Legacies of colonialism, type of government and political stability and instability (8) Flashcards
What part did the legacies left by colonialism play?
The legacies left by colonialism played an important part in determining the political challenges faced by each independent state and how successfully they could be overcome.
What did the British set up a system of in Tanzania? (4)
- Britain set up a system of political administration which gave some preparation for independence.
- In the 1920s the British set up ‘native authorities’ which gave some administrative powers, such as tax collection and responsibility for law and order, to local chiefs.
- After 1945 some African representatives were appointed to the Central Legislative Council.
- In the early 1950s the local native authorities’ under chiefs were replaced with local government administrations which included Western-educated Africans.
Although the systems set up by British colonists were not enough what legacy did they leave?
These institutions were all under the control of the colonial government and were not enough to satisfy the demands of African nationalists in TANU, but these reforms left a legacy of some African administrative experience in the new state.
When did Tanzanian achieve independence?
When general elections were finally held in 1960, TANU won the elections, and in 1961 Tanzania became independent under a TANU government.
By contrast, the ____ colonial system in the Congo provided almost no political opportunities for Africans.
Belgian
How did the Belgians rule the Congo?
The Belgians ruled the Congo through colonial administrators who treated Africans as children incapable of self-rule.
What did the Belgians set up in 1950?
In the 1950s some ‘native councils’ were established which gave a limited role to a few Africans in local affairs. However, Africans had no representation at central government level and political parties were forbidden.
The speed with which the Belgians withdrew from the Congo after the _______ riots in 1959 meant that there was little time for an orderly _____ of power. Political parties were quickly formed but there was no single party that united nationalists as ____ did in Tanganyika.
Leopoldville
handover
TANU
What happened in the first national elections held in Congo?
In the first national elections held in 1960, Lumumba and his MRC party obtained the most support, but not an outright majority.
What did TANU’s victory in 1960 show?
TANU’s victory in the 1960 democratic multiparty elections in Tanzania showed that it had the support of the large majority of Tanganyikans. In the first election after independence in 1962, TANU won all the parliamentary seats except one.
What did Nyerere set up in 1964?
In 1964 Nyerere set up a commission that recommended that Tanzania officially become a one-party state after the 1966 elections.
Was there a great sense of unity in Congo like there was in Tanzania?
No, In the Congo, no one party had an overall majority and there were many parties competing for power. These parties represented different regions and ethnicities and followed different political ideologies, and so there was great disunity.
Lumumba’s attempt to consolidate control under the _____ failed.
MNC
What ensured an authoritarian military government of Mobuto, backed by the West, was formed in Congo?
After that, the breakaway of Katanga and Kasai provinces, the intervention of the Belgian army and the conflicts that followed Lumumba’s death created a situation in which a military coup was likely.
Why was Tanzania so politically stable?
The one-party system of government in Tanzania, based on the overwhelming support given by voters to TANU, gave strong political stability to the country. There were no challenges to Nyerere’s leadership and no regional separatist movements.
