resistance as opposed to non-violent resistance.
African colonies experienced DECOLONIZATION & gained INDEPENDENCE. A. 1950s & 1960s. African colonies experienced DECOLONIZATION & gained INDEPENDENCE. B. 1957: The first sub-Saharan African colony to gain its independence was GHANA.
C. 1947-GHANA: 1.Kwame Nkrumah used Gandhi’s non-violent strategy of boycotts & strikes to pressure Britain to grant independence. 2. Nkrumah supported PAN-AFRICANISM (unity among Africans) & hoped to create a “UNITED STATES OF AFRICA”.
3. 1957:Great Britain granted Gold Coast independence and the nation was renamed GHANA. 4.KWAME NKRUMAH elected president-for-life & began a series of road, education, health programs. 5. 1966: Nkrumah was overthrown & Ghana struggled between military & civilian rule until elections were finally held in 2000.
D. Not all African independence movements ended with democracy or without bloodshed. 1. After gaining independence, NIGERIA erupted in an ethnic civil war. 2. In CONGO, a series of civil wars weakened the newly-formed nation. 3. Ethnic divisions weakened KENYA’S government & led to violence & rule by dictators .
E. SOUTH AFRICA 1. Demands for independence in South Africa were led by white colonists. 2, When South Africa gained independence in 1931, WHITE AFRIKANERS gained power & create a policy of APARTHEID. 3. APARTHEID LAWS created strict RACIAL SEGREGATION between blacks & whites.
4. Black South Africans protested APARTHEID & often VIOLENT RIOTS broke out.
5. NELSON MANDELA: member of the AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS he was a leader of both peaceful protests and armed resistance against APARTHEID in South Africa. 6. 1964: Mandela was ARRESTED & given a LIFE SENTENCE for opposing apartheid. laws.
7. 1990: new South African President F. W 7. 1990: new South African President F. W. DE CLERK RELEASED MANDELA FROM PRISON. 8. South African parliament repealed all apartheid laws & announced the FIRST MULTIRACIAL ELECTION in 1994. 9. Nelson Mandela won the election & became SOUTH AFRICA’S FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT. 10. South Africans adopted a new CONSTITUTION with a BILL OF RIGHTS that guaranteed equal rights for all citizens.