Transcript AP World History POD #21 – Nationalism, Tribalism

AP World History
POD #21 – Nationalism, Tribalism & Genocide in Africa
African Nationalism
Class Discussion Notes
Bulliet – “Decolonization and Nation Building”, p. 856-864
Historical Setting…
 “After World War I Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the
Ottoman Empire lost their empires, and many colonies
and dependencies were transferred to the victors,
especially to Great Britain and France. In the two
decades following World War II, nearly all remaining
colonies gained independence. Circumstances
differed profoundly from place to place. In some
Asian countries, where colonial rule was of long
standing, new states possessed viable industries,
communications networks, and education systems. In
other countries, notably in Africa, decolonized nations
faced dire economic and disunity resulting from
language and ethnic differences.” (Bulliet, p.856)
Nationalist Ideology & Inspiration
 “Western nationalist and egalitarian ideals also
helped fuel resistance to colonialism. Most of the
leaders of African independence movements were
among the most westernized members of these
societies. African veterans of Allied armies
during World War II had exposure to Allied
propaganda that emphasized ideas of popular
sovereignty and self-determination. In addition,
many leaders were recent graduates of
educational institutions created by colonial
governments, and a minority had obtained
advanced education in Europe and the United
States.” (Bulliet, p. 857)
Benefits of Colonization
 Improvements in medical care and public health
encouraged and supported rapid population growth
 Schools, labor associations and colonial bureaucracy
proved to be fertile nationalist recruiting centers and
were already in place for use by the new governments
 Languages introduced by the Europeans were useful
in building multiethnic coalitions
 Transportation and communication networks were
already established and helped to foster new national
identities
Benefits of National Self-Determination
 1950s & 1960s saw world economic
expansion and growing support for
liberation movements
 This especially came from support from the
United States and Soviet Union who were
locked in a struggle for global supremacy.
They both willing supported and funded
new nations who could be counted as allies
in their camp
Sub-Saharan Independence
 Most independence movements
accomplished their goals and objectives
through negotiation as the European
powers were ultimately no longer able to
afford and finance their colonial possessions
 However, in colonies where there were
larger white European settler communities
the path to independence was more violent
as it has been in Algeria
Algeria
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Between 1952-1956 France granted independence to
Tunisia and Morocco but sought to keep Algeria a land they
had controlled and settled for over 150 years (10% of the
population was French or other European)
France granted political rights to the settler population and
gave the appearance of political and economic integration
into the French nation
Few Algerians actually benefited from this arrangement
resulting in resentment of their continued colonial status
French defeat at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam
provoked a nationalist uprising in Algeria led by the Front
de Liberation National (FLN) who was supported by Egypt
as well as the other Arab nations who sought to empower
the and embrace the emancipation of all Arab peoples
French colonists considered the country theirs and fought
bitterly to maintain control of the land – upon Algerian
independence they returned angrily to France
Algerian Neocolonialism
 Under the French, few Arabs had received
technical training creating economic difficulty
 As a result, and despite feelings of bitterness
from the struggle for independence Algeria
continued to maintain close economic ties with
France
 Large numbers of Algerians began to emigrate
to France to take low skill, low pay jobs
 Much of this attitude was the result of the
French having invested nearly $1 billion in the
region between 1947 and 1956 – they wished
to earn a level of return on their investment
Great Britain Grants Independence
 The British people no longer supported
British colonialism and the political
leadership was not interested in investing
limited resources to hold a restive colony
captive.
 Just as in the French colonies, those
possessions with the highest number of
white settlers were most resistant to the
granting of independence
 Nigeria independent in 1960
Ghana & Kwame Nkrumah
 Became prime minister of Ghana in 1957 (first British
colony in West Africa to gain independence)
 Studied in the United States and became enamored
with the ideas of black pride and independence
advocated by W.E.B. DuBois and Marcus Garvey
 During travels to Great Britain he joined up with the
Kenyan nationalist Jomo Kenyatta
 Gold Coast becomes Ghana in 1957
 Nkrumah was an effective spokesman for the
nationalist movements in Africa, but would eventually
be overthrown in a 1966 coup by a group of army
officers
Jomo Kenyatta & the Mau Mau
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A small but influential group of wealthy coffee planters
claimed that a protest movement among the Kikuyu people
was not sufficient proof that the Africans were ready for
self-government
Mau Mau movement (name made up by the white settlers
to imply African savagery) – struggle between settlers and
anti-colonial leaders turned violent in 1952
British troops hunting down the independence movement
leaders declaring a state of emergency banning African
political protest
1961 – Jomo Kenyatta was released from prison and
negotiated a new constitution with the British for an
independent Kenya
Kenyatta went on to be an effective yet autocratic ruler
Kenya benefited from greater stability and prosperity than
many other former colonies
Belgian Congo
 “Independence in the Belgian Congo was chaotic and
violent. Contending political and ethnic groups found
external allies; some were supported by Cuba and the
Soviet Union, while others were supported by the
West or business groups tied to the rich mines. Civil
war, the introduction of foreign mercenaries, and the
rhetoric of Cold War confrontation roiled the waters
and led to a heavy loss of life and great property
destruction. In 1965 Mobuto Sese Seko seized power
in a military coup that included the assassination of
Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister. Mobuto
controlled one of the region’s most corrupt
governments until driven from power in 1997.”
(Bulliet, p. 860)