West Africa (1830-1966) Flashcards
(19 cards)
What treaty ended the First Anglo-Ashanti War and what was its key term?
The Treaty of 1831 ended the First Anglo-Ashanti War. The Ashanti accepted the Pra River as the boundary between the British-controlled Fante coastal region and the Ashanti Empire.
What was unique about the Ashanti’s military strategy in the Second Anglo-Ashanti War?
The Ashanti deployed full-time units of medical personnel behind their main forces to care for the wounded and remove the dead, a rare feature among African armies at the time. This war occurred in 1863-1864 and had no clear victor, as illness caused more casualties than combat.
What was the Ashanti strategy in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War, and why did it fail?
The Ashanti tried to lure the British deep into their territory for a strong defensive stand, but they could not overcome the modern firepower of the British. The British occupied Kumasi and burned it down. The Ashanti signed the Treaty of Fomena in 1874.
What was the British reaction to the Ashanti delegation offering economic concessions in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War?
Despite the Ashanti offering control over gold, cocoa, and rubber trade, the British had already decided on a military solution. The Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh was arrested and exiled to Seychelles in 1896.
What event triggered the War of the Golden Stool, and who led the Ashanti resistance?
The conflict began in 1900 when British representative Sir Frederick Mitchell Hodgson sat on the Golden Stool, a sacred Ashanti symbol. Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa led the rebellion, which resulted in 1,000 British and allied casualties and 2,000 Ashanti deaths.
How did the Royal Niger Company gain control over Northern and Southern Nigeria?
The British awarded two royal charters to the Royal Niger Company: one for Southern Nigeria in 1884 and one for Northern Nigeria in 1885. Native kingdoms that resisted free trade were invaded and subdued.
What caused the conflict between Britain and the Kingdom of Benin?
In 1896, Acting Consul-General James Phillips attempted to visit the Oba of Benin during the Igue festival, despite warnings that non-natives were forbidden. The Benin army killed Phillips and most of his men.
What was the British military response to the Benin Massacre?
In 1897, British forces invaded Benin, overwhelming the defenders with superior weaponry. The city was looted and burned. Oba Ovonramwen was captured and exiled to Calabar, where he died in 1914.
How did the Ijebu Kingdom resist British control, and what was the outcome?
The Ijebu imposed a blockade on trade routes into Lagos and charged customs fees, which were vital to their economy. The British forced them to sign a treaty in 1891, but after continued resistance, the British attacked and occupied the Ijebu capital in 1892.
What methods did the Sokoto Caliphate use to resist British control?
The Sokoto Caliphate resisted through military and passive means. The Nupe Emirate withdrew labor from the Royal Niger Company in 1895, while Ilorin tried to cause disturbances in 1903 to distract from British attacks on Sokoto. Despite these efforts, British military superiority led to Sokoto’s eventual defeat.
How did Nigeria’s ethnic diversity shape its nationalism?
Nationalism in Nigeria was fragmented:
The North was Islamic and anti-Western.
The West sought economic independence.
The South was influenced by European ideas and professional organizations.
What role did World War II play in Nigerian nationalism?
Nigerian soldiers served in Ethiopia, Palestine, Morocco, Sicily, and Burma. Their experiences reinforced nationalist sentiments, especially among younger educated intellectuals in the post-war period.
What were the major nationalist political parties in Nigeria, and who led them?
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC): Led by Nnamdi Azikiwe, dominated by the Igbo.
Action Group (AG): Led by Obafemi Awolowo, representing the Yoruba and advocating federalism.
Northern People’s Congress (NPC): Led by Ahmadu Bello, dominated by the Hausa-Fulani and emirs.
What were the major challenges in Nigeria’s constitutional development?
Three constitutions were drawn up between 1946 and 1954, but ethnic divisions complicated negotiations. The North wanted to maintain emirate control, while the South sought self-government.
When did Nigeria achieve self-governing status, and how was it structured?
The Southern, Western, and Eastern regions gained self-government in 1957, and the Northern region followed in 1959 under a parliamentary system.
What role did Nnamdi Azikiwe play in Nigerian independence?
Azikiwe helped create the NCNC in 1944, worked to unite Nigeria’s ethnic groups under a federal system, and convinced the British that Nigeria could function without colonial rule. Nigeria gained independence in 1960, with Azikiwe as its first President.
What political ideologies influenced Kwame Nkrumah?
Nkrumah was influenced by:
Pan-Africanism (African unity and cooperation).
Marxist socialism (redistribution of wealth).
Popular nationalism (grassroots activism).
Responsible leadership (working with the British).
What were Kwame Nkrumah’s key political achievements?
Helped organize the 1945 Pan-African Congress.
Became General Secretary of the UGCC in 1947.
Formed the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in 1948.
Became Ghana’s Prime Minister in 1953.
Led Ghana to independence in 1957 and became President in 1960.
How did Nkrumah’s presidency end?
Nkrumah was overthrown in a 1966 military coup, later revealed to have been backed by the CIA.
