Chapter 19 - Decolonisation in Africa and Asia Flashcards
What was the first reason for decolonisation?
Economic impact of WW2
Couldn’t then afford to fight against nationalist movements
What was the second reason?
The changed international situation
USA + USSR hostile to imperialism
Dependent on USA for economic support
What was the third reason?
Emergence of powerful nationalist movements
What was the forth reason?
Changing priorities in Europe
Full employment + rising living standards
Less dependent on colonies
EEC refocused trade in Europe
What were decisions to abandon empire influenced by?
Specific developments rather than immediate post-war shift in thinking
What was the main aim in policy in Africa post-war?
For development so they could contribute to B economy
What did the B make?
Colonial Development Corporation
What did the war increase in Africa?
Nationalist movements
Industry had to be established to support war + spread around more cities + towns that were created
What did Andrew Cohen say in 1947?
Head of African Department in Colonial Office
Gold Coast had strength + maturity to rule themselves but wouldn’t happen for at least a generation
What did B administrators anticipate in the war?
The growing educated elite would want more representation
Wanted to do this gradually
What did the Burns Constitution 1946 for the Gold Coast say?
Made Legislative Council of 12 B nominees + 18 elected African members
Power still with B Govenor
What party pressured B administration?
The Convention People’s Party (CPP)
Founded by Kwame Nkrumah
What did they force the B to do?
Legislative Assembly + people who could vote increased
Nkrumah was jailed 1950
1951 66% of seats to CPP
Who was then made the PM in 1952?
Nkrumah
What followed this?
1956 plebiscite joined Togoland to GC
1957 full adult suffrage + renamed to Ghana
Nkrumah became more authoritarian
What was drawn up in 1946 in Nigeria?
The ‘Richards Constitution’
3 Assemblies for each major region was created as the country was ethnically and regionally divided
What made the B take away this constitution?
Nationalist movements
What did the Macpherson Constitution 1951 do?
Extended the right to vote
Created National Council of Ministers
What did this do?
Stimulated growth of Nigerian political parties
How did they get to full independence in 1960?
Govt was formed drawn up by 3 B officials + 9 ministers from all the regional parties to have balance
Where else did B make reforms and independence faster?
Sierra Leone 1961
Gambia 1965
What factors made independence in East Africa more violent?
Urbanisation
Greater political awareness
Political activism
Nationalism
Labour disputes
What other factors increased protests?
Population increases
High inflation
Poor housing
Overcrowding
What schemed failed to make peasants support nationalism?
Tanganyika Ground Nut Scheme
There was need for cooking oil after war
Money was put into harvesting
Land was difficult to cultivate
Cost £49 million
What event weakened B morality?
Harming Kikuyu people in Mau Mau uprising
When was Tanganyika granted independence as Tanzania?
1961
When did Uganda get independence?
1962
When did Kenya get independence?
1963
What Statute meant South Africa had dominion status + white minority ruled?
Statute of Westminster
What party won power in 1948 and implemented apartheid?
Afrikaner Nationalist Party
What was international opinion of SA?
Critical
What did the B refuse to do for SA?
Hand over Bechuanaland + Basutoland + Swaziland
What did the white people of SA vote in 1961?
To become a republic + leave the commonwealth
What places did B try to influence to counter-balance SA influence?
Northern Rhodesia - copper
Southern Rhodesia - agricultural
Nyasaland - undeveloped
What was created for the 3 countries in 1953?
A Central African Federation
What did its constitution include?
Protection of African rights
What emerged from the limited African representation in the Federal Assembly?
Nationalist leaders
They were arrested
What did B do in 1961?
Released the leaders
Drew up new constitutions
When was the CAF dissolved?
1963
Who lead Northern Rhodesia to independence?
Kenneth Kaunda
Who led Nyasaland to independence?
Dr Hastings Banda
What happened in Southern Rhodesia?
When CAF looked bad white settlers supported new Rhodesian Front Party
Won elections + PM Smith illegally called it independent
B sanctions unsuccessful
Long guerrilla war with nationalists + white people
Why did B grant independence to Burma?
Violent activities of nationalists
Aung San + AFPFL
What were the outcomes of the talks with Aung San + Attlee’s govt?
Agreed on elections for a Constituent Assembly 1947
AFPFL couldn’t agree
Aung San + 6 others assassinated by political rivals
Civil war
What was Burma’s relationship with B then like?
Burma rejected joining Commonwealth
why were Singapore + Malaya still important to B?
Malaya = producer of rubber
Singapore = naval + military base
Why did B have problems re-establishing themselves in the Malay Peninsula?
Ethnic tensions with Chinese + Indians + Malay peoples
What organisations represented them?
Malays = United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Chinese = Malay Chinese Association (MCA) or Malay Communist Party (MCP)
What were the Chinese part of between 1945 + 1948?
Labour unions + strikes
Why was there a high percentage of Chinese in Malaya?
1957 = 44%
B needed labour for tin mines + rubber plantations
What was created given ethnic tensions?
Federation of Malaya
What problems did it have?
Post-war economic circumstances
Chinese grievances
Why was a State of Emergency called in 1948?
Rebel attacks on rubber plantations
B used military force + B commissioner Sir Henry Gurney was killed
When had order been restored?
1952
With promise of eventual independence
What was made in 1957 to draw up a new democratic constitution?
The Reid Commission
What did the B exchange?
Colonial rule for informal influence
What happened in 1963?
Malaya united with Singapore
but then 2 years later Singapore was expelled from the federation
Who only had the vote in Singapore?
B people
10% of pop
What were the political parties in Singapore?
SSP - Singapore Progressive party - cons
Labour Front
PAP - People’s Action Party - lab
UMNO/MCA - United Malays National Organisation /Malays Chinese Association
Who persuaded B in 1957 for Singapore’s full self-govt?
Lim Yew Hock
He took strong action against communists
What act meant it would still be part of empire?
State of Singapore Act 1958
What did the B put Singapore a part of that didn’t work?
Federation of Malaya
When did it become fully independent in its own right?
1965
