African Decolonization

Impacts of Imperialism - Africa Traditional societies change Communities to cities Communities to tribes Changing religion Women’ role changes

Impacts of Imperialism - Africa Introduction of private property rights African farmers were pushed on to marginal lands Economies all oriented to exporting raw materials (“primary produce”) and generating revenue for colonial power

What is Africa's political and economic status today? When colonialism fell in the last half of the 20th century, conflict followed. The boundaries of the colonies were artificial and did not reflect cultural identities. For over two hundred years, Africans were not allowed to develop their own economic infrastructure or develop governments. Consequently, when the colonies obtained freedom, military dictators often ruled. Killing wars, poverty, and disease followed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw12KGSj53k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opZD8237rJ8 start at 41:48

The Case of South Africa South Africa – Granted Freedom in 1910 Power granted completely to white minority (20%) 2 white groups “Africaner” – Dutch (said they were white Africans) British Decedents 2 groups fought with each other but both saw blacks as a threat Both white groups were there for much longer and entrenched more in Africa which helps explain why African rule was delayed till 1994 Black South Africans were fighting local rulers

Apartheid Official policy which attempted to separate blacks from whites in every way while still retaining Africans’ labor power in the white controlled economy. The key to this was control without loosing the labor force https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7yvnUz2PLE

African National Congress Led by male middle-class professional Africans (1912) Not to overthrow but to be seen as “civilized men” within the government Women not given full membership Used peaceful protest methods Became obvious that these methods did not work when the Africaner led party came to power on the platform of apartheid

Nelson Mandela 1950’s changed the ANC tactics Civil disobedience – boycotts, strikes and burning of personal passes that Africans were forced to carry Similar to Gandhi's methods ANC banned by government Mandela was imprisoned in 1960 (released in 1990)

End of Apartheid and White Rule Underground armed struggle – Mass hatred of forced Africaner languages taught to Africans in schools and not English caused an uprising General strikes of 2 million workers External pressure from the international community Could not compete in Olympics Artists refused to perform there Refusal of outsiders to invest there

End of Apartheid and White Rule By mid 1980’s whites start negotiations Mandela released Free elections in 1994 – ANC comes to power Power is shifted without mass bloodshed