basicmodule

Module Number: AF01

Module Name: From Colony to Independence

Date: June 27, 2007

Introduction: For centuries, African peoples and empires had been involved in trade and diplomatic relations with those Europeans. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a physical presence in Africa, in the 1480s, but through the 1870s European outposts were restricted to ports along the African coasts focusing on trade and diplomacy. In the second half of the nineteenth century, however, the balance of power began to shift in Europe's favor, and gradually most European nations laid claim to territories on the African Continent.

The most profound changes occurred between 1880-1895. In 1884-85, the Berlin Conference was called to establish the ground rules amongst Europeans claiming territory on the African continent. No African sovereigns or representitives were invited to attend. As the maps illustrate, there was a sudden explosion of European imperial claims on the continent after the conference of Berlin.

The boundaries drawn by Europeans in the late 19th cnetury remain, to a large extent, the boundaries of Africa's independent nations today. When the Organization of African Unity (OAU) first convened in May of 1961, it was decided to leave the current national boarders as they were in order to avoid unnecessary turmoil. Most of the continents 53 sovereign nations gained their independence in the 1960s, while others struggled through the 1970s, the 1980s and even into the 1990s before gaining national independence. The Western Sahara is a region that as late as 2007 had not yet received international recognition as an independent, self-governing, nation-state.

Instructions to artist (including "legend / key"): There will just be one section of five frames and we will incorporate bubbles/balloons. Follow colors as at this site:

http://www.ushistoryplace.com/newmaps/us27/map1.html

That is, the various territories should have these colors: Portugese- burnt orange; French- emerald green; British- Red; Spanish- mustard yellow; Italian- Navy blue; German- black or dark grey; Belgian- white; and the Ottoman Empire- light green.

Use your discretion for Afrikaner, American and Independent territories, depending on what colors still work.

Section 1:

Title: Africa before Berlin Confrence

Title: Indigenous African Polities

Frame 1: AF-01-01A
Caption:
Notes: AF-01-A

text box: The greater portion of the African continent remained under indigenous African control through the mid-1880's. Some of those polities noted on this map did distinguish themselves. The non-shaded area on the map, however, does not represent uninhabited areas but rather are areas where we have little certain information. There is little sense of formal borders.

Title: Indigenous African Polities and Muslim Communities

Frame 2:
Caption:
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-01A

text box: Over the centuries, a number of Muslim groups gained control over parts of Africa primarily along the north and eastern coast.

Title: Indigenous African Polities, Muslim Holdings and European Colonies

Frame 3:
Caption:
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-01A

text box: In support of trade, Europeans had acquired footholds in Africa already in the 16th Century. The extent and variety of the holdings accelerated in the 19th Century as the value of African resources became better known. The competition for control of ports and resources became intense and threatened to de-stabilize the post Napoleonic peace as had been developed by European diplomats during the middle decades of the 19th Century.

Section 2:

Title: Africa after the Berlin Confrence: 1885

Frame 1:
Caption: Africa after the Berlin Confrence: 1885
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-02A

text box: At the Berlin Conference of 1885, European powers drew borders recognizing their respective dominion. Yet, significant portions of Africa remained beyond their effective control.

Frame 2:
Caption: Africa after the Berlin Confrence: 1886-1913
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-02A

text box: Following the Berlin Conference, the European powers actively explored and established administrative control [a.k.a. 'colonialism'] of their assigned areas.

Frame 3:
Caption: Africa after the Berlin Confrence: 1914
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-02A

text box:At the outbreak of WWI, the European administrative/colonial systems were firmly in place.

Section 3:

Title: Africa Under Colonial Rule

Frame 1:
Caption: Africa on the Eve of WWI
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01 11, 12, 13(special attention to circled items on 13, perhaps use bubble. depict difference b/w french territories and UN designated. This is the critical map)

text box: European control of Africa was complete at the outbreak of WWI. In the early 20th century, the British encourage the formation of a native monarchy in Egypt in order to undermine Ottoman control.

Frame 2:
Caption: Africa Under Colonial Rule: 1914-1924
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01 11, 12, 13(special attention to circled items on 13, perhaps use bubble. depict difference b/w french territories and UN designated. This is the critical map)

Notes: the mandates and protectorates are listed on AF 01-13, please follow closely the categories noted on that map

text box: The French and British seized German territory during the war. Egypt has a native monarchy, but it is effectively under British control.

