10 Questions
What experiences during WWII changed the worldview of African soldiers?
Seeing devastated cities in Europe and learning about the poverty and misery there.
How did the African nationalists' awareness of international mobilization influence their political consciousness?
It connected them to movements like US civil rights and independence struggles in Asia.
During their stay abroad, which influential pan-Africanists did African nationalists encounter?
W.E.B Du Bois and Marcus Garvey.
What were some of the international or external factors that influenced African nationalism post-WWII?
The weakening of imperial powers, the emergence of the US and USSR as superpowers, and the Atlantic Charter and UN Charter.
What role did the Atlantic Charter and UN Charter play in the fight against colonial rule?
They emphasized human rights and the right to self-determination, providing a platform for nationalists to oppose colonialism.
Why did Britain and France decide on a strategy of gradual, negotiated decolonization by the mid-1950s?
They realized that the cost of retaining colonies was higher than the benefits and that fostering relations with future African leaders was more beneficial.
What options were considered in the debates between 1946-1960 regarding the future of African territories?
Confederation, asymmetric federation, and independence.
What did the French Constitution of 1958 establish in relation to the French colonies?
It dissolved French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa, creating the French Community.
Which territories were part of French Equatorial Africa and French West Africa that were dissolved after 1958?
Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Gabon (French Equatorial Africa) and Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Benin, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali (French West Africa).
What changes did the internal self-government of 1956 bring to French territories in Africa?
Universal suffrage, with France retaining control over defense, foreign affairs, education, and economic planning.
Study Notes
Characteristics of Colonies
- Settler colonies were more economically developed, while non-settler colonies remained underdeveloped.
Post-WWII Phase of Welfare Colonialism
- Characterized by increased provision of infrastructure and social services by colonial powers.
Decolonization Timeline
- Liberia (1847) and Ethiopia (occupied 1936-41) were never colonies.
- A few African countries gained independence before 1960:
- Egypt in 1922
- South Africa in 1934
- Libya in 1951
- Sudan, Morocco, and Tunisia in 1956
- Ghana in 1957
- Guinea in 1958
- Many African countries gained independence between 1960 and 1970.
- A few gained independence later:
- Portuguese colonies (1973-1975)
- Djibouti (1977)
- Zimbabwe (1965, 1980)
- Namibia (1990)
- Eritrea (1993)
Factors of Decolonization
- An interplay of multiple factors, including internal pressures and international or external factors.
- Domestic factors can be broadly classified into two categories.
French Response to Decolonization
- Immediate withdrawal of French forces, taking movable properties and files.
- Denial of military and economic relationships extended to the rest of Francophone Africa.
Process of Decolonization by Country
- Belgium:
- Granted independence to the Congo in 1960.
- Had far less prior investment in administrative infrastructure and education compared to French colonies.
- Britain:
- Negotiated with each territory separately.
- No single year of British decolonization.
- Portugal:
- Considered its African territories an integral part of the Portuguese state.
- Considered African nationalism illegitimate.
- Wars of independence, mid-1960s until 1975.
- Ended with the "carnation revolution" in Portugal in 1974, which overthrew the authoritarian regime.
- Decolonization occurred in 1974-1975.
Explore the characteristics of welfare colonialism that emerged post-World War II, including factors like increased provision of infrastructure and social services by colonial powers. Test your knowledge on settler colonies and non-settler colonies in the context of decolonization.
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