1. African Independence Movements

3. Review of Important Terms
imperialism – a policy in which a stronger nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, economically, or socially
colony – land controlled by a distant nation
colonization – the establishment of colonies

4. Decolonization vs. Independence
What is decolonization?
What is an independence movement?
Who’s point of view (perspective) is acknowledged for each term?
Decolonization -
Independence Mov’t -

5. Reasons for Independence
After WWII it was no longer profitable for Europeans – too expensive to maintain
Nationalism worldwide & the fight to gain self-determination (ex. India was successful in 1947)
Great Depression - damaged world economy
Europeans had less money to maintain colony
Economic crisis in the colonies

6. Public opinion changed after WWII Major African movements
World War II
Europeans had to focus on rebuilding
Colonies fought for other countries’ freedom from aggression & were defending freedom  Africans demanding their own freedom
Public opinion changed after WWII
United Nations & “Declaration of Human Rights”
Major African movements
Harlem Renaissance
Negritude Movement
Pan-Africanism

7. Pan-Africanism
An ideology & movement that encourages the solidarity (unity) of African’s worldwide
Believes unity is vital to economic, social & political progress for the group
Aim is to “unify & uplift” people of African descent
Powerful idea in the mid-1900s that inspired leaders of African Independence Movements

8. Pan-Africanism
"Kenyatta explained the flag. 'Black is for black people. Red shows [that] the blood of an African is the same colour as the blood of a European, and green shows [that] when we were given this country by God it was green, fertile, and good.' What he must mean [is] that our lands could only be regained by the blood (red) of the African (black)." Kwari Njama

9. Examples of African Independence:
Gold Coast  Ghana (1957)
Belgian Congo  Zaire  Congo  Democratic Republic of Congo (1960)
Nigeria (1960)
Algeria (1962)
Kenya (1963)
Angola (1975)

10. Ghana

11. Gold Coast Colony  Ghana
Colony of: British
Date of Independence: 1957
Leader: Kwame Nkrumah

12. Ghana 1st Independent nation of Sub-Sahara
Name of Ghana chosen to reflect the ancient West African Empire of Ghana
Achieved independence through non-violence
Used strikes & boycotts
Nkrumah studied in the U.S. & Britain
Nkrumah focused on Pan-Africanism

13. Expanded projects for roads, schools, & health care
these projects later crippled the economy
1966 while Nkrumah was visiting China, the military took over (coup d'état)
Country has shifted between military & civilian rule
Became a constitutional democracy in 1992

14. Currently having difficulties dealing with a large number of refugees from neighboring nations that are in conflict
Ghana lacks a well-developed financial infrastructure which leads to money laundering and other problems
They are currently disputing their maritime borders

15. Kenya

16. Kenya Colony of: British Date of Independence: 1963
Leader: Jomo Kenyatta

17. Kenya
Mau Mau (displaced farmers) wanted to frighten white settlers out of their area
Mau Mau Rebellion – resistance to British control
Similar to what other rebellions seeking the end to foreign control?

18. Kenyatta educated in London & focused on uniting ethnic groups
After Kenyatta, one-party rule , increasingly less democratic
Suffered from political corruption & ethnic conflicts
Technically Kenya is a republic
Disputed elections (charges of vote rigging) in December 2007 caused two months of ethnic violence in which 1,500 died & still many people are displaced

19. Currently having difficulties dealing with a large number of refugees from neighboring nations that are in conflict
The United Nations has cited Kenya with human rights violations for human trafficking and the use of child soldiers

20. What are some of the current problems in Africa today?
Consider what you have learned from:
the information provided on the chart
the information from the PowerPoint
personal knowledge of current conditions

21. So, WHY the Current Problems?
The struggles that the nations of Africa now face are directly related to the legacy of European control

22. Legacy of European Colonialism
Freedom for African nations is NEW!
only free for 60 years or less
The African continent has experienced over 5 centuries of colonialism
Portuguese in 1450
European imperialism / colonialism did not prepare their colonies for independence

23. Recall: Scramble for Africa – Why? Berlin Conference 1884-1885
Creation of artificial boundaries
Borders divided people of similar culture
Put different (even enemy) groups together
No sense of nationalism (no shared culture or history  no national identity)
After independence conflicts increase

24. Country vs. Ethnic Borders

25. Social Legacy of Colonialism
European rule disrupted African family & community life
Moved Africans from their villages to work in mines or on plantations
Lack of education for the people
The small amount of education that was provided was based on European way of life
It is difficult to build a new nation with large parts of the population being illiterate

26. Economic Legacy of Colonialism
The entire purpose of colonies was to provide wealth for the mother country -- mercantilism
Forced colonies to grow cash crops
Ex: Ghana’s cocoa (like India’s cotton)
Unable to produce crops necessary for survival
Developed plantations & mines but no factories
Manufactured goods were imported from Europe, making African nations dependent on European manufactured goods
New African nations had unequal trade & unbalanced economies  struggles for stability

27. Political Legacy of Colonialism
African countries as Cold War proxies
$1.5 billion worth in weapons from U.S.
Why?
African nations did not have a history of democracy
under colonial rule for so long
Struggles for who will control once the European governments left
ethnic & cultural rivalries for control
in many nations, military dictators quickly came to power because they promised stability

28. Identify and explain one enduring issue from this lesson.