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AQA A-Level History - British Empire = Revision Material
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AQA A-Level History - British Empire 5Cs
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Section 4: The winds of change, c1947-1967What were the primary reasons for decolonisation?
● Economic impact of Second World War.
● Changing international situation with rise of Soviet Union and United States emerging as new world powers.
● The emergence of powerful nationalist movements in the colonies which aimed to secure independence from European empires.
● Changing priorities in Europe with countries by the 1950s experiencing a dramatic post-war recovery and emergence of the European Economic
Community in 1957, which Britain joined in 1973. As a result, support for Empire dwindled.
● Specific problems in colonies such as India and Burma.
How did decolonisation develop in Africa?
Britain’s post-colonial policy placed emphasis on developing African colonies, creation of policy enshrined in Colonial Development Corporation.
Second World War however accelerated economic growth of colonies in response to needs of war effort and this, in addition to growing industrialisation, led
to new nationalist ideas.
WEST AFRICA:
THE GOLD COAST: NIGERIA:
British administrators had anticipated during war that rise of educated In 1946, Richards Constitution drawn up (named after Arthur Richards,
African elite meant allowing some African political representation Governor-General). Allowed for greater African representation but
however British wanted change to be gradual and have no imposition Governor-General and Executive Council appointed by Governor
on British interests. retained power.
In 1946, Burns Constitution (named after Governor-General Alan Country was regionally and ethnically divided and British took view that
Burns) drawn up in Gold Coast, establishing Legislative Council with any move towards independent Nigeria should take form of federation
elected African members though final power remained in hands of of separate regional states. Thus, three assemblies for each 3 major
British Governor. regions – West, East and South.
Convention People’s Party (CPP) founded by Kwame Nkrumah in
1949 pressurised British to make further concessions: Legislative
Council enlarged and renamed Assembly and number of voting rights Greater pressure for change from nationalist movements forced
increased but still power remained in hands of British governor. Macpherson Constitution of 1951 (named after Governor-General after
Richards, John Macpherson), which extended right to vote and created
Though Nkrumah jailed in 1950, CPP won 2/3 of seats in 1951 and National Council of Ministers, answerable to 185-seat House of
became clear to Burns that CPP would rule therefore Nkrumah released Representatives.
and given position of Prime Minister from 1952 with members of CPP
taking posts of ministers. Stimulated growth of Nigerian political parties. Each region
strengthened with own government and elected assembly. Stimulated
growth of political parties as federal house could not over-rule regional
governments but ultimately exacerbated ethnic tensions.
Elected government given extensive control over internal affairs and New political parties established representing different ethnic groups
Nkrumah’s popularity grew. In 1956, plebiscite in neighbouring British which pushed path towards independence. Further revisions of
Mandate of Togoland gave vote for unification with Gold Coast. constitution and federal elections in 1954 led to new government formed
Support for independence was so high that elections in 1957 passed on consisting of 3 British with 9 ministers from various regional political
adult suffrage. parties to strike balance.
Country became fully independent in 1957 but Nkrumah proved More power still devolved to regional governments and following
divisive and authoritarian in later years of rule. federal elections in 1959, moves made towards full independence for
country in 1960.
, EAST AFRICA:
Much more violent in parts of East Africa. Rapid economic In 1946, Britain and many countries experienced severe shortage of cooking fats.
growth brought urbanisation, greater political From this emerged idea of growing in Tanganyika large groundnuts which could be
consciousness, activism, nationalist tendencies and labour processed into cooking oil. Project involved massive investment of £49 million
disputes. however terrain proved difficult to cultivate and scheme was abandoned in 1951, the
land turned into uncultivable dustbowl.
During years of war, population of Nairobi increased by ½
while population of cities doubled à led to inflation, poor In Kenya, long-simmering Kikuyu grievances at treatment by white settlers exploded
housing which fuelled protests. into violence, when white people sought to mechanise farming and displace peasant
growers. Prompted many to resort to violence and led to Mau Mau Uprising from
British saw region as ideal for economic development, with 1952 to 1956.
view to generating large dollar-earning exports.
British crushed rebellion with great ruthlessness and divided Kikuyu people but in
Greatest symbol of aspirations was Tanganyika Groundnut doing so, weakened moral authority and support for nationalists continued.
Scheme of 1946. Failure of scheme provoked East African
peasants into supporting nationalist movements. Tanganyika granted independence as Tanzania in 1961, Uganda in 1962 and Kenya in
1963.
SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA:
In Southern Africa, white minority had enjoyed full control over South Africa’s internal affairs since 1931 at the Statute of Westminster. Racist
Afrikaner policies dominated.
In 1948, Afrikaner Nationalist Party won power and implemented policy of Apartheid. Non-white people treated poorly and opposition emerged led
primarily by African National Congress.
Throughout 1950s and 1960s, South African state responded with brutal suppression of all protests: 69 protestors killed by police at Sharpeville in
1960.
International opinion became critical of South Africa and relations with Britain grew strained, so far so they left the Commonwealth in 1961. Not over
just apartheid but also as South Africa had pressed for Britain to hand over adjacent lands administered by British Colonial Office (such as
Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland but Britain granted them independence: Bechuanaland à Botswana in 1966, Basutoland à Lesotho in 1966 and
Swaziland in 1968). British refused
Britain tried counteracting South African influence by building colonial possessions in region, including Northern Rhodesia (a mineral rich copper
province), Southern Rhodesia (an agriculturally rich territory with substantial white population) and Nyasaland (an economically undeveloped country).
During Second World War, administration of territories helped in war and came to view that joint administration would counter South Africa and
Central African Federation emerged in 1953. Constitution saw some African rights given. Limited provision for African representation in new Federal
Assembly but powerful nationalist movements emerged in all 3 territories led by Africans suspicious of British intentions. White governors responded
fiercely by arresting and imprisoning nationalist leaders.
By end of 1950s, Britain had concluded decolonisation was necessary. In 1960-61, British government ordered release of nationalist leaders in Northern
Rhodesia and Nyasaland and drew up new constitutions for territories, which paved way for majority rule.
In 1963, CAF was formally dissolved and in 1964, Kenneth Kaunda led Northern Rhodesia to independence as Zambia and Dr Hastings Banda led
Nyasaland to independence as Malawi, after Nyasaland experienced a state of emergency in 1959 with over 200 nationalist leaders arrested in Operation
Sunrise.
Southern Rhodesia had determined white settlers determined to avoid being absorbed into independent African-dominated country. In 1961, when CAF
looked doomed, large section of white population switched support to new Rhodesian Front Party, which was dedicated to achieving independence for
Southern Rhodesia but under white control.
Won elections that year and in 1965, Prime Minister Ian Smith illegally declared Southern Rhodesia independent. British sanctions proved unsuccessful
and in 1969, Rhodesia became republic and country plunged into guerrilla war.
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