africa pictures
African Nations Gain Independence – Struggles in Africa
Africa’s colonies Gain Independence
{Following|After} World War II, European colonial powers {had been|were} forced to withdraw from former colonies such as India and Vietnam. {Throughout|During} the decade {following|after} the war, African’s, too, increasingly demanded independence.
A Geographically Diverse Continent
Africa is the world’s second-largest continent, {much more|more} than {3|three} times the size of the United States. Vast savannas, or grasslands with scattered trees, make up interior West Africa, East Africa, and {a lot|much} of central and southern Africa. Africa has the world’s largest desert which is {known as|called} “The Sahara” it is in the north and the smaller Kalahari Desert in the south.
Africa’s {individuals|people} are concentrated in the most fertile areas, such as the savanna and the forest regions of Nigeria and the moist highlands of East Africa they {create|produce} {sufficient|enough} food to support {big|large} populations. The {individuals|people} of Africa have been moving from the countryside to the {continuously|constantly} growing cities. The continent produces valuable {cash|money} crops, {such as|including} coffee and cacao {utilized|used} to make chocolate. Africa also has {big|large} petroleum reserves.
Colonies Demand Independence
{Much more|More} and {much more|more} African’s {nevertheless|however}, demanded freedom. Kwame Nkrumah in the Gold Coast (later Ghana), Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya, and Leopold Senghor in Senegal led independence movements in their countries. The liberation struggle turned violent, {nevertheless|however}, in colonies where {big|large} numbers of European colonists had settled, such as in Kenya and Algeria.
Checkpoint Question:
Why did European powers resist independence for their African colonies?
The European powers resisted independence in colonies where {big|large} numbers of European colonists had settled. They also resisted independence {simply because|because}, they {had been|were} {generating|making} a lot of {cash|money} from the African colonies.
Africans {Develop|Build} New Nations
Some new African nations enjoyed peace and democracy. {Other people|Others} {had been|were} plunged into crisis by civil war, military rule, or corrupt dictators. In recent years, {nevertheless|however}, there has been a hopeful trend toward {higher|greater} democracy in {numerous|many} African nations.
Confronting Ethnic Divisions
Most African nations gained independence as a patchwork of peoples with diverse languages and religions, {As soon as|Once} Africa won freedom, {numerous|many} Africans felt there {initial|first} loyalty was to their own ethnic group, not to a faceless national government.
Dictators Seize Power
Multiparty systems, these leaders declared encouraged disunity. Lots of {1|one}-party states became dictatorships. When {poor|bad} government policies led to power. A coup, or Coup detat, is the forcible over throw of a government. Military leaders {generally|usually} promised to restore civilian rule {as soon as|once} they had cleaned up the government.
Moving Toward Democracy
{Much more|More} and {much more|more} Africans demanded an end to {powerful|strong}-man rule and a move to {higher|greater} democracy. Western governments and the world bank {needed|required} democratic reforms as a condition for loans. In response, some governments {created|made} {modifications|changes}. In nations suh as a Tanzania, Nigeria, and Benin, Multiparty elections {had been|were} held, removing {lengthy|long}-ruling leaders from office.
Foreigners Jostle for Influence
{Even though|Although} African nations gained political Independence, colonial powers {frequently|often} retained control of buisness in their former colonies. {Throughout|During} the cold war, the soviet union and the United States competed for military and strategic {benefit|advantage} {via|through} alliances with {a number of|several} African countries, the United States supported Mobutu Seso Seko , the dictator of Zaire, to counter soviet support for the government of neighboring Angola. Likewise, {throughout|during} the 1970′s, the United States had an alliance with the government of Somalia, {whilst|while} the Soviet Union supported neighboring Ethiopia.
Checkpoint Question:
Why have African countries moved toward democracy in recent years?
{Much more|More} and {much more|more} Africans demanded an end to {powerful|strong}-man rule and a move to {higher|greater} democracy. Western governments and the world bank {needed|required} democratic reforms as a condition for loans. In response, some governments {created|made} {modifications|changes}.
The Stories of Five African Nations
{Whilst|While} the new nations of Africa faced {numerous|many} of the {exact same|same} challenges, {every|each} nation had a {distinctive|unique} history. to gain a {much better|better} understanding of the {procedure|process} of nation-{creating|building} in Africa, we will examine the recent histories of five {essential|important}.
Ghana
The {initial|first} African nation south of the Sahara to win freedom was the British colony of Gold Coast, In the 1940′s, Kwame Nkurmah organized a movement for Independence from britain. The nation took the name Ghana, {following|after} the ancient West African Kingdom. As president, Nkurmah advocated socialism and nationalized, or {locations|places} under government ownership, {numerous|many} buisnesses. In 1966, he was overthrown by the {initial|first} of {a number of|several} military coups in Ghana.
