African History Final exam questions
ss3492
decolonization_and_the_triumph_of_nationalism.pptDecolonization and the Triumph of Nationalism
1. Introduction:
-World War II, ideology, impact, developments,
-the Cold War
French Colonies
- West, Equatorial, and Central Africa
- Brazzaville Conference, 1944, create a French Union,
- Early political parties, major one was African Democratic Rally (Rassemblement Democratique Africain), 1946, formed in Bamako then capital of French Sudan, now in Mali. Early leaders included Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Mamadu Konate, Leopold Senghor, Sekou Toure. Early members did not press for independence, but focused on rights for Africans, and had some success.
- 1946, a law abolished forced labor in the French colonies. But more agitation for rights continued
- 1952, France accepted the idea of self-government for the territories
- 1956, Enabling Law (loi cadre), West & Equatorial Africa became 12 self-governing districts. This transferred power away from the previous centers of Dakar & Brazzaville. But France still controlled finance, foreign policy, police, and army.
- Contextualize within other events, Mau-Mau, Ghana, Algeria, etc.
- 1958, Charles de Gaulle returned to power, idea of French Community, territories will associate members of French Community. Each will have local authority, but France will control major issues. De Gaulle called for referendum whether or not to accept his plan.
- Guinea under Sekou Toure rejected the idea of French Community
- Response to Guinea’s disobedience, explain
- Guinea, independence, 1958, the rest of French Africa, 1960, France maintains indirect control
British West Africa
- Explain situation of GB after WWII, gradual process towards independence, and African response
Nigeria
- Introduction: three main parties established along ethnic lines.
- 1944, Nnamdi Azikiwe, founded National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC);
- 1950, Action Group (AG) founded under Obafemi Awolowo. Same year emerged Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) under the leadership of Aminu Kano.
- 1951, Northern Nigeria developed a more influential and representative party, Northern People’s Congress (NPC) under Ahmadu Bello. Other parties developed. Nigeria politics was now along ethnic lines
- 1946, Governor-General Richards introduced a new constitution which created an all-Nigerian legislative council, which was just an advisory council. The constitution also created for three regional councils (one in Eastern, Northern, and Western regions), basically three-way politics.
- Richards constitution was opposed, no participation, and encouraged ethnic division of Nigeria.
- 1951, Governor-General Macpherson , called for an all Nigerian Federal government headquarter in Lagos. Regional councils became regional parliaments.
- Nationalists opposed the constitution.
- 1954, the Richards constitution was replaced by Lyttleton constitution, named for the British Colonial minister at the time. The new constitution strengthened the power of the federal gov’t
- 1957, Western and Eastern Regions became self-governing states, and the Northern became self-governing in 1959
- October 1, 1960, Nigeria became independent. Implications.
Gold Coast
- Post-1945, role of Asantehee (King of Asante), tried to preserve their position, rejected goals of education elites for democratic system
- 1947, J.B. Danquah formed the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), purpose to struggle for independence of the region
- Kwame Nkrumah became secretary of the UGCC, explain who he was, mass mobilization, strikes, etc
- 1948, Nkrumah helped to organize strike to reduce prices of European goods. Events initially were peaceful, but riot developed when ex-servicemen marched for benefits. Two were killed, and tension only mounted.
- British stepped in and arrested six leaders of the UGCC including Danquah, and Nkrumah. Without evidence, the six were released, but the other five blamed Nkrumah. He was kicked of the UGCC.
- 1949, Nkrumah formed the Convention People’s Party (CPP). He vowed to move quickly towards independence, will organize strikes, etc.
- 1950 (January 8), general but peaceful strike began, gov’t responded with force January 21,Khrumah was arrested.
- Unrest continued, gov’t began to look for a way out.
- 1951 parliamentary elections took place, and CPP won majority. Nkrumah was released from prison to form a gov’t. His opponents remained largely the UGCC
- 1957, Ghana granted independence. Explain implications.
British East & Central Africa
- Introduction: GB colonies in the region, Kenya, Uganda, Zanzibar, Tanganyika, etc;
- Settlers: policy, greed, best land, etc.
- Asians in East Africa: significant minority in the region. Served in civil service under colonial gov’t, traders, merchants, frequent conflict with Africans over anti-colonial policies, etc.
- Tanganyika: less confrontation because settler population was not large; also territory became a UN Trusteeship so could not fall under settler control.
- Nationalism developed slowly in the 1950s, and the main organization was the Tanganyika African Association (formed in 1929), was reorganized in 1953 under the leadership of Julius Nyerere. It led to the formation of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in 1954. It became more active, and in 1961 was granted independence. 1963, Zanzibar received independence
- 1964, Zanzibar and Tanganyika agreed to the formation of a union, creating the United Republic of Tanzania.
- Uganda: colonial rule had deeply divided the ethnic groups (Buganda, Baganda, etc) in Uganda. By 1952, two main parties emerged: Ugandan National congress (UNC), formed in 1952 supported by northerners and Protestant Christians, and the Democratic Party (DP) formed in 1956 and supported by southern and Catholic Christians. In 1960 Uganda’s People’s Congress (UPC), emerged as the main national party.
- 1962 Uganda gained independence under the UPC led by Milton Obote
- Kenya: Kenya was Britain’s nightmare. Nationalism was intense, and forced Britain to learn the true cost of imperialism.
- Kenya had several ethnic groups, but one of the most significant one was Kikuyu, determined to regain their dignity and land lost as a result of colonialism.
- 1946, Kenyan African Union was formed under the leadership of Harry Thuku.
- 1947, Jomo Kenyatta (Facing Mount Kenya) returned from England, took over the leadership of KAU .
- Kenyatta was determined to lead his people to freedom. Kenyatta was a threat.
- Settler’s numbering about 60,000 in 1950 intensified their grip on land, power, etc.
- 1950, Mau-Mau nationalists began taking oaths to fight settlers and free their land; 1952, colonial gov’t declared state of emergency.
- Guerrilla warfare, violence, property destroyed, Frantz Fanon & revolution;
- over 8000 people were killed, gov’t lost over 500 of its own people. 1960, state of emergency ended. Campaign against Mau-Mau had cost GB over $50 million, tied down GB troops needed elsewhere. Unwilling to face another Mau-Mau GB worked to get out of Africa.
- 1960, Kenyan National African Union (KANU) was found to succeed KAU, and led by Kenyatta. 1963, Kenya received independence with Kenyatta as first prime minister.
