Relations with indigenous people 1947-1967 Flashcards

1
Q

How did WW2 result in challenges to colonial rule in Africa + Asia

A

Rapid Japanese victories + conquests of Malaya + Burma destroyed colonial notions of British invincibility - left strong conviction amongst indigenous people that British power was vulnerable

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2
Q

How did post war effect Africa in terms of challenges to colonial rule

A

In Africa rapid economic development was generated during war years by need to provide raw materials/food to support British war effort
Major cities grew rapidly + became places of anti British agitation/conflict

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3
Q

How did African forces drive momentum for nationalism

A

Return to the colonies of men who had served in Imperial + Commonwealth forces during war + feeling that their sacrifices should be rewarded
Close contact with ordinary British soldiers punctured myth of white supremacy

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4
Q

How did the legacy of war lead to growth in nationalist movements

A

Much of empire had been affected by WW2 - Middle East destruction, Singapore + Malaya occupied by Japan + empire contributed millions to war effect - B reluctance to decol brought impatience

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5
Q

How did economic + social discontent lead to growth in nationalist movements

A

Despite rapid growth posy war, locals hadn’t been sufficiently trained in skilled work to benefit from jobs
competition for lands between foreign interests + farmers + when British projects failed locals suffered

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6
Q

In the Gold Coast + Kenya what was the product of improving education

A

Surplus of educate youths unwilling to take manual employments - product of efforts to improve educational opportunities for indigenous people

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7
Q

How did ethnic rivalries lead to growing nationalism

A

Tensions between different ethnic groups within colonies (previously encouraged by colonial rule) fuelled nationalist movements - some groups felt discriminated against when British favoured other groups

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8
Q

How did the British acceptance of Malayan nationality cause tensions

A

British acceptance of ‘Malay nationality’ be restricted to those of Malay ethnicity 1949 encouraged discontented Chinese to support nationalist attacks on Europeans

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8
Q

How did the British acceptance of Malayan nationality cause tensions

A

British acceptance of ‘Malay nationality’ be restricted to those of Malay ethnicity 1949 encouraged discontented Chinese to support nationalist attacks on Europeans

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9
Q

How did the British acceptance of Malayan nationality cause tensions

A

British acceptance of ‘Malay nationality’ be restricted to those of Malay ethnicity 1949 encouraged discontented Chinese to support nationalist attacks on Europeans

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9
Q

How did the British acceptance of Malayan nationality cause tensions

A

British acceptance of ‘Malay nationality’ be restricted to those of Malay ethnicity 1949 encouraged discontented Chinese to support nationalist attacks on Europeans

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10
Q

What is an example of the British favouring ethnic groups

A

Political mobilisation of the Asante in Gold Coast + Yoruba + N Muslims in Nigeria was in response to suspicion that other ethnic groups were being favoured

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11
Q

What is an example of the British favouring ethnic groups causing nationalism

A

Political mobilisation of the Asante in Gold Coast + Yoruba + N Muslims in Nigeria was in response to suspicion that other ethnic groups were being favoured

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12
Q

How did the growth of Western educated leaders lead to nationalism in Africa

A

Key figures able to unite different ethnic groups behind drive for independence
Nkrumah Gold Coast, Aug San Burma - educated in Western schools, articulated their anti-colonial thinking challenged imperial rule

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13
Q

How did mass political parties lead to emergence in nationalism

A

Nationalist movements relied on strength in numbers + organised following - leaders put British in publicly difficult moral positions + were obliged to respect political parties

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14
Q

Explain how the creation of parties enabled nationalism

A

Creation of parties enabled growth of ideas/opportunity to compete for power once democratic elections were established
CPP Gold Coast, AFPEL Burma, MCA Malaya, UMNO SA, ANC Rhodesia
Used mass mobilisation to achieved aims

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15
Q

Why did the Mau Mau break out in insurgency

A

Kikuyu people suffered from shortage of land/poor conditions/unemployment due to white settlers

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16
Q

Why did Mau Mau insurrection challenge British colonial rule

A

1952 major insurrection shook British colonial rule - showed vulnerability of regime dominated by white settlers who gave no concessions to black Kenyan’s post war

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17
Q

What did colonial administrator Governor Mitchell announce in Kenya

A

1948 Sir Phillip Mitchell announced that self-govt would not be possible in near future - fuelled black Kenyan’s anger

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18
Q

How did Mau Mau insurrection escalate 1952

A

1952 escalation of violence - murders of white farmers - Chief of Kikuyu spoke out against violence but assassinated October
Reports that MM were taking ritualistic oaths committing themselves to insurgency fuelled panic amongst settlers who demanded brutal reprisals by British force

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19
Q

Why did insurgency post major challenge to British

A

Guerrilla tactics impactful, settlers panicked by violence
British governor Baring resorted to declaring State of Emergency 1952

20
Q

What did the State of Emergency in Kenya do

A

1952 Baring declared State of Emergency - suspended all Black African rights + Mau Mau treated as political terrorists
Black leaders Kenyatta imprisoned + thousands of British troops sent out

21
Q

What was the British response to Kenyan Emergency

A

British imposed repressive measures - using troops aided by planes/helicopters (MM stood little chance but managed to hold out for 5 years)
Kikuyu villages uprooted + relocated destroyed through military forces

22
Q

What were the Rehabilitation camps in Kenya

A

British hanged suspects + interned thousands into rehabilitation camps where they were interrogated/tortured to identify MM sympathisers
1952-56 11-12000 killed = 81000 detained

23
Q

What was the Hola Camp atrocities

A

Appalling conditions in camps highlighted 1959 when atrocities at Hola Camp where 11 inmates killed came to light in British press - embarrassment for govt

24
Q

When was the State of Emergency in Kenya lifted

A

1960 (8 years)

