Chapter 36: Africa 1945-Present Section 1: Achieving Independence Section 2: Programs for Development Section 3: Three Nations: A Closer Look Section 4:

Chapter 36:Chapter 36:Africa 1945-PresentAfrica 1945-Present

Section 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 2: Programs for DevelopmentSection 2: Programs for DevelopmentSection 3: Three Nations: A Closer LookSection 3: Three Nations: A Closer LookSection 4: Struggles in Southern AfricaSection 4: Struggles in Southern Africa

Section 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 1: Achieving Independence Summary:Summary:

• After WWII, a tide of nationalism swept After WWII, a tide of nationalism swept through Africa resulting in independence for through Africa resulting in independence for many nations many nations

Section 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 1: Achieving Independence At the end of WWII, most of Africa was At the end of WWII, most of Africa was

under European ruleunder European rule• Only Ethiopia, Liberia, Egypt and South Africa Only Ethiopia, Liberia, Egypt and South Africa

were independentwere independent A call for freedom swept Africa after 1945A call for freedom swept Africa after 1945

Section 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 1: Achieving Independence Colonial rule left its mark on AfricaColonial rule left its mark on Africa

• Colonial borders forced many ethic groups Colonial borders forced many ethic groups into one nationinto one nation

• New leaders had to build unity among people New leaders had to build unity among people of different backgrounds and customsof different backgrounds and customs

• Yet, Africa lacked experienced, educated Yet, Africa lacked experienced, educated leadersleaders

• New nations relied on Europe as a source of New nations relied on Europe as a source of goods and a market for exportsgoods and a market for exports

• At the same time, Europeans still owned At the same time, Europeans still owned farms and mines that influenced the farms and mines that influenced the economyeconomy

Section 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 1: Achieving Independence Colonies gained self-rule by both peaceful Colonies gained self-rule by both peaceful

and violent meansand violent means• Kwame Nkrumah led the Gold Coast (Ghana) Kwame Nkrumah led the Gold Coast (Ghana)

to freedom from Britainto freedom from Britain Like many Africa leaders, Nkrumah had gone to Like many Africa leaders, Nkrumah had gone to

school in the West and had become a skilled school in the West and had become a skilled speakerspeaker

The political party he created called for peaceful The political party he created called for peaceful strikes and boycottsstrikes and boycotts

Section 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 1: Achieving Independence In Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta led a nonviolent In Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta led a nonviolent

effort for independence from Britaineffort for independence from Britain• However, a group known as the Mau Mau However, a group known as the Mau Mau

used Guerilla warfareused Guerilla warfare• The British jailed Kenyatta and crushed the The British jailed Kenyatta and crushed the

Mau Mau rebelsMau Mau rebels Still the struggle went onStill the struggle went on In 1963, Kenyatta became head of a free KenyaIn 1963, Kenyatta became head of a free Kenya

Section 1: Achieving IndependenceSection 1: Achieving Independence It took a bloody war to free Algeria from It took a bloody war to free Algeria from

FranceFrance• Muslim nationalists began the fight in 1954Muslim nationalists began the fight in 1954

Thousands died before Algeria was freed in 1962Thousands died before Algeria was freed in 1962

Section 2: Programs for DevelopmentSection 2: Programs for Development

Summary:Summary:• New African nations sought unity and stability New African nations sought unity and stability

as they set up political and economic systemsas they set up political and economic systems


The free nations of Africa set goalsThe free nations of Africa set goals• Leaders aimed to unite their people and Leaders aimed to unite their people and

create stable governmentscreate stable governments• They hoped strong economies would improve They hoped strong economies would improve

the standard of livingthe standard of living


In most African lands, similar obstacles In most African lands, similar obstacles blocked progressblocked progress• The barriers occurred in five areas: The barriers occurred in five areas:

geography, population and poverty, geography, population and poverty, economic dependence, economic policies and economic dependence, economic policies and political difficultiespolitical difficulties

Drought along with Drought along with deforestationdeforestation, or loss of , or loss of vegetation, caused widespread hungervegetation, caused widespread hunger

Rapid population growth made the famine worseRapid population growth made the famine worse


Problems also arose where many ethnic Problems also arose where many ethnic groups lived in one nationgroups lived in one nation• Leaders tried to replace loyalty to a culture Leaders tried to replace loyalty to a culture

with loyalty to a nationwith loyalty to a nation• When faced with trouble, many countries When faced with trouble, many countries

turned to a one-party systemturned to a one-party system• Some of these one-party nations became Some of these one-party nations became

military dictatorships military dictatorships


All new nations made political and All new nations made political and economic choices to overcome the economic choices to overcome the obstaclesobstacles• Some nations rejected military leadership Some nations rejected military leadership

and dictators, and chose to build on and dictators, and chose to build on traditional African waystraditional African ways


For economic growth, nations either set For economic growth, nations either set up socialist state-run industries, allowed up socialist state-run industries, allowed capitalist enterprise or had capitalist enterprise or had mixed mixed economieseconomies, economic systems with both , economic systems with both private and state-run industriesprivate and state-run industries

Some states chose cash crops rather than Some states chose cash crops rather than food cropsfood crops• As a result, some of these countries had to As a result, some of these countries had to

import foodimport food


Many leaders helped urban industries Many leaders helped urban industries rather than rural farmsrather than rural farms• By the 1980s, they saw food output drop and By the 1980s, they saw food output drop and

began to aid their farmersbegan to aid their farmers• By learning from mistakes, most African By learning from mistakes, most African

states were moving forward in the 1990sstates were moving forward in the 1990s

Section 3: Three Nations: A Closer LookSection 3: Three Nations: A Closer Look

Summary:Summary:• After independence each African nation faced After independence each African nation faced

its own unique challengesits own unique challenges


Oil-rich Nigeria, won its freedom in 1960Oil-rich Nigeria, won its freedom in 1960• As in other new African nations, ethnic and As in other new African nations, ethnic and

regional quarrels led to civil warregional quarrels led to civil war• People in the Southwest broke away in 1967People in the Southwest broke away in 1967

