The Big Ideas
The Quest for National Self-Determination is Universal
Although most African Nations won Independence from Colonial Rulers after
WWII, many fell Victim to Military Regimes and one party states.
The Transition to Independence
• Colonial Rule over Africa by 1900• After WWII, most European Nations end Colonial Rule• Most countries were freed, but some white rulers held
on• 17 new nations by 1960; Mostly British Colonies• 11 more by 1965; Mostly British Colonies• France freed Morocco and Tunisia; kept Algeria- 1 million
French settlers lived there; Algerian nationals rebel• De Gaulle frees Algeria in 1962
• Portugal held on to colonies, led to guerilla warfare• Mozambique and Angola became free in 1970s.
Kwame Nkrumah• Gold Coast, 1st colony
freed• Renamed Ghana• Leader of new
country• African Socialism• Ownership of wealth
into hands of the people
South Africa• Afrikaners- Descendants
of Dutch settlers, 1600-1700• Ruling White Class• Repressive• Apartheid: Apartness• Segregation• African National
Congress (ANC) 1912 Against repression• Tried reform, little
success
South Africa- Apartheid• Blacks demonstrated
against Apartheid• 1960, protest in
Sharpeville- 69 killed• Many shot in back• 1962- ANC leader,
Nelson Mandela arrested (27 years)• Leads to more armed
resistance
Why might it be harder to establish a stable government than to achieve independence?• Easier to tear down the old than to build
up the new• Changing the culture/ legacy of
imperialism can be difficult
Obstacles of the New Nations
•Main Idea- The newly independent African states faced significant political, economic and health challenges.• For many, dream of good society still unrealized• New African Leaders come to power• Most come from urban middle class• Studied in Europe or U.S.- Western ideals
New Leaders• Jomo Kenyatta- Kenya• Educated in Britain• Formed Kenya African
National Union• Imprisoned for
supporting Mau Mau Movement• Led country to freedom-
1963• President from 64-78• Western style capitalism
Pan-Africanism• Unity of all Black Africans-
regardless of national boundaries
• Nkrumah supported along with Leopold Senghor of Senegal, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Jomo Kenyatta.
• Never became reality• Organization of African
Unity (OAU) founded in 1963• 2002, African Union 53
nation groups
The Obstacles of Africa• Economic Problems• Over reliance on raw export/materials• Price fluctuation- World market• Poor balance of trade- importing technology• Foreign debt- Debt crisis• Scarce money spent on military• Corruption and Bribery• Population explosion cripples economy; 3% by 1980• Drought; extended and expansive• Leads to malnourishment and starvation• Political unrest and civil war• Massive Poverty
Economic Problems cont.• Poverty bad in rural
areas- 75%• Migration to cities• Shantytowns• Overwhelms city
services• Massive Wealth Gap• Wabenzi- Mercedes
Benz people
Health Problems-AIDS• Epidemic in Africa• 8% of Africans• 25 million of 38
million in world in Africa• 12 million children
plus lose both parents to AIDS• Become orphans
• Due to lack of funding, unable to stop epidemic• No drugs, no
education• Uganda has made
strides in promoting health and sex ed.• Lowered new
infection rates
Political Challenges • “One Person, One
Vote.” Nope…• Military Regimes and
one party states• Cold War plays out
here too• Marxist Ethiopia,
supported by Soviets• U.S. puts military
base in Somalia
Political Challenges; Ethnic• Ethnic fighting• Western Imperialism
and arbitrary lines drawn• Conflict in Nigeria
1960s• Ibo people killed by
northerners- migrate to home region
• Lt. Colonel Odumegu Ojukwu leads the Ibo, declares free nation of Biafra• 2 ½ years later,
bloody civil war, Nigeria reunited
Political/Ethnic Conflicts cont.• Central Africa-Rwanda• Hutu and Tutsi tribes• In 1994, Civil War,
500,000 Killed, mostly Tutsis• Tutsi gain power, Hutu
flee to DR of Congo• Civil War in Congo; 3.5
million people die, hunger and disease
The Darfur Region• In Sudan• Arab Militants-
“Reign of Terror”• Genocide of African
Tribal Groups• 450,000? Estimates• U.N. Millions need
assistance, millions have fled
New Hope• In the 90s, many
dictatorships fall• Desmond Tutu- worked to
free Mandela• Won a Nobel Peace prize in
1984• Leader of Non-violent
movement against Apartheid
• Apartheid ends in South Africa, 1994 due to Worldwide pressure and work of Tutu
• Mandela is freed 1990• F.W. de Klerk holds free
elections in 93• Mandela elected president
in 94• In Uganda, Idi Aman is
overthrown• Repressive dictator• Ethiopia, Liberia and
Somalia; fall of dictators• Civil wars do follow for
many of these countries
Society and Culture• Tension between old
world and new• African heritage vs.
