frontpage : what is the biggest obstacle to unity in the united states? the last word: no homework...
TRANSCRIPT
FrontPage: What is the biggest obstacle to unity in the United States?
The Last Word: No homework
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Africa After Independence
Building Unity, Governments and Economies
Starting Out
Newly independent Africans faced a number of challenges…–Promote Unity–Establish Governments–Build Economies
From Colonization to Independence and Beyond…
Promoting Unity
This was difficult for the new leaders of Africa– Africans felt more loyalty to ethnic groups, tribes,
families and villages– Felt little attachment to distant central governments
in faraway capitals
Promoting Unity
Economic differences were another obstacle to unifying the disparate people of Africa– Some Africans lived in areas rich in
resources, others were poor farmers– Some Africans had benefited from
European rule, many had not…
Promoting Unity
Political borders were a final obstacle to unification– Europeans had drawn political borders at the Berlin
Conference• Had no regard for location of tribes
– These borders by and large become the borders of newly independent nations of Africa
• Some rivals placed in the same nation; some tribes split by political borders
Africa Then and Now
Case Study: The CongoWins independence in 1960; – 14 million people
belong to hundreds of ethnic groups and regions;
– Each has its own goals
Case Study: The Congo
Civil war begins when Katanga province tries to separate – Long fight to bring
it back
Case Study: The Congo
Dictator Mobutu Sese Seko took control and ruled the country from 1965 – 1997– Changes name to Zaire in 1970
Civil war resumes after he returns; disparate groups not held together by strong leader…– **Benefit of dictatorship?
This fighting prevents the Congo from developing as a nation– Similar cases arise in Rwanda and elsewhere
Establishing Governments
In many African nations, the military took power in order to bring order and promote progress.– Used brutal methods to stay in power– Though their original intentions may have been
benevolent, they often became corrupt
Why would people prefer military rule to other types of governments?
What does military rule promote?
Establishing Governments
In other nations, African leaders set up one-party governments– Believed that competing political parties
created divisions within society– One-party rule is similar to traditional African
values of consensus
**What are the disadvantages of one-party rule?
Establishing Governments
The most successful and stable nations are those that eventually made the move towards democratization– They allowed many different parties, held open elections,
and removed military or one-party rulers**Examples include Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya and
Senegal
Building Economies
African governments needed to determine the type of economic system they would use– Main question: How much of the economy would
government control?
Building Economies
Some African nations chose Socialism– Government owns major industries, – Exercises a great deal of control over business,
but still allows some investmentAfricans felt this system would benefit them the most– Would take care of basic needs, health care and
education– Also would make all Africans equal and end the
privileges of the few
**By and large, these nations found little success…
Building Economies
Most African nations today have a mixed economy– Government owns only basic industries; controls
certain other segments of the population– Allows for a great deal of private business and
investment
A Little Help From My Friends…?
– These companies will invest in Africa’s resources; this helps the African economies
**Downside: much of the profit leaves Africa…
Some African nations are turning to multinational corporations for help
–These are large businesses with branches in many different nations
Economic Challenges
Economic Dependence– Many African nations are dependent on a single
crop for export or must import vital needs– If the price on the world market changes
drastically, the country is hard hit
**Example of oil: many nations must import; left vulnerable to outside forces
The Population Explosion
Africa’s population has risen steadily since independence– Currently 1.03 billion; high birth rate has
recently been moderated by impact of AIDS– Projected to double by 2025
Consequences:– Strain on government resources– Changing ideas about families
The Population Explosion
The Population Explosion
Review:Give one reason why Africans had trouble promoting unity after becoming independent.What was one cause of the civil war in the
Congo? Who took power and stopped it?
What 3 types of governments existed in Africa after independence?
What type of economy do most African nations have today?
How will Africa’s population change in the next 20 years?