Summary
Summary Independent Africa notes for history paper 2
a summary of how independence was realized in Africa and how different African countries responded to decolonization
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Topic 2 notes- AfricaEffects of colonisation on Africa
• Colonial powers controlled their colonies economically, politically and socially
o Destroyed traditional African institutes, allowed them to exploit the countries
• Colonial powers often had no long term plans for their colonies: no political, social, economic plans for
future
o Powers simply took resources and showed no respect for the African people, their customs and
traditions
A. Political changes
• African colonies were reorganised by colonisers which made it difficult for the people to unite and
organise resistance as new boundaries were created between them
• Britain used system of “indirect rule”
o Government appointed chiefs who were given powers and privileges and acted as
intermediaries between their people and British officials
• France, Belgium, Portugal used systems of “direct rule”
o Admin was in the hands of European officials
• France and Portugal adopted “assimilation”
o Colonies were developed to be integral parts of their mother countries
B. Economic Changes
• African subsistence economy was replaced by commercial ones
o Farmers had to produce cash crops for export and if they failed they often went hungry and
without money
• Fertile land was given to white settlers who became economically powerful while the African people
were impoverished and subservient
• Tax systems were created to force farmers into producing cash crops or do migrant labour
o Social segregation in urban areas frustrated African elite
• Secondary industry was undeveloped, European countries exported manufactured goods to Africa
• Transport systems were developed for the shipping of raw materials to export
o Links between different regions weren’t built as internal trade didn’t benefit the colonial
countries
• African economy became linked to that of the coloniser which made them dependent on those
countries
• African people did not have the technical knowledge and skill to develop industries
C. Social changes
• Europeans saw their societies as superior to that of Africa as they were literate and technologically
advanced
o Felt it was their duty to civilise Africa- Europeans were always the masters and Africans the
servants
• Christian mission societies in the 1840s exposed Africans to a new set of morals and values
o Missionaries translated the bible and opened schools to teach African children
• Colonial powers provided primary education designed to prepare Africans for practical jobs
o Small educated elite emerged who were frustrated as they were denied rights and
opportunities
• Migrant labour systems established were men travelled to work
o Undermined old order of society as able bodied men became absent from communities
• Inadequate medical, social and welfare services were provided
, • Urbanisation caused the break down of tribal identities
• “Uhuru”- cry for nationalist movements who demanded the freedom to rule themselves
• When decolonisation occurred African leaders had to establish new societies, people could regain
cultural values and dignity, they could shape their own social, economic, political destinies
• Colonisation allowed Africa to interact with the rest of the world
African Nationalism
• Pan-Africanism = all Africans must work to achieve common interests and goals, aimed to unite Africans
all over the continent into a united states of Africa
• Negritude = provided Africans in French West Africa a sense of self-respect
• Local/ Ethnic Nationalism = at a tribal level or within urban groups, refers to regions of countries
• Geo-Political Nationalism = defined by colonial boundaries instead of local differences, patriotism
• Based on the grievances against colonial rule and a common experience and sense of belonging to Africa
• What was African Nationalism?
o Common desire to escape colonial rule and unite nations to fight for independence, united
people in a struggle to liberate themselves
o Determined for African states to be treated as equals
o Need for modernism of African countries and people
o Broke ethnic barriers
o Brought women into active politics
o Renewed a sense of pride in Africans
o Response to exploitation and discrimination
• Africans became more aware of Western political ideas of equality and independence
o Young Africans who went overseas to study met Europeans who were sympathetic to their cause
▪ Educated in mission schools where they were taught that all men were equal
o Education spread Western concepts of freedom and democracy and produced a new generation
who were critical of colonial rule
o Educated urban elite emerged and wanted to help in running the country
Process of decolonisation
• Decolonisation- former colonies of European empires were given freedom and granted independence
A. Attitude of colonial powers
o Britain, Belgium, France accepted the inevitable transition
o Spain and Portugal stubbornly held onto their colonies
▪ Portuguese colonies regarded provinces of Portugal and therefore already independent
B. Number of white settlers
o The number of white settlers present also affected the transfer of power
▪ The more there were with major business and farming interests the less likely they were
to surrender power
C. Degree of political development
o Colonies with well organised African political parties and leaders (from educated urban elite)
were more likely to transition peacefully to a locally elected government
D. Extent of economic development
o The more likely a colony was of sustaining itself economically the more likely it would be granted
independence
• The more industrialised an colony was they less authority ethnic leaders had but the more authority the
educated urban elite had- more likely to gain independence
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