|
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Topics Covered
Gold Coast, Kenya, and Nigeria World War II gave thousands of Africans the opportunity to see other countries. They saw the subjugation of Africa clearly from the outside. President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill drafted the Atlantic Charter, which promised to allow all countries the power to choose their own government. This charter gave African soldiers hope that their countries would be freed after World War II. When the war ended in 1945, Africans were expecting change and nothing happened. A growing need for independence moved to the streets, along with a struggle. Britain saw no need to change their policies with Africa for the most part. However, minor changes would be made to Western African nations. Many soldiers in World War II from the Gold Coast were upset by the lack of change. They held a protest against the Capitol. In fear, the army fired tear gas into the crowd, who weren't looking for a fight. The army fired into the crowd, killing many people. One Briton lost his head. The killing was small in size, but it had a very large significance. Colony-wide riots began. A party was formed to overthrow the government. The leader's name was Unkuma. The first democratic election was held, and Unkuma won. The second election was held in 1954. Unkuma once again won. The Gold Coast was granted independence in 1957. It was renamed to Ghana after an old African name. The victory of Ghana gave hope to all Africans that their countries might become free. A state of emergency was declared in Kenya in 1952 concerning riots against the colony. An estimated 100,000 people were deported from Nairobi to the countryside. The Moumou, people that lived in the forest, took up arms in numbers near 20,000. In the entire conflict, 9,000 Africans were killed but only 50 Europeans were killed. The Moumou army was called the Land and Freedom Army. They were fighting for their land to be returned and for their country to be freed. Many of the prisoners taken were detained in camps. They were forced to perform manual labor, such as digging ditches. When they didn't perform adequately, they were beaten, whipped, and forced to run around the ditch. In 1956, the leader of the Moumou was hanged. After deciding that the "inferior race" would not cease resistance, Britain withdrew from Kenya. The same decision was made concerning Nigeria in 1960.
Algeria was a French ruled colony. The Algerians saw no other method for freedom, and plunged into a major war for independence. This war was perhaps the most gruesome of the African wars for independence. The Algerians had a very well organized guerilla army. The French didn't want to give up Algeria. About 700,000 French troops were sent in. Camps like those in Kenya were created. Electrified fences were set up along with many other advanced technologies of the time. Despite the Algerian losses, about 1,000,00 in total, the movement still had public support. The turning point for Algeria and other French colonies was the support of General Charles de Gaulle. Upon receiving independence, Algeria adopted the French government. Despite their independence, they were still heavily dependent on France because the war had taken a high toll.
The Congo was controlled by Belgium. they, like the British, decided that the colony was no longer maintainable. As opposed to the British way of giving independence, over a period of ten years, the Belgians released the Congo over a period of six months. They were thrust into chaos with riots. The president of the Congo appealed to the United Nations for aid. UN troops were sent in to maintain some order. Portugal had held tightly onto its colonies. Resistance and guerilla armies grew in their colonies. A man named Cabral led the guerrillas in Guinea Bassau. They called his group an army, but he saw it more as a group of citizens fixing the country. Thousands of people from Mozambique were dedicated to Frelimo, a replacement for colonial rule. Frelimo experienced internal divisions, which severely weakened it. They set up a presidency, but the first president was killed within months. The Portuguese forced the situation into a war. The resistance went around the Portuguese forces, through a neighboring country, and cut their supply lines. The Portuguese commander was still confident of his victory: "I'll never lose to them." His bombings hit many civilians as well as revolutionaries. The whole town of Wiriyamu, an entirely civilian town, was destroyed by bombs. Portugal lost the war. Many of the Europeans settlers in Mozambique left the country.
Rhodesia was a British colony. The British leaders took away the African citizens' right to vote. They wanted little or no political involvement by the blacks. The resistance saw that fighting would be the only way, because the British would not listen to anything else. Even the United Nations failed to change anything. The guerrillas in Rhodesia improved greatly in strength and efficiency until they earned their independence. In 1980, Rhodesia was freed and renamed, "Zimbabwe."
Basil Davidson talks about South Africa saying that it is the most horrible colonial system since the slave trade. There were massacres of innocent people. The police fired into the crowd often. Armed conflict could no longer be avoided. A large group of children protested against school one day in a town near Johannesburg, and they were slaughtered. Stephen Beeko died in chains in a prison of a brain problem. After his death, Davidson says that South Africa was in a "united gesture of defiance."
|