Colonization and Independence in Africa

Berlin Conference

A conference in which the European powers divided up Africa among themselves without the consent of the people living in Africa. - Africans had no idea why Europeans were offering them treaties and that they intended to take them over.

Universal Negro Improvement Association

A black nationalist organization founded by Marcus Garvey. -At first international conference demanded "Africa for the Africans"

imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. - The colonizing powers extended their power throughout Africa by colonizing many regions using force or peaceful methods.

assimilation

A process aimed to erase local cultures and replace them with other culture. - The Africans were forced to assimilate into European society and culture.

List three ways Africans resisted European control.

Diplomacy, discouraging interests in African (ex. Not growing the cash crops), confrontation (fighting)

Pan African Congress

Discussed the common plight of people of African descent. Called for the end of racism, discrimination, and racial depression. Meeting of representatives from African countries and countries around the world. -Brought international support to anticolonial nationalist movements.

Why did France treat Algeria differently than its colonies in West and Central Africa?

France wanted to increase trade, spread French culture and religion, and respond to rising diplomatic tensions with Algeria's ruler.

What was the mission of the Non-Aligned Movement?

It was an organization of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain independent or neutral.

sovereignty

Supreme power or authority. The right of Africans to rule themselves. - The colonized Africans wanted sovereignty meaning that they wanted to right to rule themselves.

Identify two colonial policies that affected the capabilities of newly independent African states to govern?

-Colonial boundaries joined together disparate groups that would have to be forged into nations. -Economic, diplomatic, and sometimes military pressure forced Africans to allow the US and Soviet Union to influence affairs in their countries.

Bandung Conference of Afro-Asian States

A meeting of Asian and African states. The core principles of the Bandung Conference were political self-determination, mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, and equality. These issues were of central importance to all participants in the conference, most of which had recently emerged from colonial rule.

missionaries

A person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country. - Tried to convert Africans to Christianity so that they could be "civilized"

guerilla warfare

A small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces. - The Africans used guerilla warfare to fight against the Europeans trying to take control of their land.

nationalism

A strong devotion to the interests of one's country and people. -African nationalists wanted to regain the political control of their countries.

colonialism

A system in which one country takes control of the political and economic affairs of another nation, and imposes policies to control the population. - European countries came into Africa and colonized Africa so they could use their raw materials without having to trade.

List three ways educated Africans helped organize resistance efforts in cities.

Advocated for better working conditions, an expansion of services (schools, hospital, etc.), an end to discrimination, and African representation in government

What are some ways African leaders are impacting the global community today?

African scholars, politicians, and activists worked to counter the psychological effects of colonialism and to rekindle pride in African cultures and perspectives. African people continue to prove that the legacies of colonialism will not determine their future.

Explain the role of religion in resisting colonialism

Africans used Islam, Christianity, and traditional African religions to resist the colonial system. Religious leaders were key figures in many African resistance movements. Africans formed new churches and religious movements that helped promote African nationalism through ways like music and dance.

anticolonial

Against the colonial system. -Anticolonial beliefs started spreading among Africans creating movements to evict colonial powers from Africa.

cash crops

An agricultural crop grown to sell for profit. - The Europeans forced the Africans to grow one or two cash crops that they would then send back to Europe. This dependance on cash crops made Africans very susceptible to economic changes.

Explain why unity was difficult to achieve among Africans in some areas.

Because of the different ethnic groups. Also there was many different languages spoken

Explain the difference between how Britain and France governed their colonies.

British wanted colonies to be self ruling and ruled indirectly. French wanted the Africans to become more French in nature, assimilated them into French culture.

conscription

Compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces. -Many Africans were forced to fight alongside the Europeans during the world wars.

List three ways the slave trade impacted local African communities.

Destroyed lives, tore communities apart, lead to great population loss, some communities became rich by being traders

List three reasons European governments colonized Africa.

Economic gain, social and political factors (wanting to become the biggest superpower in Europe), racist ideologies

Which two nations remained uncolonized by Europeans by 1900?

Ethiopia, Liberia

List three beliefs, goods, or cultural practices that were exchanged through trade routes in the African continent.

Gold, ivory, textiles

What event marked the end of colonial rule in Africa?

In April 1994, South Africa held its first free elections and became a political democracy, ending more than a century of white rule.

What other regions of the world were undergoing decolonization at the same time African states were becoming independent?

Independence movements in Southeast Asia were lead by popular l eaders like India's Mohandas Gandhi. Arab countries in the Middle East won their independence. The Bandung Conference allowed newly independent countries to pledge their support for African independence.

How did the emergence of mass political parties change African demands for independence

Mass political parties enjoyed broad support and were better organized and more unified in their demands for independence and an end to colonialism.

Identify two colonial policies that affected the capabilities of newly independent African states to develop their economies

New African nations faced a shortage of capital (money to spend) and lacked qualified professionals to run AFrican governments and businesses. Only a handful of Africans had a proper education and the majority of them were illiterate. Universities were rare and new leaders found themselves with only a handful of doctors for an entire country.