Algeria
In the 1800′s the French owned Algeria as a colony. Algerians fought for their freedom. They turned to guerrilla warfare to win their freedom from France. Algerians {had been|were} {lastly|finally} freed from France in 1962. Algeria was ruled by the military until the government allowed a {totally free|free} election in 1992 and the Islamist party won the most votes. Following the elections, there was a seven-year civil war between the Islamists and the military that left 100,000 dead.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo was a Belgian colony. It was a {big|large} colony that covered a vast {quantity|amount} of {region|area} in Africa. This {region|area} had {numerous|many} natural resources like diamonds and copper. Belgian wanted control of the resources and declared the colony independent in 1960. There was a rebellion in 1963 between the Belgians and Congolese, but the United Nations stepped in and ended it. Mobutu ruled as a military dictator beginning in 1965 until 1997 when he was exiled. The country is now split {amongst|among} religious groups.
Nigeria
There are lots of {individuals|people} in Nigeria from {numerous|many} {various|different} ethnic groups. The Nigerians peacefully won independence from the British in 1960. In 1961, oil was discovered in Nigeria, which gave the {individuals|people} hope for the economy. Conflict {amongst|among} {various|different} groups lead to military attacks in 1966. The Ibo {individuals|people} declared independence, but {had been|were} defeated {following|after} a {3|three}-year war. There continues to be conflict amongst the {various|different} groups in Nigeria. The military was largely in control until 1999 when {totally free|free} elections {had been|were} allowed. There was increased violence following the return to Democracy.
Checkpoint Question:
How did Biafara and Katanga reflect the challenges to unity that the new African nations faced?
Struggles In Africa (686-690)
{Throughout|During} the 1950s and 1960s {numerous|many} nations won dependence in Africa. {Even though|Although} national unity was {tough|hard} to {accomplish|achieve} , most of African nations {had been|were} {houses|homes} to {various|different} ethnic groups who {generally|usually} didn’t have a {typical|common} language. Also, religious differences and rivalries divided nations.
{Following|After} a single ethnic group {frequently|often} dominated a nation’s government and economy as they wanted at the expense of the minorities. The Cold War only {created|made} matters worse.
South Africa Struggles For Freedom
In South Africa the struggle for freedom was {various|different} from everywhere else in Africa. South Africa achieved self-rule from Britain in 1910. Freedom was limited to white settlers {although|though}. The black majority was denied the {correct|right} to vote. Whites {created|made} up {much less|less} than twenty percent of the population, but they controlled the government and economy. The government passed racial laws that severally restricted the black majority.
Apartheid Divides South Africa
The government expanded existing {program|system} of racial segregation {following|after} 1948, {making|creating} the APARTHEID- the seperation of the races. Under the Apartheid all South
Africans {had been|were} registered by race: Black, Whites, colored (mixed), and Asian. Most supporters claimed. It would {permit|allow} {every|each} race to develop its own culture.
Under the Apartheid, non-whites has {numerous|many} restrictions. They has to get permission to travel. {Other people|Others} banned marriages between races and stipulated segregation in most {locations|places}. As {nicely|well} as lesser working conditions.
Fighting for Majority Rule
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS- {Primary|Main} organization that opposed the Apartheid and led the struggle for majority rule. As the Apartheid was {becoming|being} established in the 1950s, the ANC organized marches, boycotts, and strikes. In 1960 police gunned down 69 men, {ladies|women}, and {kids|children} {throughout|during} a peaceful demonstration in SHARPVILLE- black township. {Following|After} that the government outlawed ANC.
The Sharpville Massacre and crackdown pushed the ANC to shift from nonviolent protests to armed struggle. Nelson Mandela was {1|one} of the ANC leaders that went underground. Mandela joined ANC militants against the white majority government. In the early 1960′s Mandela was condemed to life in prion for treason. Desmond Tutu, IN 1984 He was a black South African Bishop that won the Nobel Prize in his non violent oposition the Apartneid.
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918.
He was educated at the University of Witwatersrand, and studied law in 1942.
He resisted the ruling party and was on trial for treason from 1956 to 1961. He was acquitted in 1961
{Following|After} the banning of ANC in 1960 Mandela wanted to set up a military wing inside the ANC.
The ANC told member’s that if the wanted to follow Mandela the ANC would not {quit|stop} them. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years of {tough|hard} labor.
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