Decolonization in Africa
Why did so many African countries
successfully achieve independence
after World War II?
• It was too difficult and expensive for European
powers to hold onto their colonial possessions
• The charter of the newly created UN guaranteed
colonial populations the right to self determination
• The participation of African soldiers in WWII led
many to want independence
• Newfound pride in African heritage and culture
emerged
• Resentment of colonial rule and economic
exploitation grew
How was independence achieved?
• Some transitions were peaceful
– Ghana
• 1st to declare independence in sub-Saharan Africa
under leadership of Kwame Nkrumah
How was independence achieved?
• Some transitions were
violent
– Algeria
• Fought against France in
a long and bloody war
– Kenya
• A rebel group called the
Mau Maus terrorized
British settlers in Kenya
• Jomo Kenyatta arrested
and jailed
• Kenyatta later became
Kenya’s first leader
Questions
• Were the independence movements in Africa
similar or different?
• How do the African independence movements
compare to India’s independence movement?
And one country, despite already
being independent, struggled with
other issues…
Origins of Apartheid
• Legalized segregation in South Africa enacted in
1948
• Rooted in the racist attitudes of the early Dutch
settlers (later called Afrikaners) towards the
Africans
• Based on living and working conditions of the
mines
• Government created a brutal police state to enforce
it
Life Under Apartheid
Life under Apartheid
www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html
http://www.un.org/av/photo/subjects/apartheid.htm
http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/
Resistance to Apartheid
• African National
Congress
– Anti-apartheid group
– Peaceful, but has a militant
wing
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Strikes
Boycotts
Protests
Civil Disobedience
Nelson Mandela arrested
in 1964
End of Apartheid
• 1980s: economic sanctions and international
pressure increase
• 1990: Mandela released from prison after
almost 30 years
• 1994: national elections held
– ANC wins by a landslide, Mandela becomes
president
• Today, South Africa is still trying to create
economic equality for its people
Decolonization in Africa
“For if the last shall be first, this will only come to pass after a murderous and decisive struggle between the two protagonists.” –Frantz Fanon
Which of the examples below support Fanon’s quote? Which refute it?
When you have finished the questions, draw one symbol or picture to represent each country’s independence efforts.
Algeria
Egypt
Although freed from colonial
control in 1922, Egypt did
not take control of its own
Suez Canal until 1956
Kenya
Ghana
South Africa
Decolonization in Africa
Why did decolonization in Africa take place after WWII?
Colonies were too expensive to maintain. Also, the charter of the newly created ___________________________guaranteed colonial populations
the right to self determination. Also, the participation of African soldiers in ______________________ led many to want independence while
newfound pride in African heritage and culture emerged. Finally, _________________________ of colonial rule and economic exploitation grew.
Draw one symbol or picture to represent each country’s independence efforts.
Algeria
Egypt
Although freed from colonial
control in 1922, Egypt did
not take control of its own
Suez Canal until 1956
Kenya
Ghana
South Africa
Already independent,
but suffered under the
unfair system of legal segregation
known as ___________________
Decolonization in Africa
Why did decolonization in Africa take place after WWII?
Colonies were too expensive to maintain. Also, the charter of the newly created ___________________________guaranteed colonial populations
the right to self determination. Also, the participation of African soldiers in ______________________ led many to want independence while
newfound pride in African heritage and culture emerged. Finally, _________________________ of colonial rule and economic exploitation grew.
Note down information about each country’s independence efforts.
Algeria
Egypt
Although freed from colonial
control in 1922, Egypt did
not take control of its own
Suez Canal until 1956
Kenya
Ghana
South Africa
Already independent, but suffered under the
unfair system of legal segregation known as
___________________. ___________________
becomes the first black president in 1994.
Freedom Now Video
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01:40 Gandhi campaigns for freedom from British rule. 1930s see mass marches, boycotts, and civil
disobedience.
02:30 Post WWII: The beginnings of shifts in power.
02:50 August 1947: India gains independence.
05:50 Fights break out between Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan.
07:10 1948: Gandhi is assassinated.
07:40 European powers, including France and Portugal, are still control many colonies.
10:40 British consider themselves benefactors and are determined to keep African colonies.
14:10 Aspirations of Africans change after WWII, Africans are encouraged by India's fight for freedom.
15:50 Struggle for freedom begins in the Gold Coast.
18:00 1951: Gold Coast holds a general election for a local assembly, marking the beginning of the end of British
rule in Africa.
19:00 East African Colony - Kenya - British citizens are determined to remain in the east African colony of
Kenya.
20:10 Secret organization of Mau Mau fight the British.
24:20 1956: France and Britain cannot take Suez Canal by force. Nasser proves that Europeans can't continue
their rule.
26:05 1957: Gold Coast gains independence and becomes Ghana.
31:50 French colonies attempts integration; offer French citizenship to residents of a select few.
33:00 Algeria refuses to become a part of greater France.
36:10 Full independence from France gained by several colonies.
37:40 Ghana is a nation with new airlines, communications, roads, and schools -- and corrupt politians.
43:30 1960 - Congo (Zaire) gains independence from Belgium.
47:00 British refuse to give up control of Rhodesia.
48:30 1975: Angola and Mozambique find freedom from Portugal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fie7H9EThUQ