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African Independence Movements

African Independence Movements. 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.

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African Independence Movements

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  1. African Independence Movements

  2. 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

  3. 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 -

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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)

  9. Ghana

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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. Kenya

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

  16. 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?

  17. Kenyatta educated in London & focused on uniting ethnic groups • After Kenyatta, one-party rule 1969-1982, 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

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

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. Country vs. Ethnic Borders

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

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

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