What was significant about Portugal and its relationship to the decolonization of Africa?

Portugal denied Africans self-rule the longest because it was the weakest and poorest European colonial power and feared that it would not be able to preserve its interests in Africa after independence. Simultaneous wars with all its colonies eventually led to the collapse of Portugal's African Empire.

fascism

Promoted racial superiority, imperialism, complete control of the State -After WWII Africans realized that Europeans rather support fascism than Africans. Realized colonialism had to be overthrown, not just reformed.

List two ways African economies changed under colonial rule.

Restructured their economies to be dependent on a few cash crops (wanted to get the most amount of raw materials possible), Africans were not allowed to produce manufactured goods (raw materials were at a lower price than manufactured ones)

subsistence farming

Subsistence agriculture is a self-sufficiency farming system in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves and their entire families. -Africans were forced to grow cash crops instead of food to support themselves and their family.

All-African People's Conference

The First All-Africa Peoples Conference was attended by delegates from independence movements in areas still under European colonial rule, as well as by delegates from the independent African countries, including representatives of the governing parties of some of those countries. -The All-Africa Peoples Conference was conceived to represent the position that Africa should be returned to the peoples and groups, such as ethnic communities, from who it was grabbed by colonialism.

League of Nations

The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organisation founded on 10 January 1920 as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first international organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. -Eurpeans in the league made it clear that they believed that it is the duty of Europe to "civilize" all non-European people. Also split up what used to be the Ottoman Empire among European countries.

Non-Aligned Movement

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a group of states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc

United Nations

The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization tasked to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international co-operation and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. Gained new responsibilities for maintaining the behavior of colonial governments. Held colonial powers accountable to the rest of the world.

How do the legacies of colonialism affect Africa today?

The economic systems left by the colonial powers have proved hard to change. Decades of racial oppression and European devaluing of African cultures took a toll on the Africans who lived through colonialism.

self-determination

The process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own allegiances and government. -Africans realized that they would have to become self-determined states.

Why were the USA and USSR opposed to colonialism?

They both were trying to gain supporters for their own economic systems and saw becoming outspoken advocates for an end to colonialism as a rich, new opportunity. They were more interested in expanding their own influence than supporting African independence.

List two ways that Britain and France tried to preserve their economic and strategic interests in former colonies.

They supported moderate African politicians, negotiated agreements to keep military bases in Africa, and invited former colonies to join international organizations.

List three ways Africans opposed colonialism following World War I.

Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) Strikes and boycotts Anticolonial activists published newspapers, books, pamphlets, and petitions that criticized the colonial system Formed groups to promote African culture, including art, dance, theater, and music African artists also helped express popular frustration Also just for context: In response, colonial officials censored the press, imprisoned anticolonial leaders, and increased restrictions on African political activities.

Discuss the impact of three global events on anticolonial efforts in Africa.

WWI: Africans saw that Europeans could be challenged and defeated and were able to regain a great deal of independence during the war. Africans believed after their help in the war, they would gain more rights, but the European powers continued to deny them the right to rule themselves. Great Depression: The European demand for African products decreased, in turn cutting wages and firing workers in Africa. This left Africans struggling, too, because of their dependence on European trade, and this caused great discontent with the colonial system. WWII: The war revealed how dependent the European colonial powers were on their African colonies. The colonies provided funds and raw materials which were essential for the war, and Africans also fought in the army. Many Africans were also exposed to anticolonial movements in other nations (India and Vietnam) and returned home to lead their own.

indirect rule

When colonial officials employ traditional leaders as agents of a colonial system. -In many British colonies indirect rule was used. This made it so the Africans already trusted their leaders but the leaders now got their authority from the colonial system, not their people. These leaders often lost support overtime from their people

direct rule

When colonial officials take direct control over the government of a colony, appointing Europeans as government officials instead of Africans. -In some colonies direct rule was used making it very obvious that the Europeans were controlling the colony.

Explain how colonization impacted the role of women in African societies.

Women lost lots of political and economic power. Passed laws that limited women's economic independence.

List three ways Africans in rural areas opposed colonialism.

Workers refused to follow orders, faked illness, worked slowly on purpose, or didn't show up to work at all

Patrice Lumumba

a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. He played a significant role in the transformation of the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic

apartheid

a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race -Apartheid was adopted by many European colonizers and used in their African colonies.

Mau Mau Uprising

a revolt against colonial rule in Kenya, lasted from 1952 through 1960 and helped to hasten Kenya's independence

legacy

something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past -African Advocates for the end of colonization in Africa will leave behind a legacy for their predecessors to be proud of.

In what ways were the USA and USSR involved in the Congo after it gained independence from Belgium?

the USA and its allies were concerned about Patrick Lumumba's alliance with the Soviet Union, so they supported and backed his assassination. After that, various world powers each supported different factions fighting for power in the Congo.

The Third World

the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America -European powers took advantage of Third World African nations by colonizing them and taking over their governments, at times even claiming they were helping them.

Majority rule

the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power -Majority rule can oftentimes be dangerous because it only requires 50%+1 and is vulnerable to the rise of a demagogue.