Western ideology • Industrialization
changes the continent• Unlike the West,
changes forced on Africa• Cities more west;
Countryside, more traditional
Society and Culture cont.• Women’s roles• Independence
changed women’s lives• Vote or hold office• Some jobs, but not
access to many jobs like men• Arranged marriage in
the rural areas
African Culture• For artists; challenge
to find balance of new and old• Countries instruct
artists to depict scenes of traditional African life• Tourism/ lucrative
African Art• Cultural tensions
reflected in literature• Write about struggle
of roots vs new environment• Chinua Achebe;
Nigerian Novelist• “Things Fall Apart”• Traditional vs.
Western values
What dilemmas face Society and Culture in Modern Africa?• Constant tensions between traditional and
western culture• People in cities follow western ways• People in rural areas follow more traditional
ways-African Heritage• Artists face dilemma of balance between
western techniques, training and rich heritage of African art form
Conflict in the Middle EastBig Idea: Nationalism, fueled by religious passion, has led to recurring violence and
continuing efforts at international mediation
Conflict in the Middle East
•Main Idea: The creation of Israel as a Jewish State in Palestine led to decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs• New Nations emerge after WWII• Syria, Lebanon and Jordan gain
independence• All Muslim except for one….• Israel!!
Israel and Palestine• May 14, 1948, David
Ben Gurion- 1st PM proclaims state of Israel• Leads to conflict• Jews and Muslims • Zionism• Huge #’s of Jews flee
here in 20s and 30s• UN resolution; Divides
Jewish state and Palestinian state• Issues Today?
Nasser and Pan-Arabism• Colonel Abdul Gamal
Nasser- 50s • July 26, 1956 seizure of
Suez Canal• Britain, France and
Israel vs. Egypt, US and Soviets???• Nasser is hero to Egypt• Pan-Arabism- Arab
Unity
Pan- Arabism and UAR• Feb 1958- Egypt and Syria
unite- United Arab Republic- UAR
• Nasser 1st President of UAR• Hopes to unite all Arab
states• Other leaders suspicious• Oil rich nations going to
share with poor nations? • 61, Syria overthrown, UAR
falls • Nasser continues work on
Arab Unity
The Arab-Israeli Dispute• In 50s and 60s,
dispute escalates• 67, Nasser blockades
Israel• Six-day war• Israel dominates,
takes more territory from Palestinians and beats other Arab nations
The Arab-Israeli Dispute cont.• Nasser dies in 1970• Anwar el-Sadat
succeeds him• Attacks Israel in 73• UN ceasefire in 74• In 79, Sadat, Pres.
Carter and PM Begin sign Camp David Accords- Peace• Many Arab nations
refuse to recognize Israel
OPEC• Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries- 1960• Control price of Oil• Set world price• 1973, OPEC raises
prices, cuts production- oil shortages in the West• Massive world power
Yasser Arafat and the PLO• 1964- Palestine Liberation
Organization• Yasser Arafat leader, also
leader of al- Fatah, launches terrorist attacks on Israel • In 80s, Palestinians start Intifada, “uprising”• In 93, Israel and PLO
reach agreement• Terrorism is rampant in
Israel today
Turmoil in Iran and IraqIn 1979, an Iranian Revolution set up an Islamic republic headed by the Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeni, while in Iraq, the dictator Saddam Hussein tried to strengthen his role in the Middle East.
