4.6.3

Nigeria & Rhodesia

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Relations Between Britain and Nigeria, 1947-1967

The process of gaining independence in Nigeria was fraught. This was mostly because of regional tensions.

Splitting up Nigeria

Splitting up Nigeria

  • As an area, Nigeria was highly divided in ambition and a vision for what independence would look like:
    • The North was Islamic and anti-Western.
    • The West was economically advanced and ambitious.
    • The South was influenced by Western ideas and Christianity.
  • Each region had its own political parties, and different political parties, primarily supported by 1 ethnic group.
Significance of disunity

Significance of disunity

  • The ethnic divisions between the Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa made Britain hesitant to unite the country. However, nationalist momentum continued after the voting franchise grew after 1951.
  • Between 1945 and 1954, three constitutions were agreed with the British, but at least 1 province vetoed every one of them.
Independence

Independence

  • Self-governing status was granted to the South, West, and East in 1957 and to the North in 1959.
  • In 1958, the British government agreed to full Nigerian independence from 1960.
    • However, tensions within Nigeria remained even after Britain left.

Relations Between Britain and Rhodesia, 1947-1967

Rhodesia's path to independence was long and plagued by controversy.

Tensions in Rhodesia

Tensions in Rhodesia

  • There was considerable tension between the different territories making up Rhodesia (Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland).
  • The creation of the Central African Federation (CAF) in 1953 was an attempt to neutralise tensions, but the CAF 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.
Responses to the CAF

Responses to the CAF

  • Black nationalist leaders in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland challenged the discriminatory laws in Southern Rhodesia under Field and Smith, which looked a lot closer to the racist apartheid in South Africa.
  • White rulers in Southern Rhodesia tried to use the Federation to enhance their political power and enforce their white supremacist views on the other parts of the CAF.
Disbanding the CAF

Disbanding the CAF

  • After declaring a state of emergency in Nyasaland, the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan began to disband the CAF.
  • In 1964, Northern Rhodesia became independent Zambia and Nyasaland became independent Malawi.
  • The Rhodesian Front wanted white rule and the Prime Minister, Ian Smith, illegally declared Rhodesia to be independent in 1965.
Ian Smith and the Rhodesian Front

Ian Smith and the Rhodesian Front

  • In 1965, Ian Smith declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) for Rhodesia. This was illegal.
  • Britain tried to sanction Rhodesia, but South Africa's National Party, which was politically aligned with Smith, refused to put Rhodesia under sanctions.
  • Britain did very little to support a black majority rule in Rhodesia. It took a 15-year civil war for Robert Mugabe to create a black majority rule in 1980.
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 Nigeria & Rhodesia

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  1. 1
    What divisions existed in Nigeria pre-independence? True / false
  2. 2
    The British government was hesitant to unite Nigeria because of ethnic divisions between... Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Which organisation refused to put Rhodesia under sanctions after 1965?Multiple choice
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Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising