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Explore the journey of African nations gaining independence from European colonial powers after World War II. Discover the ideas, conflicts, and movements that shaped the decolonization process. Learn about the difficulties faced by Belgian and Portuguese colonies, as well as the impact of apartheid on black South Africans.
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Main Idea After World War II, almost all countries in Africa gained independence from ruling European powers. African Nations Gain Independence Reading Focus • What ideas and actions led to independence for British and French colonies? • Why did Portuguese and Belgian colonies have difficulty achieving independence? • What effect did apartheid have on the lives of black South Africans?
After 1945 European colonial powers began a process ofdecolonization—the withdrawal of colonial powers from their coloniesand areas of influence. Great Britain and France led the way.
NEW NATION • CCP swept Gold Coast national elections • • Nkrumah continued to press for independence • – 1957, Britain granted Gold Coast full independence • – Nkrumah became first prime minister of new nation, Ghana
In the 1950s the Kenyan path to independence did not go as smoothly as it did in Ghana. • Ownership of land, possibility of independence led to conflict between white Kenyan farmers, native Kikuyu people • Farmers feared independence would cause them to lose large tracts of valuable cash crops in Kenyan highlands • Kikuyu wanted these ancestral homelands back Conflict • Leader of Kenya’s nationalist movement, Jomo Kenyatta argued for Kikuyu’s right to land, its importance • Many Kikuyu farmers formed violent movement, Mau Mau • Group terrorized highlands, murdered anyone opposing them, including Africans who cooperated with white settlers Mau Mau movement • Late 1950s, British convinced to accept decolonization 1963, Kenya became independent nation Jomo Kenyatta became first prime minister KENYA
After World War II, Belgian government agreed to prepare people of Belgian Congo for self-government • 1950s, African nationalists in Congo demanded immediate self-government • 1960, Belgians announced complete withdrawal; soon violence toward Belgian settlers, civil war erupted • Transition to independence for Belgian, Portuguese colonies more difficult than for British, French • Belgians, Portuguese held onto colonies longer than any other European nations • Violence forced decolonization Transition Difficult Portuguese and Belgian Colonies Belgian & Portuguese
Bloody Warfare in Portuguese Colonies • Long years of bloody warfare marked last decades of Portuguese rule • War, military coup in Portugal drained Portuguese economy; made it impossible to continue support of colonies • 1974, Portugal withdrew completely from Africa • Portugal continued to hold on to colonies: • Meanwhile, African leaders emerged in colonies of Angola, Portuguese Guinea, Mozambique • Leaders organized armies to fight for independence How did Africans in the Portuguese colonies achieve independence? Answer(s): African leaders organized armies to fight for independence; years of bloody warfare ended Portuguese rule. Leaders Emerge in Portuguese Colonies
Aim: How does Africa Gain Independence? • SOUTH AFRICA: (1910-1940) • APARTHEID: whites(minority) strengthened their grips on S.A. imposing a system of racial segregation. • GOALS: ensure white economic power
LAWS: • Restricted better paying jobs in mines, etc to whites only • Blacks had to carry passes at all times • Evicted from the best land • Forced to live in crowded reserves (HOMELANDS) • Separate bathrooms, schools, etc.
LAWS: • Restricted better paying jobs in mines, etc to whites only • Blacks had to carry passes at all times • Evicted from the best land • Forced to live in crowded reserves (HOMELANDS) • Separate bathrooms, schools, etc.
1912 • AFRICANS STRIKE BACK • Educated africans set up a political party known as: • (ANC) AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS • Protested laws through legal means • Protested laws that restricted Black Freedoms • Promoted Pan-Africanism – emphasized the unity of Africans and of people of African descent around the world.
Apartheid Segregates Society • 1948, the National Party came to power in South Africa • Afrikaner- Dutch South African, Nationalism • Sharpeville Massacre- 1960, police killed 69 people, it was an organized boycott, strikes protest. Run by the ANC • ANC Leader Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
EuropeanNationalism Source for Raw Materials MissionaryActivity Industrial Revolution European Motives For Colonization Markets forFinishedGoods Military& NavalBases SocialDarwinism EuropeanRacism Places toDumpUnwanted/Excess Popul. HumanitarianReasons Soc. & Eco.Opportunities “WhiteMan’sBurden”