Turmoil in Iran and Iraq• Shah Mohammed Reza
Pahlavi- U.S. chief ally in Mid East
• Many Iranians did not approve of Shah, to west influence
• Flees country and Khomeini takes over
• Islamic Republic established
• In 1979- Iran Hostage situation, 52 hostages takes, 442 days
• Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq since 1979
• In 1980, Saddam launches brutal war on Iran
• Uses children to clear minefields and poison gas on civilians
• Battle over Strait of Hormuz
• War drags on, issues never resolved
• Cease fire in 1988• Khomeini dies in 89
Modern Terrorism• Big Idea- Terrorists kill
civilians, take hostages, and hijack planes to advance their goals.Do not organize or negotiate • Strong beliefs; enough
to die for their cause• Their goals can vary• IRA- unite Northern
Ireland
Modern Terrorism cont.• State Sponsored
Terrorism- work for one nation to undermine the government of another• Iraq, Iran, Syria,
North Korea• Many causes of
terrorism
• Modern vs. Traditional Islamic cultures• Extremists stir up
resentment against the wealthy by those who live in poverty• Israeli-Palestine
conflict- if it was solved, might create peace
Why target the U.S.?• Since WWII, a majority of
terrorist attacks carried out by Middle Eastern groups against Western countries
• Several reasons; U.S. role in enriching wealthy families involved in oil
• Western ideologies and culture spreading in the Middle East- Fundamentalist Islamic backlash
• Political and Financial support of Israel
Modern Terrorism cont.• Conservative Islamic society in Iran
1979• Changes women’s roles- going
backwards• After WWII, King of Afghanistan
seeks support from Soviets• 1978, Soviet friendly leaders in
power. 1979, Soviets invade, install Babrak Karmal as PM.
• U.S. supports rebels, Islamic Afghans • Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda
contributes to rebels• In 1996, Taliban takes control of
Afghanistan and buildup al-Qaeda• Bin Laden wants to drive Westerners
out Islamic countries and in 1998, calls on followers to kill Americans
The Attack of 9/11• Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of
people killed• Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda
linked to attack• U.S. and allies attack
Afghanistan, Taliban in October 2001
• Government toppled by Christmas
• New Leader, Hamid Karzai, many challenges ahead
• Patriot Act passed and Department of Homeland Security formed- Anti-terrorism
The Iraq Factor• The Big Idea: In
March 2003, a U.S.-led coalition attacked Iraq, believing that it possessed weapons of mass destruction; when none were found, many questioned the decision to begin the war
• January 2002, Pres. Bush makes “Axis of Evil” speech- Iraq, Iran and North Korea
• Iraq is immediate threat- WMDs
• Bush seeks support from Congress and the world in 2002, to justify the war.
• UN sends weapons inspectors, but the U.S. readied for war.
• March 2003, U.S. led coalition attacks Iraq.
The Iraq Factor• May 1, 2003, Bush declares
victory• In 2004, no WMDs found;
Intelligence was flawed• Many Iraqis happy Hussein is out
of power, but unhappy with U.S. and coalition presence in Iraq.
• Insurgent, terrorist attacks increase
• Very costly; rebuilding Iraq and in lives
• June 28, 2004, power officially transferred to Iyad Allawi- interim prime minister
• Large challenge ahead
Class Discussion- Soc. Seminar
• Discuss the topic questions with the class• Express your views, use evidence to support your
views, or ask clarifying questions in response to other students views• Keep answers to a minute in length• Be respectful of your fellow classmates• Everyone needs to actively participate• Have fun!
Topic Questions: Terrorism
• What comes to mind when you hear the word terrorism or terrorist?• What/How do you define someone as a terrorist?• What causes people to become terrorists?• Can you understand the viewpoints of a terrorist?• Does terrorism work? Do they achieve their goals? • Do other parts of the world consider the U.S. to
be a terrorist organization? Why?• Will the future get better or worse? Will there be
more acts of terrorism in the future?