4. Attitudes to Empire and the Role of Individuals

Question 1

Reasons imperialism grew 1947-67 (7)

Answer 1

Urbanisation / economic development after WW2
Education
Inspiration from Indian Independence
Changed world after WW2 - both main powers are anti-imperialist
Failings of Britain to govern effectively
Political concessions/reforms
Cold War

Question 2

4 ways nationalist leaders applied pressure on the British government

Answer 2

Some were politicians that negotiated with Britain
Peaceful non-cooperation - influenced by Gandhi
Violent protest or threats of violence
Forming political organisations

Question 3

Were nationalist leaders influential in bringing about decolonisation? - reasons for

Answer 3

Led nationalism movements
Widespread support for them in the colonies
Had the opportunity to directly negotiate with Britain
Mass movement was important

Question 4

Were nationalist leaders influential in bringing about decolonisation? - reasons against

Answer 4

Britain was prepared to grant them independence
Not all nationalist leaders were supported by the people in the nation (E.g. conflict after Kenya’s independence)
Britain allowed movements to grow through constitutional reforms

Question 5

Nationalist leader of the Gold Coast

Answer 5

Kwame Nkrumah

Question 6

Nkrumah’s actions in the independence of the Gold Coast

Answer 6

1945 - helped organise 5th Pan African Congress in London (meeting to discuss decolonisation in Africa)
Formed Convention People’s Party (CPP) which pressured British administration to make further concessions
Became PM of Gold Coast between 1953 and 1957, proving it was possible for indigenous people to rule responsibly

Question 7

How influential was Nkrumah in the Gold Coast’s independence?

Answer 7

Responded to demands for change
Understood importance of developing working relationship with British to gain support
Became a figurehead for African nationalism and helped coordinate various African independence movements

Question 8

Nationalist leader of Nigeria

Answer 8

Nnamdi Azikiwi

Question 9

Azikiwi’s actions in the independence of Nigeria

Answer 9

Helped create National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in 1944
Negotiated with Northern People’s Congress (NPC) to establish Nigeria’s first government

Question 10

How influential was Azikiwi in Nigeria’s independence?

Answer 10

Won trust of a variety of nationalists as well as the British to secure a peaceful transition to independence
Persuaded the British that it was possible for different ethnic groups to work successfully together - British rule wasn’t essential to avoid a civil war

Question 11

What nation was Kenyatta the nationalist leader of?

Answer 11

Kenya

Question 12

Kenyatta’s actions in the independence of Kenya

Answer 12

President of the Kenya Africa Union (KAU) from 1947
From 1948-51 he toured Kenya to gain support for independence
Arrested and imprisoned in response to Mau Mau rebellion
Elected leader of Kenya African National Union (KANU) from 1960
After his release in 1961 he began negotiations with British which led to independence

Question 13

How influential was Kenyatta in Kenya’s independence?

Answer 13

Influential: helped force a capitalist state and oversaw a peaceful land reform process
Not influential: response to Mau Mau rebellion weakened Britain’s moral authority and increased support for nationalism

Question 14

Nationalist leader of Malaya who founded the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)

Answer 14

Onn Jaafar

Question 15

Onn Jaafar’s actions in Malaya’s independence

Answer 15

Founded United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Campaigned against Malay Union established by the British
Organised rallies to build public support
Worked with Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) against the Malayan Communist Party (MCP)
Negotiated with Britain for independence

Question 16

How influential was Onn Jaafar in Malaya’s independence?

Answer 16

Protests caused Britain to stop the Malay Union
Able to prevent communist takeover of Malaya - Britain promised Malaya its independence as a result

Question 17

Nationalist leader of Malaya associated with the Malayan Communist Party (MCP)

Answer 17

Chin Peng

Question 18

Actions of Chin Peng in independence of Malaya

Answer 18

MCP fought the British in the Malayan Emergency

Question 19

How influential was Chin Peng in the independence of Malaya?

