Africa 1947-67 Flashcards
(starts at section 4 - check before adding flashcards)
1
Q
What were the primary reasons for decolonisation?
A
- Economic impact of WW2
- Changing international situation with rise of Soviet Union and United States emerging as new world powers
- The emergence of powerful nationalist movements in the colonies which aimed to secure independence
- changed priorities in Europe with countries by the 1950s experiencing a dramatic post-war recovery and emergence of European Economic Community in 1957 which Britain joined in 1973, as a result : Empire dwindled
- Specific problems in colonies such as India and Burma
2
Q
How did decolonisation develop in Africa?
A
- Britain’s post-colonial policy placed emphasis on developing African colonies, creation of policy enshrined in Colonial Development Corporation.
- Second World War accelerated economic growth of colonies in response to needs of war effort and this, in addition to growing industrialisation, led to new nationalist ideas.
3
Q
(Gold Coast, West Africa) Impact of WW2 regarding British influence in Africa?
A
- Administrators had anticipated during the war that the rise of educated African elite meant allowing some African political representation
- however, British wanted the change to be gradual and have no imposition on British interests.
4
Q
(Gold Coast) When/What was the Burns Constitution?
A
- 1946, The Burns Constitution was drawn up in the Gold coast
- named after Governor-General Alan Burns
- established Legislative Council with elected African members - but final power was still in the hands of the British Governor
5
Q
(Gold Coast) What/when was the Convention People’s party?
A
- The CPP, founded by Kwame Nkrumah in 1949
- pressurised British to make further concessions:
- Legislative Council enlarged and
renamed Assembly - number of voting rights increased
But power still remained in hands of British Governor
- Legislative Council enlarged and
6
Q
(Gold Coast) Impact of CCP/Nkrumah?
A
- Nkrumah was jailed in 1950
- but CPP won 2/3 of seats in 1951 and it became clear to Burns that CPP would rule following resistance
- therefore Nkrumah was released and given position of PM from 1952 with CCP members taking posts of members
7
Q
(Gold Coast) Nkrumah’s growing popularity/ elected govt impact?
A
- Elected govt given extensive control over internal affairs and Nkrumah’s popularity grew
- 1956, plebiscite in neighbouring British Mandate of Togoland gave vote for unification with Gold Coast
- Support for independence was so high that elections in 1957 passed on adult suffrage
8
Q
When was the Gold coast fully independent/Nkrumah’s later rule??
A
- Country became fully independent in 1957
- But Nkrumah proved divisive and authoritarian in later years of rule
9
Q
(Nigeria) When/What was the Richards constitution?
A
- 1946, Richards Constitution was drawn up
- named after Governor-General Arthur Richards
- Allowed for greater African representation
- But Governor General and Executive council appointed by Governor retained power
10
Q
(Nigeria) British approach to the divisions in the country?
A
- Nigeria was regionally and ethnically divided
- British took the view that any move towards an independent Nigeria should take the form of a federation of separate regional states
- Thus, 3 assemblies for each 3 major regions: West, East, South to debate local matters
11
Q
(Nigeria) What/When was the Macpherson Constitution?
A
- Greater pressure from nationalist movements forced the British to change the legislation
- 1951, Macpherson Constitution (named after Governor-General John Macpherson (he came after Richards)
- Extended the right to vote and created National Council of Ministers, answerable to a 185-seat Federal House of Representatives
12
Q
(Nigeria) Impact of the Macpherson Constitution?
A
- Stimulated the growth if Nigerian political parties, which began to compete in elections to the new House
- Each region strengthened its own govt and elected assembly
- stimulated growth of political parties as federal house could not over-rule regional governments
- ultimately exasperated ethnic tensions
13
Q
(Nigeria) Road to Independence? Ie- new political parties/govt?
A
- New political parties were established representing different ethnic groups - pushed path to independence
- Further revisions of constitution and federal elections in 1954 led to new govt formed consisting of 3 British with 9 ministers from various regional political parties (in order to strike balance)
14
Q
(Nigeria) More power to region/ when came Independence?
A
- More power was still devolved to regional govts following federal elections in 1959
- moves made towards full independence for Nigeria in 1960.
15
Q
(East Africa) What was the road to Independence like in East Africa and why?
A
- Much more violent in parts of East Africa
- Rapid economic growth brought urbanisation and greater political consciousness, activism, nationalist tendencies and labour disputes
- During the years of war, population of Nairobi increased by 1/2 while the population of cities doubled. Led to:
- inflation
- poor housing
= fuelled protests
16
Q
(East Africa) How did Britain view East Africa/ its aspirations for the region?
