1. African Decolonization

2. Impacts of Imperialism - Africa
Traditional societies change
Communities to cities
Communities to tribes
Changing religion
Women’ role changes

3. Impacts of Imperialism - Africa
Introduction of private property rights
African farmers were pushed on to marginal lands
Economies all oriented to exporting raw materials (“primary produce”) and generating revenue for colonial power

4. What is Africa's political and economic status today?
When colonialism fell in the last half of the 20th century, conflict followed.
The boundaries of the colonies were artificial and did not reflect cultural identities.
For over two hundred years, Africans were not allowed to develop their own economic infrastructure or develop governments.
Consequently, when the colonies obtained freedom, military dictators often ruled. Killing wars, poverty, and disease followed.
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5. The Case of South Africa
South Africa – Granted Freedom in 1910
Power granted completely to white minority (20%)
2 white groups
“Africaner” – Dutch (said they were white Africans)
British Decedents
2 groups fought with each other but both saw blacks as a threat
Both white groups were there for much longer and entrenched more in Africa which helps explain why African rule was delayed till 1994
Black South Africans were fighting local rulers

6. Apartheid
Official policy which attempted to separate blacks from whites in every way while still retaining Africans’ labor power in the white controlled economy.
The key to this was control without loosing the labor force

7. African National Congress
Led by male middle-class professional Africans (1912)
Not to overthrow but to be seen as “civilized men” within the government
Women not given full membership
Used peaceful protest methods
Became obvious that these methods did not work when the Africaner led party came to power on the platform of apartheid

8. Nelson Mandela 1950’s changed the ANC tactics
Civil disobedience – boycotts, strikes and burning of personal passes that Africans were forced to carry
Similar to Gandhi's methods
ANC banned by government
Mandela was imprisoned in 1960 (released in 1990)

9. End of Apartheid and White Rule
Underground armed struggle –
Mass hatred of forced Africaner languages taught to Africans in schools and not English caused an uprising
General strikes of 2 million workers
External pressure from the international community
Could not compete in Olympics
Artists refused to perform there
Refusal of outsiders to invest there

10. End of Apartheid and White Rule
By mid 1980’s whites start negotiations
Mandela released
Free elections in 1994 – ANC comes to power
Power is shifted without mass bloodshed