4.4.1

Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

Test yourself on Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Andrew Cohen

Andrew Cohen was a key administrator in West and Central Africa. He helped pave the way for independence in colonies.

What was Andrew Cohen's official position?

What was Andrew Cohen's official position?

  • From 1947, Cohen was the Head of the Colonial Office’s African division and the Governor of Uganda from 1952.
Cohen's attitude to the native populations

Cohen's attitude to the native populations

  • Cohen believed in the rights of native African people. However, he also had to deal with racist politicians like Ian Smith in Rhodesia and the National Party in South Africa.
  • The Cohen Report of 1947 advocated devolving some power to indigenous officials who knew their countries best. This should have increased the cultural sensitivity of British policy, and it is surprising that it wasn't considered standard practice a century earlier.
Fears of apartheid

Fears of apartheid

  • Cohen tried to create the Central African Federation to stop the growth of apartheid across Africa.
  • The Central African Federation (CAF) was created in 1953, but it only existed for 10 years.
  • The Central African Federation united Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (Malawi).
  • Local nationalists clashed with the white governors of the CAF, demanding independence and self-determination.
  • Unwinding British nationalist policy in Africa was extremely complex and the CAF failed. In 1964, it splintered, with Northern Rhodesia becoming Zambia and Nyasaland becoming Malawi.
Work in Uganda

Work in Uganda

  • Cohen was the Governor of Uganda from 1952 to 1957.
  • The Berlin Conference of 1884 had divided Africa into arbitrary countries with arbitrary borders in the scramble for Africa.
  • Cohen worked towards creating an independent Uganda, growing the University of Makerere and encouraging more political activism. Uganda became independent in 1962.
  • In 1971, a military coup led by Idi Amin came to power. Over 300,000 Ugandans are thought to have been killed under Amin's dictatorship, and Ugandans of Indian origin were exiled.

Charles Arden-Clarke

Charles Arden Clarke played a key role in the Gold Coast's transition to independence.

Official position

Official position

  • Arden-Clarke was the Governor of the Gold Coast in 1949.
Attitude towards the natives

Attitude towards the natives

  • Arden-Clarke saw himself as a facilitator of self-rule for the Gold Coast.
  • In 1951, he ordered the release of the leading nationalist in the country, Nkrumah.
  • However, Arden-Clarke also referred to Nkrumah as 'our local Hitler'.
  • Another Commissioner in the Gold Coast, Gill, said "What [Nkrumah] has to work with is a population, the vast majority of which lives at subsistence level, is illiterate, animistic and split by tribalism. This population has been given adult suffrage. Independence and the parliamentary system of government have little or no meaning for the illiterates".
Position in the independent Gold Coast

Position in the independent Gold Coast

  • In 1957, the Gold Coast was granted independence and became known as Ghana.
  • Arden-Clarke became the Governor-General of Ghana in 1957 but only stayed in the post for 2 months.
Jump to other topics
1

High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1

Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time1.1.2Key Questions About Empires1.1.3Expansion into Africa1.1.4History of Egypt1.1.5Control of Egypt1.1.6Control of Sudan
1.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India1.2.2The British Raj1.2.3International Relations with other Powers1.2.4Scramble for Africa1.2.5The Informal Empire
1.3

Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce
1.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers1.4.2Missionaries1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism
1.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India1.5.2Relations with South Africa1.5.3British-Boer Relations
2

Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1

Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa
2.2

Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India2.2.2Policy in Egypt2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers
2.3

Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade2.3.2Costs of the Empire2.3.3Debates Over Trade
2.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism
2.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India2.5.2Challenges in Africa2.5.3Challenges in South Africa2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran
3

Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1

Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW13.1.2Palestine3.1.3Ireland & WW13.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire
3.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions3.2.3Imperial Defence
3.3

Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW13.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2
3.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators3.4.2Trusteeship3.4.3Gandhi3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins3.4.6Imperialist Ideals
3.5

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-19473.5.2The Middle East and Africa
4

The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1

Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia
4.2

Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW24.2.2The 'Winds of Change'4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 19564.2.4International Relations 1947-1967
4.3

Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2
4.4

Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism
4.5

Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire
4.6

Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 19474.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

Practice questions on Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which of these are true of the Central African Federation?True / false
  2. 2
    How long was Arden-Clarke Governor-General of Ghana?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

The Economic Impact of WW2

Local Leaders in the Independence Movement