25
Q

How was winds of change speech linked to Mau Mau affair

A

Macmillan’s winds of change speech 1960 shifted policy towards African independence undoubtably linked to Mau Mau affair (embarrassment of camps + affairs shown British poorly equipped to deal with large scale insurrection)

26
Q

Aftermath of Mau Mau rebellion

A

New Governor of Kenya facilitated moves towards independence + black majority rule achieved 1963 where remaining 1500 Mau Mau’s laid down their arms

27
Q

What was the character of nationalism in Malay

A

Activities of nationalist groups in Malay States exemplifies how issues of race/ethnicity complicated fight for independence

28
Q

What was UMNO in Malay

A

UMNO initially cooperated with British to defeat Communists who were attempting to establish control in area but opposed British ideas of Malayan Union
After British agreed to establishment of Federation of Malaya 1949 UMNO focused on political independence

29
Q

What were some racial tensions in Malaya

A

Cooperation with MCA 1954 + MIC 1955 ensured electoral success but didn’t resolved issue of racially divided peninsula
British cooperated with UMNO

30
Q

What caused the Malayan Emergency 1948

A

Militant attacks on farming, police stations, strikes, disruption of transport/communication
MCP + left wing groups declared illegal 1948
1951 Sir Henry Gurney High Commissioner shot dead by guerrillas

31
Q

Why was the British so concerned about insurgency in Malaya

A

British concerned due to fears of communism + wanted to protect their valuable economic resource Rubber industry - importance magnified by $ value
Malaya prime strategic asset

32
Q

How did Malaya restore stability

A

British had to depend on indigenous elite - had to promise self-govt
After Emergency Tunku became first Chief minister of Malaya 1955 - had to turn to British to support deal for full independence August 1957

33
Q

Why was there further problems in Malaya despite independence

A

Independence didn’t end tensions - differences of UMNO + MCA ethnics issues
Tunku created Malaysia 1963 (accordance with British)
Friction in Singapore due to to race relations led to riots 1964 Singapore expelled from Union (British hopes of retaining influence in area weakened)

34
Q

What was the character of nationalist movements in Nigeria

A

Ethnic divisions plagued moves to independence in Nigeria - nationalism didn’t stem from common Nigerian nationality
N Islamic Emirs, West sought independence, S nationalism influenced by Europeans

35
Q

Nigeria post war emergence of nationalist parties

A

Nigeria had elected Legislative Council - wartime service reinforced nationalism of youths (educated)
Post war independence parties emerged but draw on basis of region/ethnicity

36
Q

What was the National Council of Nigeria + Cameroons (NCNC)

A

Azikiwe - owned newspapers argued nationalist cause - party had widest appeal

37
Q

What were the Action Group + NPC

A

Action Group - dominated by Yoruba, resisted concept of unitary govt, sought autonomous states within federal structure
Northern People’s Congress - Western educated N Muslims insisting on maintaining regional divides

38
Q

What constitutions emerged from Nigeria

A

3 constitutions drawn up in consultation with British 1946-54
S sought self-govt to promote education/economic development
N Emirs demanded control on economic/political change (claimed actions by S challenge to Emirs)

39
Q

Nigeria’s independence

A

Formally self-governing 1957 (N 1959)
However ‘grant’ of federal constitution by British looked like peaceful transaction to self-rule but actually intensified divisions in Nigeria

40
Q

Why did post-war Rhodesia see the growth of nationalism

A

Rhodesia had substantial number of white settlers + alienated black majority - black resentment at low pay/few rights due to increase in white settlers post WW2

41
Q

How did the white settlers in Rhodesia maintain power

A

129000 white settlers of S Rhodesia who had self-govt 1923 intent on preserving white power whilst 36000 white settlers N Rhodesia also wanted control

42
Q

Why was a Federation of Rhodesia + Nyasaland 1953 (CAF) created

A

Mineral wealth of N Rhodesia likely to tempt S politicians to extend their influence - British tried to prevent this by creating Federation of Rhodesia + Nyasaland 1953 (Central African Federation)
Each 3 areas would have its own legislature/govt
- Hoped that this would protect African’s in N + Nyasaland from discriminatory S laws

43
Q

Why did CAF fail

A

Southern white people tried to use Federation to reinforce their own political leadership + white N same political influence - left Nyasaland in bad position (had few white people) + resisted Federation 1953

44
Q

Why was there a State of Emergency in Rhodesia

A

Governor of Nyasaland Armitage, feared collapse of British authority, declared state of emergency + banned Nyasaland African Congress + imprisoned its leaders 1300
Members of congress parties detained without trial 200 imprisoned for offences related to Emergency

45
Q

How did Rhodesia react to State of Emergency

A

Reinforcements sent from N + S Rhodesia used to round up activists, 51 killed by troops including 20 at incident at Nkata Bay 1959

46
Q

British Commission 1959

A

Specially convened British Commission 1959 concluded that the emergency in Rhodesia has been an overreaction + denounced Nyasaland from employing illegal/unnecessary force + endorsed opinion that majority of Nyasaland’s opposed to federation

47
Q

How did CAF break up

A

Macmillan + Ian Macleod (colonial secretary) had no choice but to break up Federation
1964 N Rhodesia became new African state of Zambia with provision for emergence of Black African majority govt + became member of commonwealth
Nyasaland became Malawi

48
Q

How did Southern Rhodesia become independent

A

Under Ian Smith as PM retained white dominated govt + 1956 declared UDI as Rhodesia
UDI rejected as illegal/unconstitutional by Britain + UN but Smith pursued it - Britain imposed sanctions little effect - affair shows Britain’s weakness since unable to deal with rebels in ex-colony
UDI triggered 15 year war between white + nationalists - last British colony to achieve independence Zimbabwe