African Independence after WW2

8 Questions

What was the main goal of the African soldiers who fought alongside Europeans during World War II?

To defend freedom and democracy

What type of colonial administration was characterized by limited self-rule and local control?

Indirect

Who was the leader of the Ghanaian independence movement and the first prime minister of Ghana?

Kwame Nkrumah

What was the primary reason for the British resistance to Kenyan independence?

The British wanted to protect their prize farmland in Kenya

What was the name of the Algerian leader who attempted to make Algeria a socialist state?

Ahmed Ben Bella

What was the primary challenge faced by the Congo after gaining independence from Belgium?

Preparing for self-rule and independence

Who was the leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo who seized power in 1965 and ruled for 32 years?

Mobutu Sese Seko

What was the main goal of the Pan-African movement in Africa?

To end colonialism and promote African unity

Study Notes

Aftermath of World War 2

African soldiers fought alongside Europeans during WW2 to "defend freedom"
Colonial Africa was characterized by two types of government: direct (no self-rule) and indirect (limited self-rule)

Challenges of Newly Created States

Creation of a new government
Deciding whether to retain colonial administration and what institutions to create
Building a postcolonial economy
Overcoming dependence on a few exports and underdeveloped sectors

Ethnic Groups and National Borders

Artificial borders created by Europeans separated people with similar cultures
New states faced problems between ethnic groups within their borders
European-drawn boundaries often led to instability and violence

Ghana

Led by Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana gained independence in 1957
Renamed Ghana, honoring a past African kingdom
Nkrumah became the first prime minister and later president
Pushed through new infrastructure, but expenses harmed the economy
Criticized for focusing on Pan-African efforts over Ghana's economic problems
1966 military seized power, and 2000 marked Ghana's first open elections

Kenya

British resisted Kenyan independence due to prize farmland
Strong leadership of Jomo Kenyatta led to British acceptance of independence
Mau Mau, a group of native Kenyan farmers, rebelled against British rule
Kenyatta became president in 1963, working to unify cultural groups
1978 Daniel Arap Moi took power, introducing one-party rule and corruption
2007 presidential elections led to violence, and 2010 saw a new constitution
2011 Kenya joined the fight against al-Shabaab in Somalia

Algeria

1954 Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) announced its intention to fight for independence
1962 independence, with Ahmed Ben Bella as first president
Attempted to make Algeria socialist, but was overthrown in 1965
Failed to industrialize and modernize, leading to Islamist rise and civil war
1990s civil war ongoing

Congo

1960 independence from Belgium, unprepared for self-rule
Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister, tried to unite Congo and promote Pan-Africanism
Murdered, leading to Katanga Province rebellion and civil war
1965 Mobutu Sese Seko seized power, renaming Congo as Zaire
32 years of rule, controlled with force, one-party rule, and gifts
1997 overthrown by Laurent Kabila, renaming the country as Democratic Republic of Congo
2000 civil war, and 2001 Kabila's assassination
2002 Joseph Kabila signed a peace deal with rebel groups and nearby countries
2006 new constitution, and 2008 signed a peace treaty with more rebel groups