They formed a new country called BiafraThey formed a new country called Biafra The ensuing war brought hunger and disease to The ensuing war brought hunger and disease to

BiafraBiafra Nearly 1 million people diedNearly 1 million people died In 1970, Biafra gave up and the war endedIn 1970, Biafra gave up and the war ended


The oil boon of the 1970s helped Nigeria The oil boon of the 1970s helped Nigeria recover from the warrecover from the war• Later when oil prices fell, the country had a Later when oil prices fell, the country had a

huge debt burdenhuge debt burden


Until 1960, Belgium ruled the CongoUntil 1960, Belgium ruled the Congo• Until 1965, the land had no clear leaderUntil 1965, the land had no clear leader• Then Mobutu Sese Seko, a harsh military Then Mobutu Sese Seko, a harsh military

dictator took powerdictator took power He called his nation ZaireHe called his nation Zaire

• Mobutu ran the economy into the ground and Mobutu ran the economy into the ground and stole billions of dollars from his country’s stole billions of dollars from his country’s treasurytreasury

Conflicts among ethnic and regional groups Conflicts among ethnic and regional groups sparked a warsparked a war

In the 1990s, rebels forced Mobutu from powerIn the 1990s, rebels forced Mobutu from power• They renamed the country Congo They renamed the country Congo


Julius Nyerere, the first leader of Julius Nyerere, the first leader of Tanzania, hoped to improve rural life and Tanzania, hoped to improve rural life and do away with social classesdo away with social classes• He wanted Tanzania to be able to meet all its He wanted Tanzania to be able to meet all its

own needsown needs• He nationalized all banks and foreign owned He nationalized all banks and foreign owned

businessesbusinesses• His program of African socialism set up His program of African socialism set up

communal farms and state-run industriescommunal farms and state-run industries The program eventually failedThe program eventually failed


To save the economy, the next leader of To save the economy, the next leader of Tanzania cut spending and allowed Tanzania cut spending and allowed private business to operateprivate business to operate

Unlike other African nations, Tanzania’s Unlike other African nations, Tanzania’s food output did not declinefood output did not decline

With foreign aid Tanzania was able to With foreign aid Tanzania was able to provide education and health care to provide education and health care to many villagesmany villages

Section 4: Struggles in Southern AfricaSection 4: Struggles in Southern Africa

Summary:Summary:• The successful struggle against The successful struggle against ApartheidApartheid in in

South Africa serves as a beacon of hope to South Africa serves as a beacon of hope to other African nationsother African nations


For 342 years, Europeans ran South For 342 years, Europeans ran South AfricaAfrica• Whites set up a system of Whites set up a system of ApartheidApartheid, or , or

separation of the races, in 1948separation of the races, in 1948• Laws said certain races must live in certain Laws said certain races must live in certain

zoneszones• These laws banned mixed marriages and These laws banned mixed marriages and

forced nonwhites to carry passbooksforced nonwhites to carry passbooks The laws called for separate trains, beaches and The laws called for separate trains, beaches and

schoolsschools Low wages and poor schools doomed blacks to Low wages and poor schools doomed blacks to

poverty poverty


The African National Congress (ANC) had The African National Congress (ANC) had fought white domination since 1912fought white domination since 1912• Their marches and strikes sparked violenceTheir marches and strikes sparked violence• At a 1960 rally, police gunned down At a 1960 rally, police gunned down

protestersprotesters• Laws at that time banned the ANCLaws at that time banned the ANC• The United States and other countries hoped The United States and other countries hoped

sanctionssanctions, or actions against a nation by , or actions against a nation by other nations, would force an end to other nations, would force an end to ApartheidApartheid


In 1990, F.W. de Klerk, president of South In 1990, F.W. de Klerk, president of South Africa, lifted the ANC banAfrica, lifted the ANC ban• He freed its leader, Nelson Mandela, from jailHe freed its leader, Nelson Mandela, from jail• Mandela and de Klerk planned elections for Mandela and de Klerk planned elections for

19941994 Together, all races elected Mandela president of a Together, all races elected Mandela president of a

new democratic South Africanew democratic South Africa


Other lands in South Africa also struggled Other lands in South Africa also struggled for independencefor independence• For 15 years, Angola and Mozambique fought For 15 years, Angola and Mozambique fought

wars of independence against Portugalwars of independence against Portugal• After gaining independence, both countries After gaining independence, both countries

were plagued by civil warswere plagued by civil wars• From 1975-1992, the Cold War played a role From 1975-1992, the Cold War played a role

in their strugglesin their struggles• Americans did not trust the socialist leaders Americans did not trust the socialist leaders

and sided with rebels in both countriesand sided with rebels in both countries South African troops also aided the rebelsSouth African troops also aided the rebels


Soviets sent Cuban troops to help Soviets sent Cuban troops to help Angolan leadersAngolan leaders• In 1992, foreign troops pulled out, leaving the In 1992, foreign troops pulled out, leaving the

war torn nations to rebuildwar torn nations to rebuild

Chapter 36: Africa 1945-Present Section 1: Achieving Independence Section 2: Programs for Development Section 3: Three Nations: A Closer Look Section 4:

Documents

independence section

africa leaders

south africa

southern africa slide

africa colonial rule

africa colonial borders

independence colonies

independence summary