Ch 35 Struggles for Democracy

1. Ch 35 Struggles for Democracy 1945-Present

2. Democracy Sec 1

3. Democracy • Democracy- government by the people • Direct democracy, system in which all citizens meet to pass laws, is not practical for nations • Democratic nations have developed into indirect democracies, or republics, like the United States • Establishing democracy is a practice that takes years

4. Practices of Democracy • Free Elections • Universal suffrage • More than one political party • Citizen participation • Freedom of press, speech, assembly • Majority rule, minority rights • All citizens are equal • Protections of rights such as religion • Constitutional government • Clear body of traditions and laws on which government is based

5. Conditions for Democracy • Participation of citizens • Education and literacy • Firm belief in the rights of individuals • Rule by law • Sense of national identity

6. Problems in Latin America • 300 years of colonial rule from Spain and Portugal left many problems in Latin America • Because of colonialism many countries had powerful militaries, economies that were too dependent on a single crop, and large gaps between rich and poor

7. More Problems • The vast economic differences between social classes led to many civil wars in Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s • Because of economic problems most Latin American countries have not been able to free themselves of American economic influence

8. Challenge of Democracy in Africa Sec 2

9. How did European imperialism affect Africa?

10. Independence • Beginning in the 1950s dozens of European colonies in Africa gained their independence and became nations • As in Latin America the establishment of democracy proved difficult • European imperialism left Africa in ruins and did very little to prepare them for independence

12. Problems • European colonial policies left many problems in Africa • Colonial boundaries ignored existing ethnic or cultural divisions • National identity was difficult to develop because common people were divided and rival groups were thrown together

13. Economic Problems • European powers viewed colonies as a source of wealth for the home country • The colonial powers encouraged the export of one or two cash crops rather than goods that would help local needs • There were mines and plantations but few factories • These policies left African nations with unbalanced economies and a small middle class

14. Political Problems • Democracies that were established were weak because of the economic problems • Fragile democracies in Africa often fell quickly to military dictatorships. • Civil wars have been commonplace in Africa since the 1950s

15. South Africa • In South Africa, racial conflict was a result of colonial rule • From its beginnings under Dutch and British control, South Africa was racially divided • A small white minority ruled a large black majority

16. Apartheid • In 1948, the National Party came to power in South Africa • The National Party promoted Afrikaner, or Dutch South African, nationalism • It also instituted a policy of apartheid, complete separation of races • Social contacts between blacks and whites was banned • Schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods were segregated

17. How is it possible for a minority to rule over a majority?

18. Homelands • In 1959, the minority government set up reserves called homelands for the country’s majority black groups • Blacks were forbidden to live in white areas unless they worked as servants or laborers for whites • Although blacks made up 75% of the population, they had only 13% of the land

21. What was life like under apartheid in South Africa? Group 1

45. Life Under Apartheid Clip 1

46. What methods were used by black South Africans to resist apartheid? Group 2