Africa (Chapter 33, Sections 1&2)
What you should know:
- Many countries in Africa, like Asia, wanted independence after WWII.
- Imperialism and colonialism was scattered through Africa.
- The Berlin Conference redrew the map of Africa on artificial borders, causing ethnic conflict and disorder.
- Pan-Africanism – movement of unity and identity.
- Negritude Movement: cultural revolution among French-speaking colonies.
- Kwame Nkrumah, independence leader, asks for independence from Britain.
- A series of strikes and rebellions gained easy independence from Britain.
- Ghana became the first independent nation to achieve independence in Africa after WWII.
- The army ousts Nkrumah, and different regimes lead the country until after the Cold War.
- Independence came after a bloody war.
- Colonists had taken the best land in Algeria, and manipulated the country.
- Algeria, backed by Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, launched a guerilla war in 1954.
- President Charles de Gaulle suggests self-determination for Algeria after he comes into office.
- Algeria gained its independence in July, 1962.
- Nationalist leader Patrice Lumumba wanted independence.
- Belgians imprisoned nationalist leaders.
- Belgium freed the Congo in June, 1960.
- Lumumba becomes Prime Minister.
- A civil war started: Moise Tshombe wanted his province, Katanga, to be independent.
- U.N. peacekeeping forces are sent to prevent the United States and Russia from getting involved.
- General Joseph D. Mobutu takes power in a dictatorship, and order is restored.
- Mobutu tries to restore the heritage by taking an African name, Mobutu Sese Seko, and changed the name to Zaire.
- Mobutu takes advantage of his political power.
- The Portugese kept a strong hold over the country.
- A revolution in Portugal occurred, and the new government freed Mozambique.
- Marxist rulers took over in the country, and protested minority governments in other countries.
- Won independence from Britain easily because of few Europeans in the country.
- Problems with large ethnic diversity.
- Civil war raged because of the ethnic problems.
- Kenya suffered for decades under British rule.
- Nationalist leader Jomo Kenyatta wanted independence.
- Bloody attacks on British settlers began.
-
Kenyatta was jailed, but Britain finally granted
independence in 1963.
- Originally Rhodesia, citizens wanted independence.
- Prime Minister Ian Smith was enraged, and declared Rhodesia independent.
- Bands of guerilla fighters began attacking Rhodesia’s Europeans.
- Smith agreed to cooperate with Britain, and Rhodesia was declared independent.
- Renamed Zimbabwe.
- Socialist and freedom fighter Robert Mugabe becomes prime minister.
- Following the 1910 Boer War, Great Britain united British and Dutch holdings at the southern tip of the continent.
- Afrikaners believed in the divine right to rule South Africa.
- Apartheid – policy of racial separation.
- Freedom fighter Nelson Mandela formed a military operation to press for change, only to be imprisoned.
- Soweto – small village where riot took place and was suppressed.
- Africans were forced to live in Bantustans, or “homelands,” for racial separation.
- Riots and instability prompted President P.W. Botha to declare a state of emergency – enlargement of political powers.
- A new president, F.W. de Klerk, eased the Apartheid and freed Mandela from prison. South Africa became independent in 1990.
Challenges facing Africa:
- Civil war and ethnic conflict.
- Organization of African unity.
- Economic difficulties.
- African Identity.
- AIDS crisis.
- Land reform.
- Poverty.
Chart of important countries and leaders:
|
Ghana |
Nkrumah |
|
Algeria |
-none- |
|
Belgian Congo |
Patrice Lumumba Moise Tshombe General Mobutu |
|
Mozambique |
-none- |
|
Nigeria |
-none- |
|
Kenya |
Jomo Kenyatta |
|
Zimbabwe |
Ian Smith Robert Mugabe |
|
South Africa |
Nelson Mandela |
Page written by Tom.