Main Idea: After World War II, African leaders threw off
colonial rule and created independent countries.
A.
Background
1.
WEB DuBois
(American) influences Africans
2.
French speaking
Africans form the Negritude movement—celebrates African culture, black
consciousness and pride in traditional Africa
B.
British Colonies
1.
Kwame Nkrumah leads Ghana to liberation
a
Becomes first PM; neglected economic problems
b
Keeps shifting back & forth between civilian and
military rule
2.
British resist Kenyan independence
a
Jomo Kenyatta: nationalist; strong leadership
b
Mau Mau (secret society): fought
C.
Congo
1.
Belgium leaves the
Congo unprepared for indpendence
2.
First PM, Patrice
Lumumba, is overthrown & murdered
3.
Mobutu Sese Seko:
renames Zaire & rules as dictator for 32 years; finally overthrown in 1997
a
Laurent Kabila: president, returns name to Congo
D.
Algeria
1.
French colonists are unwilling to give up land
2.
Continuous fighting between French troops & Algerian
nationalists (FLN) prompts the return of Charles de Gaulle to power
3.
Referendum for Algerian independence passes overwhelmingly
in both countries
4.
Conflict arises: Islamic militants vs. secular government
E.
Angola
1.
Portugal fails to prepare Angola for independence
2.
Rebel groups fight for control
3.
Portugal leaves without handing over power to anyone
4.
US helps engineer a cease-fire among warring groups