Open Ended SS Questions
1) How would you compare the contributions of Kwame Nkrumah and Jerry Rawlings to Ghana's economic development? Nkrumah's Government is Overthrown and Ghana's Economy and Culture Today page 414
Kwame Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana. He was a hero, but nine years later he was thrown out of office by a military coup. Most Ghanaians didn't protest, many celebrated. Nkrumah had big plans for Ghana. He borrowed huge amounts of money to make the plans happen fast but didn't return the money quick enough. He became the enemy because of Ghana's new economic problems. His downfall did not end these problems though. The country alternated between military and democratically elected governments. Few were successful so people began to think that Nkrumah had tried his best to help the country and when he passes in 1972, he was hailed as a national hero again. In the 1980s Ghana's president, Jerry Rawlings, tried to make changes in Ghana's politics and economy. He was a military leader who had taken part in some earlier coups. He stressed the traditional African values of hard work and sacrifice to the citizens. They started to support him, and the economy began to grow. Ghana is still dependent on cocoa. Ghana has been able to build better roads and irrigation systems since their economy is growing. The government also wants to help education and health care. People have formed groups to talk about their concerns about issues that affect their lives.
3) Why do you think the Africans living in South Africa fought for their independence from their white-led government? Minority White Rule in South Africa page 433
The Africans living in South Africa fought for their independence from their white-led government because they weren't given equal rights. The government denied them citizenship and didn't let them have a voice in their government including voting. Also, the apartheid system kept them in low-paying jobs, poor schools, and kept them out of white restaurants and hospitals. In addition, they were forced to move to homelands which are rural areas that had the driest and least fertile land. They wanted rights so badly because they weren't treated like the whites for so long.
How would you describe life in Rwanda and Burundi since the late 1950s?
The people of the region are called the Hutu and the Tutsi. These people have common beliefs and social structures. Rwanda and Burundi are neighbors but always had conflict that has not been resolved. The ethnic "makeup" of Rwanda and Burundi are similar. When the Tutsi, first arrived to the country, the Hutu were were established and made their money by subsistence farming. Soon the Hutu were under control of the Tutsis because they had military skills. The Tutsi were herdsman and had gained control of the land. They became aristocratic rulers. The Hutus in the society were considered the servants or vassals. The influence of Belgium had occupied both Rwanda and Burundi but after World War I the influence began declining. The Hutu majority began to demand for more equal rights. In Rwanda, the Hutu succeeded in overthrowing the Tutsi King and thousands of the Tutsi people were killed and others were driven into exile. Once the Tutsi were in power again, many of the Hutu fled the region and became refugees. Today, both Rwanda and Burundi continue to struggle for peace and prosperity.