Answer 19

Didn’t gain as much support as expected from the people
Communist takeover didn’t occur

Question 20

Reasons why the role of colonial administrators was hard

Answer 20

International pressures
Internal pressure with political representation
British government pressuring them
Fast-changing public mood had to be well judged
Had to deal with often aggressive nationalist leaders, sometimes in an atmosphere of intimidation and violence

Question 21

Increase in the colonial service between 1945-54

Answer 21

Colonial service increased in staff by 45% in this period which facilitated a more interventionalist stance (interfering in other countries’ politics)

Question 22

List of colonial administrators

Answer 22

Sir Andrew Cohen
Sir John Macpherson
Sir Charles Arden-Clarke
Evelyn Baring

Question 23

Sir Andrew Cohen’s role in administration of Empire

Answer 23

1947 - appointed Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonial Office’s African division
1952 - appointed Governor of Uganda where he served until 1957

Question 24

Sir Andrew Cohen’s view of decolonisation

Answer 24

Knew it was inevitable and wanted it to be a managed retreat

Question 25

Sir Andrew Cohen’s beliefs about British involvement in Africa

Answer 25

Deeply concerned by the treatment of Africans in the colonies
Believed in listening to nationalists and cultivated contacts in both West and central Africa
Believed in devolving power to indigenous officials with the superior knowledge of local affairs

Question 26

Report by Sir Andrew Cohen in 1947

Answer 26

The Cohen Report of 1947. New direction for colonial policy, mapping a route through gradual reform by which they could eventually emerge as independent, democratic and stable nations

Question 27

What actions did Sir Andrew Cohen take?

Answer 27

Proposed the Central African Federation (CAF) because he was concerned about the effects of apartheid
Brought Africans into government and encouraged the development of political parties
Helped to lay groundwork for Uganda’s independence

Question 28

How successful was Sir Andrew Cohen?

Answer 28

Most Africans progressed much faster than he originally envisaged
CAF ended in a failure

Question 29

Who was Sir John Macpherson?

Answer 29

Governor of Nigeria from 1948-55

Question 30

Sir John Macpherson’s view of decolonisation

Answer 30

He knew it was inevitable and introduced gradual reform, seeing his role as a facilitator of self-rule and indepdence

Question 31

What actions did Sir John Macpherson take?

Answer 31

Moved the colonial administration to Nigerians
Organised a major conference in 1951 to open discussions on a constitution which would accommodate the different regions
The ‘Macpherson Constitution’ of 1951 stimulated political parties

Question 32

How successful was Sir John Macpherson?

Answer 32

Very. He helped ensure than an independent Nigeria emerged in 1960 which didn’t collapse into separatism, anarchy or civil war

Question 33

Sir Charles Arden-Clarke’s role in the administration of the British Empire

Answer 33

Governor of the Gold Coast 1949

Question 34

Sir Charles Arden-Clarke’s view on decolonisation

Answer 34

Increasingly saw his role as a facilitator of self-rule and independence

Question 35

What actions did Sir Charles Arden-Clarke take?

Answer 35

Secured the release of Nkrumah from prison in 1951 and brought him into government
Managed relations between Nkrumah and Ashanti politicians
Delayed the timetable for indepdence to allow for a third general election in 1956 in order for Nkrumah to demonstrate that he carried the support of the people

Question 36

How successful was Sir Charles Arden-Clarke?

Answer 36

Proved a skilled and practical politician in dealing with a highly complex and swiftly changing situation
Asked by the Ghanaian government to become the country’s first Governor-General, showing his high regard for

Question 37

Who was the Governor of Kenya from 1952-59?

Answer 37

Evelyn Baring

Question 38

Evelyn Baring’s view of decolonisation

Answer 38

Committed to retaining control in Kenya (against decolonisation)

Question 39

What actions did Evelyn Baring take?

Answer 39

Declared a State of Emergency in 1952 in response to the Mau Mau rebellion
Played an integral role in destruction of Kikuyu people during suppression of Mau Mau uprising
Plays key role in government’s efforts to keep the realities of the May Mau rebellion from the British public

Question 40

How successful was Evelyn Baring?

Answer 40

Managed to suppress the Mau Mau rebellion but his harsh methods weakened British moral authority and support for nationalism increased