1. Decolonization & Nationalism in Africa

2. Road towards independence
Post-WWII - a focus on self-determination in Europe
Colonialism seemed to contradict the spirit of the Allies fight against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy
Over 200,000 Africans had fought in Europe and Asia for the Allies’ freedom and democracy – most noticed the contradiction
Many Africans returned home to find they had only fought for the European’s

3. Road towards Independence
Most Europeans planned a “long transition” period to independence
By mid-1950’s pace increased
1960 considered the year of Africa with so many nations gaining independence

4. End of an Empire?
“The wind of change is blowing through this continent, and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact. We must all accept it, and our national policies must take account of it.”
- British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1960 to the South African Parliament
What is the significance of this statement to the British Empire?

5. Independence Three major routes: Peaceful / Negotiated independence
Typically achieved in non-settler colonies, ex = Ghana
Violent
Typically occurred in settler colonies, ex = Kenya, Algeria
Incomplete
White settler minority population given political power in decolonization, ex = S. Africa

7. Tropical Dependencies
Non-Settler Africa
Tropical Dependencies

8. Non-Settler Colonies
Non-settler colonies moved more quickly towards independence –
Why?
Gandhi and India became a model for much of Africa

9. Ghana & Nkrumah’s Vision
1st black African majority to gain independence in 1957
Nkrumah’s Goals:
Unify Africa politically and economically (Pan-Africanism)
Harness vast natural resources
Reduce Western influence
Positive economic influence

10. Settler Africa

11. Settler Colonies
Different obstacles met by settler vs. non-settler colonies –
What might they be?
What is the difference?
Settlers pushed colonial govts to defeat nationalist uprisings
Algeria (one million)
Kenya (40,000)

12. What is the cartoon trying to say? What perspective is it conveying?

13. Kenya
A Mau Mau oathing ceremony. Essentially, the Mau Mau oath was a declaration that they wanted to rid themselves of the English in Kenya. They wanted their land back. The British portrayed this oathing as one of the most terrible things around and put over 80,000 into detention camps and killed over 13,000. White settlers help drive the policy.

14. "We refused to do this work. We were fighting for our freedom
"We refused to do this work. We were fighting for our freedom. We were not slaves. ... There were two hundred guards. One hundred seventy stood around us with machine guns. Thirty guards were inside the trench with us. The white man in charge blew his whistle and the guards started beating us. They beat us from 8 am to They were beating us like dogs. I was covered by other bodies - just my arms and legs were exposed. I was very lucky to survive. But the others were still being beaten. There was no escape for them.”
Rounding up Mau Mau “rebels” - and a “protected” settlement.

15. Settler Colonies
Both Kenya and Algeria uprisings would be eventually smashed
Weariness and new anti-colonial sentiments lead to independence anyway
Most French Algerians leave, most British Kenyans stay

16. South Africa
apartheid

17. 1899

18. Garrison State: South Africa
1910: Union of S. Africa
1948: Afrikaner government begins apartheid policies to institutionalize white supremacy
Separate, unequal facilities
Pass laws require pass books for blacks
Blacks resettled into infertile, resource depleted homelands to ensure segregation & “protect” African culture
1961: Full independence

19. 1970

25. Garrison State: South Africa
Nelson Mandela
: Resistance & gov response intensifies
Resistance led by African National Congress & outspoken leaders like Nelson Mandela & Steve Biko
Gov response was brutal & exploited ethnic division even in face of nonviolent protest
Sharpesville Massacre sparks new violent response from ANC
Led to Mandela receiving prison sentence for life

26. Garrison State: South Africa
F. W. de Klerk
Garrison State: South Africa
Nelson Mandela
International community added pressure to force change in S. African policies
Economic sanctions eventually pressure F.W. de Klerk to make changes
1990: Mandela released from prison
1994: End of apartheid & election of Mandela

27. 1990

28. 1994

29. 1994

30. Results of Decolonization

31. External Challenges Western investments remain
Impact?
Economic dependence on former colonial powers
Cold War (USSR v. US) struggle to spread influence

32. Internal Challenges Tribal allegiances
Illiteracy / under developed education system
No tradition of ongoing political leadership in modern times
Religious differences
Diverse geography and climate
Established social hierarchies

33. Results of Decolonization
Nationalist parties & African elites gain power
Use anti-colonial legacy to maintain power & cloud ineptitude & favoritism
Economic dependence on West coupled with political corruption cripples attempts to diversify economy
Stuck in cash crop ag & extraction of resources
The same pattern being a dependence on a cash crop or western control of the extraction of a resource (gold, diamonds, etc.)

34. Results of Decolonization
Initial political parties reflected ethnic, regional, or religious groups - few true national parties
Power often gained by corrupt African “strongmen” (dictators) who ignored the social needs of people
Large loans to modernize economies squandered by those in power - leave little progress, lots of debt
The same pattern being a dependence on a cash crop or western control of the extraction of a resource (gold, diamonds, etc.)

35. Mobutu in Congo and his palaces