A
- Britain saw East Africa as ideal for economic development, with a view to generating large dollar-earning exports.
- Example of British aspirations was Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme of 1946
- Was a huge failure which provoked East African peasants into supporting nationalist movements
17
Q
(East Africa) What was the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme?
A
- In 1946, Britain and many countries experienced severe shortage of cooking fats
- idea emerged of growing large groundnuts which could be processed into cooking oil (In Tanganyika)
- Project involved investment of £49 million however the terrain proved difficult to cultivate and scheme was abandoned in 1951, the land turned into an uncultivable dustbowl
- fuelled nationalism
18
Q
(East Africa) Reasons for resistance in Kenya?
A
- Long simmering Kikuyu grievances at treatment by white settlers exploded into violence when white people sought to mechanise farming and displace peasant growers
- Prompted many to resort to violence and led to the Mau Mau Uprising
19
Q
(East Africa) what/when was the Mau Mau Uprising?
A
1952-56
- British army crushed the rebellion ruthlessly and divided Kikuyu people in doing so
- These tactics only weakened British moral authority and increased the support for nationalist movements across the region
20
Q
(East Africa) Granted Independence?
A
- Tanganyika granted independence as Tanzania in 1961
- Uganda in 1962
- Kenya in Dec 1963
21
Q
(Southern and Central Africa - S/C AFRICA) What was Control like in southern Africa?
A
- The white minority had enjoyed full control over South Africa’s internal affairs since 1931 at the Statute of Westminster.
- Racist Afrikaner policies dominated
22
Q
(S/C Africa) Impact of election in 1948?
A
- In 1948, Afrikaner Nationalist Party won power and implemented policy of Apartheid (came to represent a policy of racial discrimination and segregation)
- Non-white people were treated poorly and opposition emerged which was led primarily by African National Congress
23
Q
(C/S Africa) How did South African state respond to protest?
A
- Throughout the 50s and 60s, South African state responded with brutal suppression of all protests
- 69 protestors killed at Sharpeville in 1960
24
Q
(C/S Africa) British relations with South Africa/ International opinion?
A
- International opinion became critical of South Africa and relations with Britain grew strained: leading to South Africa leaving the Commonwealth(1961)
- This was because of Britain refusing to hand over adjacent lands administered by British Colonial Office (such as Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland) as well as apartheid
(- However Britain granted these lands independence in 1966/1968)
25
(C/S Africa) How did Britain attempt to counteract South African influence?
By building colonial possessions nearby:
- Northern Rhodesia (mineral rich copper province)
- Southern Rhodesia (agriculturally rich territory with a substantial white settler population)
- Nyasaland (a relatively economically undeveloped territory)
26
(S/C Africa) What led to the establishment of the Central African Federation (CAF)?
- During WW2 the administration of these 3 new territories (N/S Rhodesian+Nyasaland) had worked together in the war effort
- British came to the view that a joint administration would provide an effective colonial counter-weight to SA.
- Thus, idea of a Central African Federation if the 3 territories emerged
27
(S/C Africa) What/when was the CAF?
Central African Federation, created in 1953.
- Its constitution n included some protection for African rights (discriminatory legislation against Africans could be vetoed by Britain)
- Also limited provision for African representation in the new Federal Assembly but powerful nationalist movements emerged in all 3 territories led by Africans suspicious of British intentions
- White governors of CAF responded fiercely by arresting and imprisoning nationalist leaders
28
(C/S Africa) Britains decision that decolonisation was necessary?
- By the end of the 1950s, Britain had decided tgat decolonisation was necessary
- in 1960-61, British govt ordered the release of nationalist leaders in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland and drew up new constitutions for territories, which paved the way for majority rule
29
(C/S Africa) When was the CAF dissolved?
formally dissolved in 1963
30
(C/S Africa) Independence of Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia? Who/when?
- Kenneth Kaunda led Northern Rhodesia to Independence (as Zambia)
- Dr Hastings Banda led Nyasaland to independence (as Malawi) - after Nyasaland experiences a state of emergency in 1959 with over 200 nationalist leaders arrested in Operation Sunrise.
31
(C/S Africa) Southern Rhodesia road to Independence?
- very different path
- There, the white settlers were determined to avoid being absorbed into an independent Black-African country
- In 1961, when CAF looked doomed, a large section of the white population switched to support the new Rhodesian Front Party (dedicated to achieving independence but under white control)
- RFP won elections in 1961 and 65, PM Ian Smith illegally declared Southern Rhodesia Independent
- British sanctions proved unsuccessful and in 1969, Rhodesia became a republic - country plunged into a long guerrilla war between the ruling whites and the African nationalists
