Decolonisation in Africa and Asia (19) Flashcards
What were the main reasons for decolonisation?
The economic impact of WW2 - None of the imperial nations could afford to fight prolonged colonial wars, fighting against insurgent nationalist movements
The changed international situation - The new dominant powers, the USSR and USA were hostile to imperialism - reliance on USA for economic and military support accelerated decolonisation
The emergence of powerful nationalist movements
Changing priorities in Europe - The 1950s boom of Western Europe led to a reduced reliance on colonies - emergence of EEC from 1957 - Britain joined in 1973
Specific problems - specific problems in the colonies led a re-evalutation of the cost/benefits of colonies
Basic cause for Africa?
Britains post war imperial policy was to improve Africa so it could contribute to the post-war economy, including the creation of the Colonial Development Corporation and extensive development initiatives. The war boom had already started to develop Africa so the addition of this policy, urbanisation and industrialisation, nationalism began to thrive and spread.
Andrew Cohen’s View?
1947 - head of Africa Department in the Colonial Office - Gold Coast is the most advanced African colony in terms of political maturity and ability to rule themselves however nationalism would not come for another decade.
British concessions in the Gold Coast?
Knew that the rise of an African educated elite would lead to the need for concession, but they wanted to dictate them and remain in control.
In 1946 the Burns Convention was drawn up (Named after the Governor-General 1942-1947) - established a legislative council of 12 British nominees and 18 elected African members.
Real power remained in British hands - wave of unrest - protests against British rule
In 1949 Nkrumah formed the Convention Peoples Party (CCP) and pressurised the British administration to make further concession - Britain retained real power but renamed and enlarged the Legislative Council to the Legislative Assembly and expanded the voting number
Loss of Gold Coast?
Nkrumah was gaoled in 1950
CCP won 2/3 of the seats in the Legislative Assembly in 1951
Burns realised the CCP would have to be allowed into government
Nkrumah was released and became Prime Minister from 1952 and CCP members becoming government ministers
Given extensive control of internal affairs
1956 - plebiscite in British Mandated Togoland voted in favour or unification with the Gold Coast
Nationalism became so strong that in 1957 new elections were held for full adult suffrage
Became fully independent on 6th March 1957 as Ghana
Nkrumah became an authoritarian
British concessions and complications in Nigeria?
1946 ‘Richards Constitution’ - greater African representation but the Governor-General and the Executive Council - appointed by the Governor General retaining real power
To help ease the regional and ethical divisions the Legislative Council was extended for nationwide issues, within three assemblies for each region (West, East and South) was established for local matters
Nationalist movements led to amendments to the Constitution with the 1951 Macpherson Constitution, extending the vote and creating a National Council of Ministers, answerable to a 185-seat Federal House of Representatives.
Led to growth of Nigerian political parties which competed and the creation of regional governments with elected assemblies of which the Federal House of Representatives could not over-rule.
Led to further issues between the ethnicities.
Loss of Nigeria?
The British found themselves granting concessions too quickly
Further revisions to the constitution and federal elections in 1954, a government was formed with 3 British officials and nine ministers drawn from various regional political parties
More power was increasingly devolved to the various regional governments and federal election in 1959 created a movement towards full independence in October 1960.
Loss of final West African States?
Sierra Leone and Gambia also experienced too rapid of concessions due to demands from nationalists
Sierra Leone became independent in 1961
Gambia became independent in 1965
Basic reasons for nationalism in East Africa?
In parts, rapid economic growth brought urbanisation, a greater political consciousness, political activism, nationalism and labour disputes.
During war, the population in Nairobi, Kenya increased by half, the populations of Dar-es Salaam and Mombasa bother doubled and the high inflation, poor housing and overcrowding led to protests.
Example of failure of East Africa to become an economic asset?
1946 - many countries faced a severe shortage of cooking fats - Britain founds idea of growing groundnuts in Tanganyika to process in cooking oil and sell
Involved building of a railway, buying machinery and equipment
The terrain was too difficult to cultivate and the scheme abandoned in 1951 costing £49M
Land turned into an uncultivable dust bowl - desertification
Loss of East Africa?
Long-simmering Kikuyu grievances
White people tried to displace the peasant farmers through mechanisation
The desperation of the peasants led to the Mau Mau uprising between 1952 and 1956
The British crushed the rebellion ruthlessly however they lost their moral standing
Support spread to nationalists
Tanganyika granted independence as Tanzania in 1961
Uganda followed in 1962
Kenya in December 1963
Cause of South Africa to leave the Commonwealth?
Since the 1931 Statue of Westminster, South African had free reign of internal affairs and its racist culture
In 1948 the Afrikaner Nationalist Party won power, and implemented apartheid (‘separateness’)
Non-white opposition emerged from the African National Congress
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the South African state brutally suppressed protests, killing 69 at Sharpeville in March 1960
British relations with South Africa strained as there were international objections
Moreover the rejection of the British to give control of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland to South Africa finally led to the 1961 South African vote by the whites to become a republic and leave the commonwealth
Loss of other South African States?
Basutoland became Lesotho on October 4th 1966
Bechuanaland gained independence as Botswana on 30t September 1966
Swaziland gained independence on 6th September 1968
Build-up of colonial strength in southern Africa?
Wanted to counter-balance South African dominance in the region
Wanted to join together the territories to work together and become a strong counter-weight against SA
The Three Territories were
Northern Rhodesia - copper rich
Southern Rhodesia - agriculturally rich with significant white settler colony
Nyasaland - relatively economically underdeveloped country
They were to become the Central African Federation (CAF) - created in 1953
Loss of CAF and its N. Rhodesia and Nyasaland?
Central African Federation
Constitution included some protection for Africans - could be vetoed by Britain
Some provision for African representation in the new Federal Assembly
Despite this, nationalist movements emerged in all three territories
The white governors quickly and harshly responded by imprisoning all nationalists - brought further disorder
Britain realised that decolonisation was the best option
In 1960-1 the British ordered the release of nationalist leaders in in N. Rhodesia and Nyasaland and drew up new constitutions which led to majority rule and full independence.
CAF dissolved in 1963
1964 - Kaunda led N Rhodesia to independence as Zambia
Dr Bandaled Nyasaland to indpendence as Malawi