Unit 6 Africa

Unit 6
Africa in the 1900s

By Rhonda Tharp

Events & Ideas to Learn in this Activity

~1. Why did European countries colonize Africa?
~2. What effects did European colonization have on Africa?
~3. What major events (effects) happened in the Congo, Sudan, Rwanda and South Africa during and after decolonization?
~4. What were the causes & effects of genocide in Rwanda?
~5. Why were the causes & effects of genocide in Sudan?
~6. What was Apartheid in South Africa and what role did Mandela play?

Labelling

Label the following African countries on the map:

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Rwanda & Burundi

Congo

South Africa

Egypt

South Sudan

Sudan

Morocco

What does the key show?

What European countries were in Africa in the early 1900s?

Why do you suppose they were in Africa?

​

​What do you notice about this map?

~ for raw materials
~ for medicinal plants like quinine
~ to create new markets & strengthen their economy
~ to stay competitive with other European nations​

​Europeans Scrambled to Africa

Multiple Select

Why did Europeans scramble for land in Africa between the 1880s - 1910s? Mark all that apply.

• for manufactured goods

• for raw materials & medicinal plants

• for new trade markets

• for staying competitive

European colonies in Africa had been directly or indirectly governed by European rulers.



But now, Europeans began questioning the morality and the cost of maintaining colonies.

​

​After WWI (1914-1918)...

Did you notice what the Congonese men were holding in the previous slide's picture?

Yes, those are hands of other Congonese people...

An example of direct rule was the the Belgian King, Leopold, who was cruel and ordered hands chopped off when they refused to work or fell behind in their work.
Just one of many atrocities committed by European colonizers in Africa.

Open Ended

If you had been living in a colonized area of Africa, would you have preferred the direct or indirect rule of Europeans? Why?

Effects of European Colonization

European disrupted traditional social & political structures; emphasized some ethnicities over others → discrimination & conflict today as a result

Africans were forced into labor, especially mining

Europeans imposed their culture, religion & language onto Africans; African tribes lost their identities & heritage

Caused Africans to depend on European economy & trade

​Negative

Europeans brought medicine & medical care

Europeans built railroads & roads

Europeans imposed western style education which had some benefit but caused the loss of knowledge & wisdom from African tribes.

​Positive

•Europeans had created artificial borders for each country and the borders had little to do with ethnic groups or their territorial claims.

•Within these artificial borders, Europeans had kept traditional enemies enclosed. Now that the European governments were pulling out, these ethnic groups began to fight.

•This led to instability, violence & overall struggles to deal with independence.

​Europeans Affected the Borders

Open Ended

When European countries decolonized Africa between the 1950s-1970s, why was there internal conflicts and fighting between ethnic groups? (look at previous slides for help.)

The Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960 - became the Republic of Congo.

There have been several conflicts & wars over territory, resources & leadership. (Congo Crisis)

Currently, it is known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Congo (formerly known as Zaire)

The first British colony to gain independence in 1957.

Ghana had their first president - Nkrumah and was president for "life."

In 2000, Ghana had their first open and free election.

Ghana

African Countries Gain Independence

Rwanda Gains Independence & Burundi Splits From Rwanda

​In Rwanda & Burundi there had been two major tribes: the Hutu and the Tutsi.

Cycles of violence followed Rwanda's independence in 1962.

The Tutsi tribe had been exiled and wanted to come back to their land; they attacked but the Hutu retaliated with extreme violence & slaughter.

In 1994, the Rwandan president died in a plane crash and the Hutu blamed this on the Tutsi.

The Hutu slaughtered 1 million Tutsi. This is known as the Rwandan Genocide.

The United Nations set up a tribunal court to bring justice, but only 32 Hutu have been convicted by the UN.

​On the Next Slide, Watch the 6 Minute Video Over the Rwandan Genocide

Genocide: crimes committed against people with intent to destroy them because ot their ethnicity, nation, race or religion.

As you watch the video, pay attention to details like how colonization & European influence set the stage for the Genocide.

According to the video, how many people were killed in the Genocide?
According to the video, how many people have been convicted of their crimes?

Multiple Select

The Hutu and Tutsi were on good terms until the Germans and Belgians arrived. How did the Europeans change the Hutu and Tutsi relationship? Mark all that apply.

• The Europeans classified people by their ethnicity.

• The Europeans supported the Tutsi politically.

• The Europeans helped the Hutu gain more land.

• The Belgians spread rumors about one ethnicity to turn them against each other.

Open Ended

Why do you suppose the Hutu targeted Tutsi women and children in this conflict? (hint: what does genocide mean?)

​Sudan

1956: Sudan gained their independence from the British-Egyptian govt.

1956-1972: Southern Sudan wanted representation in government; they wanted equality between Muslims & Christians; led to Civil War.

1983-2005: Civil War again

2003-2020: War in Darfur over oil (city in Sudan); African & Arabic land owners fight for control over oil fields.

2011: South Sudan gains independence from Sudan.

Arabic is the primary language spoken in Sudan.
97% of the population are Sunni Muslim (before breaking apart).
South Sudan is primarily Christian.

Multiple Choice

Both the American Colonies (in the 1700s) and the South Sudanese people wanted independence from their rulers. What did both of these groups have in common?

• Both the American Colonies & South Sudanese were not represented in government.

• Both the American Colonies & North Sudan wanted to charge higher taxes.

• Both the American Colonies & South Sudan wanted more land from Britain.

• Both the American Colonies & South Sudan were farmers wanting land titles.

Multiple Choice

In Sudan, ___ are the majority and ___ are the minority religious group.

• Sikhism/Animism

• Christians/Muslims

• Muslims/Christians

• Sikhism/Hinduism

What does this political cartoon portray?

Why are they fighting?

Who is caught in the middle of their fight?

Multiple Choice

In the 1950s, North and South Sudan fought over cultural differences, like religion. North Sudan wanted their government to be based on Islam. However, more recently, what has the conflict been over?

• Iron & copper deposits

• Tin & cobalt deposits

• Diamonds & Rubies

• Oil & Land

What does this political cartoon portray?

Who is the man on the left (look at his coat for a clue)?

Does this cartoon show the Sudan conflict as repairable or not? How do you know?

​On the Next Slide Watch the 3 Minute Video over Darfur Genocide

As you watch the video, listen for the narrator to mention why the conflict continues today.

Think about why the conflict has not been resolved.

What do you think it will take to resolve it? Why?

Open Ended

How are the Rwandan Genocide and the Darfur Genocide similar? How are they different?

Open Ended

Do you think the Darfur Genocide & conflicts in Sudan will continue into the next decade? (the 2030s) Why or why not?

South Africa

For the last activity, watch the following 10 minute video over South African Apartheid (apart-ness).

You will record 5 Facts on the last slide to submit. Write them in full sentences that show you watched & understaod the video content.

Be sure to make at least one fact about Nelson Mandela.

​Independent from Britain in 1910
Became a Republic in 1961
And Not Free of Apartheid Until 1994

Open Ended

Write five facts in full sentences that you learned from the video. Be sure to include at least one fact about Nelson Mandela.