– Theme 2 –
, How was independence realized in
Africa in the 1960’s and 1970’s?
Many regions of Africa that had been colonized by nations like Britain, France, Spain,
Portugal, Belgium, and Italy gained independence between the 1950s and the 1970s.
Different independent African nations adopted different political philosophies; some
followed capitalism while others opted for socialism; some developed into multi-
party democracies while others remained one-party states.
They would be influenced by rival Cold War superpowers, and even though
significant "Africanisation" of political and cultural systems had taken place, there
would still be grave economic issues.
This module compares three African nations and examines their post-independence
outcomes. These three African nations are; The Congo, Tanzania and Angola.
The Congo (Zaire) Tanzania Angola
Faced disunity and Would be led by Julius Faced a civil war from the
interference from outside Nyerere, consider to be time of its independence in
powers at the time of one of Africa’s greatest 1975 until 1989.
independence. leaders.
Resulted in an authoritarian Followed the path of Cold War powers of USA,
state under the dictator African Socialism. USSR and China chose sides
Mobutu Seso Seko in the civil war which
lengthened it.
Was supported by the USA Did achieve political South Africa also sent
as part of Cold War politics. stability but floundered troops to fight in the
economically. Angolan civil war.
, What were the ideas that influenced the
independent states?
What were the ideas that influenced the independent states?
African nationalists started to fight for independence from colonial rule after World
War Two ended (1945).
Ghana was the first colony in Africa to achieve independence in 1957, and
Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia were among the last to do so in the
1970s and 1980s.
In 1961, South Africa won its independence from the British Empire.
Socialism, capitalism, democracy and one-
party states.
Socialism, capitalism, democracy and one-party states.
African leaders had hoped for a bright new future for the African people and
believed that they, free from foreign control, would make the best forms of political
and economic decisions for their newly independent nations.
Economic Decisions
Economic Decisions
African capitalism or African socialism would be the two economic systems that
African nationalist leaders would have to decide between.
African socialism would be based on shared ownership, equal access to resources,
and government control of the economy, whereas capitalism would obviously be
based on private ownership, free enterprise, and competition.
At the time of their independence, African nations were not particularly wealthy, and
the colonial powers concentrated on cheaply exporting raw minerals and cash crops
and expensively importing manufactured goods.
Europe also lagged far behind in industrialization.
African Socialism
African Socialism
Leopold Senghor of Senegal and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania were two African leaders
who adopted this economic strategy.
, How was independence realized in
Africa in the 1960’s and 1970’s?
Many regions of Africa that had been colonized by nations like Britain, France, Spain,
Portugal, Belgium, and Italy gained independence between the 1950s and the 1970s.
Different independent African nations adopted different political philosophies; some
followed capitalism while others opted for socialism; some developed into multi-
party democracies while others remained one-party states.
They would be influenced by rival Cold War superpowers, and even though
significant "Africanisation" of political and cultural systems had taken place, there
would still be grave economic issues.
This module compares three African nations and examines their post-independence
outcomes. These three African nations are; The Congo, Tanzania and Angola.
The Congo (Zaire) Tanzania Angola
Faced disunity and Would be led by Julius Faced a civil war from the
interference from outside Nyerere, consider to be time of its independence in
powers at the time of one of Africa’s greatest 1975 until 1989.
independence. leaders.
Resulted in an authoritarian Followed the path of Cold War powers of USA,
state under the dictator African Socialism. USSR and China chose sides
Mobutu Seso Seko in the civil war which
lengthened it.
Was supported by the USA Did achieve political South Africa also sent
as part of Cold War politics. stability but floundered troops to fight in the
economically. Angolan civil war.
, What were the ideas that influenced the
independent states?
What were the ideas that influenced the independent states?
African nationalists started to fight for independence from colonial rule after World
War Two ended (1945).
Ghana was the first colony in Africa to achieve independence in 1957, and
Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia were among the last to do so in the
1970s and 1980s.
In 1961, South Africa won its independence from the British Empire.
Socialism, capitalism, democracy and one-
party states.
Socialism, capitalism, democracy and one-party states.
African leaders had hoped for a bright new future for the African people and
believed that they, free from foreign control, would make the best forms of political
and economic decisions for their newly independent nations.
Economic Decisions
Economic Decisions
African capitalism or African socialism would be the two economic systems that
African nationalist leaders would have to decide between.
African socialism would be based on shared ownership, equal access to resources,
and government control of the economy, whereas capitalism would obviously be
based on private ownership, free enterprise, and competition.
At the time of their independence, African nations were not particularly wealthy, and
the colonial powers concentrated on cheaply exporting raw minerals and cash crops
and expensively importing manufactured goods.
Europe also lagged far behind in industrialization.
African Socialism
African Socialism
Leopold Senghor of Senegal and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania were two African leaders
who adopted this economic strategy.
