Causes of Decolonisation Flashcards
1
Q
Nationalism - Gold Coast
A
- Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party held a Gandhian like civil disobedience campaign in 1950
- Nkrumah arrested in January 1950
- CPP still won 34/38 seats in February 1951
- First African colony to gain independence on 6th March 1957
2
Q
Nationalism examples?
A
- Gold Coast
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- India
- MacMillan’s Wind of Change Speech February 1960
3
Q
Nationalism - Kenya
A
- Mau Mau Uprising 1952
- Driven by anti-colonial aim to recover land alienated to white settlers
- Kenyatta blamed for Mau Mau and imprisoned but released in 1961
- Kenyatta’s Kenya African National Union won elections in 1963
- Then granted independence on 12th December 1963
4
Q
Nationalism - Nigeria
A
- Dr Azikiwe wrote newspapers capitalising on growing nationalism in British West Africa
- He protested in London after the conservative Richards’ Constitution 1946, replaced by liberal Macpherson constitution in 1961
- Conferences held in London and Lagos in 1953 and 54
- Granted independence on 1st October 1961 with Azikiwe as Governor-General
5
Q
Specific/Domestic Issues - Loss of moral justification
A
- Sharpeville South Africa 1960; 69 protestors killed by police
- Hola Camp Incident reported on 1959; 11 Mau Mau detainees beaten to death by guards
6
Q
Specific/Domestic Issues - EEC
A
Britain wanted to join the European Economic Community which motivated quick decolonisation especially in Africa
7
Q
Economic reasons
A
- Britain economy in relative decline: sluggish growth rate, regular balance of payments deficit and shrinking share of world’s manufacturing exports
- MacMillan instructed Whitehall to construct audit of Empire’s cost-benefit (implies concern); analysis inconclusive but MacM believed Empire was an economic liability
- By early 1960s, increasing proportion of British exports were going to Europe rather than to Commonwealth
8
Q
International reasons - US
A
- US ideologically opposed to Imperialism
- Didn’t want Britain to hang on, causing colonies to become resentful then once independent turn to Communist USSR
9
Q
International reasons - Suez
A
- President Eisenhower condemned Eden government after Suez Crisis October 1956 where Britain recruited French and Israel to help maintain its influence in Egypt
- USA refused to support sterling in currency crisis which WWII had brought on UK; Eden resigned
10
Q
Why international reasons are limited?
A
- US relatively relaxed about British policy
- MacMillan was quick to restore Anglo-American relations after Suez and US helped Britain manage complex colonial issues
- Although Nkrumah had close links to communist powers, there wasn’t any significant communist activity in any Federation or colony
- Some African nationalists actively sought American support
11
Q
Quote from MacMillan’s Wind of Change speech?
A
Claimed they had to decolonise due to the “growth of national consciousness”
12
Q
When did Palestine gain independence?
A
May 1948
13
Q
How much did the British spend on Palestine?
A
1845-47 £100m
