1. African Independence
Africa present

2. Decolonization South Sudan
Why did mass decolonization occur after 1945?
WWII ended in 1945 and the war torn imperial powers were exhausted and weak from the war. They did not want to fight to hold on to their colonies.
How many new nations have been created since 1945 around the world?
Over 100, and the NEWEST nation is ….
South Sudan
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3. African decolonization
Since 1945 over 50 new nations out of Africa alone.

4. Challenges
The new nations all shared common goals: Independence, modernize and improve the quality of life
But there were big obstacles:
-lack of technology/ industry
-Drought
-Lack of Education
-Political instability
-Ethnic rivalries

5. Independence
Each nations’ road to independence was different, here are three examples:
-Ghana--1
-Kenya--2
-Algeria--3 3 1 2

6. Ghana British Colony- named Gold Coast
After WWII Britain agreed to give ALL African colonies GRADUAL independence over many years
The Gold Coast nationalists, led by Kwame Nkrumah, were not happy with “gradual”

7. Positive Action
Nkrumah was influenced by Pan-Africanists and Gandhi and adopted non violent resistance
He organized strikes and boycotts of British Goods
In 1957 Britain granted the Gold Coast independence
Nkrumah was elected President and renamed the Gold Coast- Ghana- after an ancient and powerful African Empire

8. Kenya
British controlled colony; British settlers displaced Africans and took their farm land
The displaced Africans were called Kikuyu
Two movements for independence:
-Jomo Kenyatta- non-violence
-Armed Guerrillas

9. Kenya
1952- Guerillas were armed with swords and began to burn British Farms and kill livestock
Soon escalated to attacking British settlers
Britain responded by bombing Kenyan Kikuyu strongholds and arresting Kenyatta
1963- Britain finally grants independence to Kenya
Kenyans elect Kenyatta to prime minister

10. Algeria French colony with over 1 million French settlers
Nationalist movement led by Algerian Muslims and the National Liberation Front (FLN)
Despite many peaceful requests for independence, France refused to allow the Muslim Algerians to take power

11. Algeria
The French were upset over losing Vietnam, didn’t want to lose Algeria too
The FLN turned to Guerilla warfare to defeat the French
Led to a long war with hundreds of thousands of deaths
France finally granted independence in 1962

12. Review
Compare and Contrast the independence struggles of Gold Coast (Ghana), Kenya and Algeria

13. Africa Today What do you think about Africa?
Africa today has come a long way. Much of Africa has growing economies, better education and improving healthcare.
Example: Average life expectancy was 43 now over 60 in Kenya
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14. Africa Today
Read Newsweek/ Upfront articles- Partner read and worksheet