Summary Angola in the Cold War Notes, Matric History
32 views 0 purchase
Course
History
Institution
12th Grade
These notes summarise Angola in the Cold war using a bullet point format for easy learning.
These notes were used by the Author to get a Top 1 % in History in the IEB.
The notes include the following sections: Location, Why Cold War impacts Africa, Colonised by the Portuguese, MPLA, FNLA, UN...
Location:
● Southern Africa
● Bordered by Namibia, Zambia
Why Cold War impacts Africa:
● Competition over spheres of influence
● Containment/spreading of communism/more territory
● Africa newly independent and in state of development and needed aid in the form of
money and military – colonial powers didn’t build up and prepare countries to fend
for themselves (exploitation of resources)
● Civil wars/border disputes due to different ethnic groups gave superpowers
opportunity to support one side
● Proxy wars=superpowers get involved when the war is not in their territory because
they are actually against each other (e.g. Russia and America)
● Africa rich in raw materials and resources that were useful to the powers
● Brinkmanship
Colonised by the Portuguese: (about 400 years)
● Initial interest in west coast (Delagoa Bay) because of the slave trade
● 1885 – colonial borders established at Treaty of Berlin
● 1951 – becomes overseas province of Portugal
● While other countries becoming independent, Portugal strengthens its control on
Angola
● Adopted Portuguese language and culture (Africans called assimilados meaning
assimilated)
● 1961 – Peasants (in the North) rebelled and boycotted cotton production. They
wanted better working conditions and freedom. They were angry over loss of land.
● Liberation struggle began
● Formation of 3 liberation organisations:
● 1. MPLA – Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
● 2. FNLA – the National Front for the Liberation of Angola
● 3. UNITA – the National Union for the total Independence of Angola
● Civil war between these 3 groups
● 1975 – after a coup (Carnation Revolution) in Portugal where army officers wanted to
end the pointless wars in Africa and overthrew the dictator Antonio Salazar, Avor
Agreement declares Angola (and Mozambique) as independent
● Portuguese withdrawal resulted in the white minority regimes in South Africa and
Rhodesia would no longer protect themselves from the other African countries
(Angola had acted as a buffer)
● Portuguese withdrawal gave hope to black population that change was possible
● Independent Angola resulted in ANC being able to establish bases closer to SA
● Portuguese leave in a rush and don’t assign leadership to any political party leaving a
complicated situation
, ● 1975 - begin fighting for control of Luanda (capital city)
● MPLA unwilling to share power with UNITA
● UNITA and FNLA set up rival government in Huambo (make their own capital city) –
receive support from SA government (in Namibia) and USA (CIA)
● MPLA drive out others with support and aid from Cuba and USSR
● Declare themselves first government of independent Angola
● Neto becomes the first president of independent Angola
● Angola becomes ideological battleground between USA and USSR because of its
strategic position and immense wealth in natural resources (agriculture) as well as its
established infrastructure
MPLA:
● Formed 1956
● Agostinho Neto
● First political group to seek independence
● Members mainly from Kimbundu ethnic group
● Members from North (Luanda), central, coastal regions
● Attracted to communism
● Aided by the USSR and Congo
● Castro had beliefs that Cuba had a moral obligation (international revolution) to
spread ideologies revolution to third world countries
● Controlled Angola’s main source of income (Cabinda oil wells)
FNLA
● Support from Bakongo people in North-west
● Holden Roberts
● Closely related to and friendly with its neighbour – the Congo (Mobutu)
● Links with USA and China because they both wanted to counteract soviet support for
MPLA
● Assistance from USA
● Covert CIA involvement
UNITA
● Youngest of the movements
● Jonas Savimbi
● Seen as anti-communist party
● Close relations to Mao and China
● Members of Ovimbundu ethnicity from the south
● Ties with Mobutu from Zaire/Congo
● Support from USA
● Support the South African apartheid government and receives support from them
● Alliance exists because UNITA and Apartheid government have the same enemy and
same interest in defeating MPLA
● Apartheid government in Angola to train and support UNITA troops
● They don’t want communism (Rooi Gevaar)
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Nadavs. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.72. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
