AFRICA & INDIA 1900-1945

AFRICA & INDIA1900-1945

COLONIAL AFRICA

• Few Europeans lived in Africa BUT– Built railroads, mines, companies, plantations– Europeans benefitted, Africans did not

Europeans brought health care – not enoughEuropeans brought mission schools – western ideas

Africans migrated to cities because they offered jobs, but it hurt families

AFRICA & INDIA

• Western education and the realities of racial discrimination contributed to the RISE OF NATIONALISM (both Africa and India)

• Many Africans served in WWII

• They listened to Allied propoganda in favor of liberation against Nazi’s and came back with liberation ideas against the Europeans

NATIONALISTSBlaise Diagne, Senegal•Wanted more African participation in politics and fair treatment in French army

African National Congress, South Africa•Inspired by pan-Africanists from America such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey•Wanted unity of African people around the world

ALGERIA VIOLENCE for Independnece

• France had control of Algeria and did not want to let it go (gas/oil fields, trade)

• Algerian Revolutionary Organization (FLN) VIOLENTLY fought and won independence, but France angry…French left but it hurt Algerian economy….Algerians went to France for jobs and were treated pooly

GHANANon-violent independence

• Britain tired after WWII• Kwame Nkrumah became leader and Ghana

first African colony to achieve independence in Africa

• Kwame a very powerful nationalist speaker, but not a great administrator….ousted by army

KENYAViolent independence

• Jomo Kenyatta was nationalist leader• Led a nationalist group called MAU MAU who

fought with the British• British charged Kenyatta and put him in prison

for 8 years• In 1961 – released him and then helped write

a constitution for independent Kenya• EFFECTIVE leader (unlike Nkrumah)

SOUTH AFRICA• Apartheid in South Africa• ANC (African National Congress) opposed it…

at first non-violent (protests, strikes)• After Sharpville shootings, violence as Nelson

Mandela organized guerrilla resistance• Sentenced to life in prison• 1986 – 2 million person general strike• International pressure to end apartheid• 1994 – Mandela freed – becomes President!

HAILE SELASSIE, Ethiopia

• Ethiopia beat Italians under Menelik – battle of Adwa – in 1889

• After Mussolini (Italy) invaded in 1935, Selassie made speech to League for help - Ignored

• Exiled in England, until war over

Rastafarian Movement

• Ras – “Duke” or “leader”, Tafari (Selassie’s name)• Jamaicans believe that Haile Selassie is the

messiah – will lead the African diaspora back• Zion is Africa, especially Ethiopia• Bob Marley is best known rastafarian

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN INDIA & AFRICAN INDEPENDENCE• Both fighting British influence and

government to obtain independence• Both had strong, nationalistic leaders and

organizations (Gandhi INC; Mandela ANC)• Both started as non-violent• Both nationalist movements that won

freedom were divided and conflicted (India – Muslim vs. Hindu’s; Africa different groups)

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDIA & S. AFRICA

INDIA• Religious differences

between Muslim & Hindus• Leader (Gandhi) – no

violence• Country split into 2

(Pakistan and India) at Independence – many Muslims and Hindus died

AFRICA• No differences in ANC on

religious grounds• Apartheid• Leader (Mandela) resorted

to violence• Country remained intact at

independence

WHY THE BIG DIFFERENCES

INDIA• India had practice with

Western-style democracy (elections, parties, civil liberties, education etc…)

• Struggle for independence had been long giving India time to sort leadership out

• British handed over power more gradually

AFRICA• Some say not ready? • Tribal problems , traditional

culture & immense diversity led to violence and ethnic conflict

• Economic performance was poor – disappointing nationalists & causing problems

• Africa does not depend on land-owning class