Frame 3:
Caption: Africa Under Colonial Rule: 1924 to the end of WWI
Use map inventory numbers:

Notes: the mandates and protectorates are listed on AF 01-13, please follow closely the categories noted on that map Need protectorate and mandate buttons

text box: The League of Nations legitimized these seizures and created in the process the "mandate" / "protectorate" system. These latter entities were formally differentiated from colonies; the term mandate and/or protectorate envisioned a process by which these entities would become sovereign states, but within the borders defined in 1885. Egypt remains nominally a monarchy, but continues to be under effective British control. Only Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent.

Section 4:

Title: From Colonialism to Independence

Note to Artist: We will need a color key to display each "decade's" color and its corresponding date.

Frame 1: AF01-16
Caption: 1940-1950
Notes: Only show two independent countries in gray or beige

text box: After WWII, and in keeping with the principles of the United Nations, the colonies and protectorates gained their independence. This map shows the current border of African nations with the different colors representing the decade in which the nations gained their independence. With only a few exceptions, the boundaries drawn by Europeans in the 19th century have remained largely intact.

Balloon: In 1922, Egyptian independence confirmed, though British influence and control remains pervasive. British influence effectively ended in 1956.

Balloon:

Frame 2:
Caption: 1950-1960
Notes: Frame two show countries that gained their independence in the 50's in red, along with colored in countries from previous frame

text box:After WWII, and in keeping with the principles of the United Nations, the colonies and protectorates gained their independence. This map shows the current border of African nations with the different colors representing the decade in which the nations gained their independence. With only a few exceptions, the boundaries drawn by Europeans in the 19th century have remained largely intact.

Balloon: Sudan was jointly administrated by Britain and Egypt from 1889-1955

Frame 3:
Caption: 1960-1970
Notes: Frame three shows countries that gained their independence in the 60's in Blue, along with colored in countries from previous frame

text box:After WWII, and in keeping with the principles of the United Nations, the colonies and protectorates gained their independence. This map shows the current border of African nations with the different colors representing the decade in which the nations gained their independence. With only a few exceptions, the boundaries drawn by Europeans in the 19th century have remained largely intact.

Frame 4:
Caption: 1970-1980
Notes: Frame 4 shows countries that gained their independence in the 70's in green, along with colored in countries from previous frame

text box:After WWII, and in keeping with the principles of the United Nations, the colonies and protectorates gained their independence. This map shows the current border of African nations with the different colors representing the decade in which the nations gained their independence. With only a few exceptions, the boundaries drawn by Europeans in the 19th century have remained largely intact.

Frame 5:
Caption: 1980-1990
Notes: Frame 5 shows countries that gained their independence in the 80's in yellow, along with colored in countries from previous frame

text box:After WWII, and in keeping with the principles of the United Nations, the colonies and protectorates gained their independence. This map shows the current border of African nations with the different colors representing the decade in which the nations gained their independence. With only a few exceptions, the boundaries drawn by Europeans in the 19th century have remained largely intact.

Frame 6:
Caption: 1990-2000
Notes: Frame 6 shows countries that gained their independence in the 90's in purple, along with colored in countries from previous frame

text box:After WWII, and in keeping with the principles of the United Nations, the colonies and protectorates gained their independence. This map shows the current border of African nations with the different colors representing the decade in which the nations gained their independence. With only a few exceptions, the boundaries drawn by Europeans in the 19th century have remained largely intact.

pop-up bubble on Western Sahara: In 1975, the International Court of Justice declared the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination. Just before Spain was to end their colonial administration in Western Sahara in 1976, the nation was partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania. By 1987, with the help of United States military support, Morocco had exculsive control of Western Sahara. Morocco still occupies the nation today while many of the indigenous peoples of the area are exiled in refugee camps in Algeria.

pop-up bubble on Liberia: Although the Republic of Liberia declared its independence on July 26th 1847, this independence was not from any political entity but from a sort of "protectorate" status. The American Colonization Society, a "philanthropic" organization closely associated with the United States government, was formally responsible for affairs in Liberia before offical independence. Even after independence, Liberia was governed by an African American elite (or the descendants thereof) who retained close ties with the United States.

pop-up bubble on Ethiopia: Ethipoia remained independent for the years of 1935- 41 when occupied by Mussolini's troops from Italy.

pop-up bubble: Leopold II, King of Belgium, was named sovereign of the Congo Free State in the Berlin Treaty of 1885. Leopold II turned Congo Free State over to Belgium in 1908.

scroll-over on Each Country: Displaying name and date of independence