Decolonisation in Africa Flashcards
(57 cards)
1
Q
How did Andrew Cohen view the Gold Coast Colony ?
A
- most advanced colony politically and in their fitness to rule themselves
- independence was likely
2
Q
Why was decolonisation quicker in West Africa ?
A
- there wasn’t a significant white settler population which complicated the process
3
Q
What did the British recognise after WW2 ?
A
- The rise of African elite would mean allowing some degree of African representation
4
Q
What were British aims in the Gold Coast colony ?
A
- slow down the process of decolonisation so it would be beneficial for Britain and not damage their prestige
5
Q
What was the Burns Constitution 1946 ?
A
- established a Legislative Council of 12 British nominees and 18 elected African members
- majority of elected Africans
6
Q
role of nationalist movements on putting pressure on British administrators ? ( Gold Coast )
A
- wave of unrest spread and protests against British rule gathered momentum
- Convention People’s party ( CPP ) pressurised to make further concessions
7
Q
Who founded the Convention’s People’s Party ( CPP )
A
- Kwame Nkrumah
8
Q
Impact of CPP nationalist movement on British administration ?
A
- became clear that CPP would have to be brought into government to bring troubles and nationalist pressure under control
9
Q
Decolonisation in West Africa ?
A
- Nigeria
- Gold Coast
10
Q
What was the resistance to British colonial rule in Nigeria ?
A
- In 1943, strike of railway and government workers including 30,000 in Lagos alone
- National Council of Nigeria and eh Cameroon formed in 1944 with ultimate aim of self governing in Nigeria
- estimated that between 1945-50 over 100,000 man - days were lost to strike action
11
Q
Who founded the National Council of Nigeria and eh Cameroon ?
A
- Nnamdi Azikiwe
12
Q
Problems/Issues in Nigeria ?
A
- Country was regionally and ethnically divided
13
Q
What did the Richards Constitution 1946 include ? ( Nigeria )
A
- New arrangements allowed for greater African representation
- Governor General and Executive Council ( appointed by the governor ) retained ultimate power
14
Q
Why were there regional assemblies in each major region ?
A
- country was ethnically, regionally and religiously divided
15
Q
Regional assemblies in each of the three major regions created ?
A
- 3 assemblies for each of the three regions established to debate local matters and to advise British governors in these regions
16
Q
Why was the MacPherson Constitution made ?
A
- Made as greater pressure of change from nationalist movements forced the British to amend the Constitution
17
Q
What did the MacPherson Constitution include ?
A
- extended the right to vote and created a national Council of Ministers, answerable to a 185 seat Federal House of Representatives
- Each region allowed its own government and elected assembly
- Federal House of Representatives could not overrule these regional governments. Effect was to exacerbate tensions rather than ease them
18
Q
Impact of MacPherson Constitution ?
A
- encouraged the growth of nationalism
- growth in political parties based around these regions who began to compete for elections to the new House
19
Q
Which other reforms were the British pushed into in Nigeria ?
A
- New political parties representing different ethnic gaps and regions
- Further revisions of the Constitution and federal elections in 1954
- Following these, government was formed consisting of 3 British officials and 9 ministers drawn from the various regional political parties in order to strike a balance at a national level between different regions
- More power increasingly given to various regional governments and following federal elections moves Ade towards independence
20
Q
British aims / hopes for East African colonies after WW2 ?
A
- Economic development to make it more profitable
- unite Eastern colonies to make an East African Federation to make it easier to govern
21
Q
Issues / problems in East Africa that encouraged nationalism
A
- population of major urban centres like Nairobi in Kenya increased by half, white population of Dar- es - Salaam and Mombasa both doubled
- High inflation, poor housing and overcrowding followed which fuelled protests
22
Q
How was nationalism different in East Africa ?
A
- much more violent in East frica
- rapid economic growth Brough political consciousness and activism
23
Q
What was the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme ?
A
- growing in Tanganyika large quantities of groundnuts ( peanuts ) which could be processed into cooking oil and sold to the world economy
- project involved massive investment in tractors, equipment and construction
24
Q
How did the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme fail ?
