After the Second World War people in Africa wanted change. Only Egypt, Liberia and Ethiopia were independent at that point. But it was
Indian self-rule
which triggered the momentum leading to independence. Everywhere the mood was hopeful as people were inspired by the vision of a new society free of European control.
Why did Africa gain independence?
Following World War II,
rapid decolonisation swept across
the continent of Africa as many territories gained their independence from European colonisation. … Consumed with post-war debt, European powers were no longer able to afford the resources needed to maintain control of their African colonies.
Why did South Africa want independence?
The Boers disliked British rule. They wanted
a simple farming life
. British rule made their country increasingly a country of industry and business. … By 1910 the Boers ruled a South Africa that was virtually independent from Britain.
Why did African countries struggle after independence?
One of the most pressing challenges African states faced at Independence was
their lack of infrastructure
. … These new countries also lacked the manufacturing infrastructure to add value to their raw materials. Rich as many African countries were in cash crops and minerals, they could not process these goods themselves.
When did many African colonies gain their independence Why?
Between 1945 and 1960
, three dozen new states in Asia and Africa achieved autonomy or outright independence from their European colonial rulers. There was no one process of decolonization. In some areas, it was peaceful, and orderly. In many others, independence was achieved only after a protracted revolution.
What is Africa’s oldest country?
Ethiopia
is Africa’s oldest independent country and its second largest in terms of population. Apart from a five-year occupation by Mussolini’s Italy, it has never been colonised.
Was South Africa under British rule?
The
country became a fully sovereign nation state within the British Empire
, in 1934 following enactment of the Status of the Union Act. The monarchy came to an end on 31 May 1961, replaced by a republic as the consequence of a 1960 referendum, which legitimised the country becoming the Republic of South Africa.
Why are they called Boers?
The term Boer, derived from the Afrikaans word for farmer, was used to describe the people in southern Africa who
traced their ancestry to Dutch, German and French Huguenot settlers who arrived in the Cape of Good Hope from 1652
.
What was South Africa called before?
Name. The name “South Africa” is derived from the country’s geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named
the Union of South Africa in English
and Unie van Zuid-Afrika in Dutch, reflecting its origin from the unification of four formerly separate British colonies.
Why did Boers leave Cape Colony?
There were many reasons why the Boers left the Cape Colony; among the initial reasons were
the language laws
. The British had proclaimed the English language as the only language of the Cape Colony and prohibited the use of the Dutch language. … This caused further dissatisfaction among the Dutch settlers.
What were the negative effects of colonialism in Africa?
Some of the negative impacts that are associated with colonization include;
degradation of natural resources, capitalist, urbanization, introduction of foreign diseases to livestock and humans
.
What factors helped African nations win independence?
- industrialization.
- development of cash crops.
- modernization.
- population increase.
Which country was never colonized in Africa?
Most countries in Africa are colonized except two countries in Africa. These two countries are considered by scholars to never have been colonized:
Ethiopia and Liberia
. However, few stints of foreign control in the two country has been a subject of debate whether Liberia and Ethiopia truly remained fully independent.
Which country was the first to get independence?
In 1939,
Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand
were the first to be given independence within the Commonwealth. Since then a total of 62 countries have gained independence from the United Kingdom. This is followed by France with 28, Spain with 17, The Soviet Union with 16, Portugal with 7 and the USA with 5.
What was the last country in Africa to gain its independence?
| Country Independence Date Prior ruling country | Eritrea, State of May 24, 1993 Ethiopia | South Sudan , Republic of July 9, 2011 Republic of the Sudan |
|---|
What was decolonization Why did it occur after WWII?
Decolonization,
process by which colonies become independent of the colonizing country
. Decolonization was gradual and peaceful for some British colonies largely settled by expatriates but violent for others, where native rebellions were energized by nationalism.
