4.6.3
Nigeria & Rhodesia
Relations Between Britain and Nigeria, 1947-1967
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
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.
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
Jump to other topics
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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