A
- terrain proved too difficult to cultivate
- scheme abandoned in 1951 having cost £49 million with the land also uncultivable dust bowl
25
Impact of the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme ?
- Failure of the scheme provoked East African peasants
26
What was the Nationalist Party in Tanganyika ?
- The Tanganyikan African Nationalist Union
- led by Julius Nyerere which had massive support
27
Impact of the Tanganyika nationalist movement on colonial administration ?
- Nyere demanded self government and threatened strikes and boycotts
28
Why did Britain come to accept Tanganyika's independence ?
- Britain aware Tanganyika had little economic or strategic importance
29
When was Tanganyika independent ?
- Tanganyika independent as Tanzania in 1961
30
Issues / problems in Uganda ?
-serious tribal divisions within the colony
31
Why did Britain decide to grant independence to Uganda ?
- Uganda seemed ungovernable because of the tribal differences - British could only control through repression
32
When did Uganda get their independence ?
- independence granted in October 1962
33
British situation in Kenya after WW2 ?
- Most valuable of Britain's East African possessions
- White population ( approx 50,000 ) controlled most of the best land and dominated legislative council
34
Cause of the violent protest / Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya ?
- Long simmering Kikuyu grievances at their treatment by white settlers erupted into violence when white people sought to mechanise farming and displace the peasant growers
35
British response to the Mau Mau rebellion ?
- British crushed the rebellion with great ruthlessness and successfully divided the Kikuyu people
36
Impact of Mau Mau rebellion on colonial administration ?
- British weakened their moral authority and support for the nationalists increased
- Horrors at Hola Camp created outrage in Britain as no one would be prosecuted
37
What was the Nationalist Party in Kenya ?
- The Kenyan African National Union
- Led by Kenyatta
38
Impact of developments in Tanganyika and Uganda on Kenya ?
- Granting independence in neighbouring colonies encouraged nationalism in Kenya
39
What was the London Conference in January 1960 ?
- attended by white and black Kenyan politicians
- a constitution was devised which gave elected Africans a majority in the Kenyan legislature
40
Impact of a constitution in Kenya ?
- Once the principles of self government under a majority rule was established, independence was inevitable
41
When did Kenya get its independence ?
- Kenya independent under Kenyatta in 1963
42
How did the white minority in Southern Africa have controller its internal affairs ?
- following the Statute of Westminster
43
What did Afrikaner Nationalist Party do ?
- implemented a policy of apartheid
44
Impact of the policy of apartheid in Southern Africa ?
- non white people were severely repressed
45
Opposition to the policy of apartheid ?
- led primarily by the African Nationalist Congress led by Nelson Mandela
46
Reaction / Response to the opposition to the policy of apartheid ?
- South African government responded with brutal suppression of all protests throughout the 1950s and 1960s - 69 protestors killed by police in March 1960
47
Southern Africa relationship with Britain ?
- International opinion critical of SA and relationship with Britain was strained
- Britain refused to give Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland to SA
48
When did Southern Africa become independent ?
- In 1961, South African population voted two become a Republic and leave the Commonwealth;th
49
What was the Central African Federation ( CAF )
- the merging of Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland
50
Why was the CAF created ?
- created to provide effective counter - weight to South Africa and prevent apartheid in these areas too
51
Was there opposition to CAF ?
- Powerful African nationalist movements emerged in all three territories, led by nationalists who were suspicious of Britain's intentions
52
Reaction to the opposition against the CAF ?
- White governors of the CAF responded fiercely and nationalist leaders were arrested and imprisoned.
- These actions Brough disorder
53
Steps to decolonisation in Central Africa ?
- In 1960-61, British ordered the release of nationalist leaders in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland
- Drew up new constitution for these territories which paved the way for independence
54
Impact of majority rule in Central African colonies
- allowed them to campaign for independence from the Federation
55
When was the CAF dissolved
- in 1963
56
Methods of CPP
- mobilised mass support through peaceful protests and civil disobedience.
57
Impact of Gold Coat independence
- symbol of African liberation
- became a model for other African nations
