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Summary IEB Grade 12 History: Independent Africa Background
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A complete summary of the background of Independent Africa - get an understanding of the terms and concepts required to ace Independent Africa.
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INDEPENDENT AFRICA: BackgroundWhat were the ideas that influenced the independent states?
● After WW2, colonial powers continued their rule over their colonies
● However, WW2 had a huge impact on the world's power structures:
○ The colonial empires no longer had a right to rule what they called the
"uncivilised world"
○ "White" power was no longer unbeatable - laying the foundation for the transition
to independence
○ The war increased cooperation between some African countries as they ad
developed plans for defense and joint action during the war years
● The effects of WW2, along with new pressures of the Cold Wars and the increasing
demands of the colonies for independence meant that decolonisation now seemed
possible
Different forms of government (basics)
● African governments now faced the freedom and challenges of creating their own
governments and economies
● Different forms of government were based on two aspects:
○ The economy: Who provides the goods and services that are bought, sold and
used in a country?
○ Politics: How is the government and the country run?
● Political power depends on economic strength - this was where Africa needed the most
input
● Newly independent African countries had to find political stability as well as a system for
economic growth and development for their newly independent nations
Socialism: A system characterised by combined ownership and mutual management of
production and the economy
African Socialism: A system of socialism that emphasises the fact that socialism as an idea is
indigenous to Africa
Capitalism: An economic system that is based on private ownership of production and the
creation of goods or services for profit
Democracy: An fair and equal form of government in which all citizens of a nation together
determine public policy by voting a political party into power
One-Party State: A system where a single political party forms the government and no other
parties are permitted to run as candidates for an election
, Political ideologies
● The needs of African countries had been neglected under colonial rule
● African countries were aware that when forming their political ideologies they needed a
political system that meet the needs of their new societies
● The charismatic leaders who had led their countries to independence now had to face
the following challenges in a newly independent, post-colonial Africa:
○ Bringing political authority under central control, especially governmental control
○ Creating unity among diverse groups
○ Providing opportunities for political participation for all their citizens
○ Distributing resources that would enhance and grow the new idea of the nation
● African nationalist leaders had to demand and take independence from the colonial
powers - Africa had to stand on its own two feet, not taking handouts from colonial rulers
● This meant the way independence was gained by a country influenced the political
ideologies of the newly independent country
● The political ideology was also strongly influenced by the need for an "African
personality"
○ The people of these African countries could therefore be proud of themselves as
a country and as a people of dignity and integrity and independence
● Africa wanted to adapt to the rest of the world on its own terms
Economies:
Colonial Powers focused How did this affect African What did newly
on: countries? independent African
countries focus on:
Certain forms of wealth - This depleted the resources African countries needed to
particularly in the form of in colonized African countries improve their standards of
resources that would lead to life:
industrial/commercial growth 1. Increase incomes
in their own countries 2. Provide essential
social services
3. Focus on
infrastructure and
facilities
Geared production towards This created a very limited African countries needed to
export, which meant the domestic market, most goods get directly involved in their
colonial powers could import were being exported own economic planning, on
finished goods from their how the economy could
colonies in Africa and become self-reliant
increase their economies
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