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 in Europe. 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 by African military, trade and diplomatic strength. In the second half of the nineteenth century, however, the balance of power began to shift in Europe's favor, and gradually various European nations laid claim to imperial 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 for laying claim to territory on the African continent. No Afican sovereigns or representitives were invited to attend. As the maps display, 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 struggles 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-A: AF-01-01A
Caption:
Notes: AF-01-A

text box: The greater portion of the African continent remained under African control through the mid-1880s, though some of those polities distinguished themselves. The non-shaded area on the map does not represent uninhabited areas.

Title: Indigenous African Polities and Ottoman Colonies

Frame 1-B:
Caption:
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-01A

text box: The greater portion of the African continent remained under African control through the mid-1880s, though some of those polities distinguished themselves. The non-shaded area on the map does not represent uninhabited areas. The major Muslim, non-African power was the Ottoman Empire.

Title: Indigenous African Polities, Ottoman and European Colonies

Frame 1-C:
Caption:
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-01A

text box: The greater portion of the African continent remained under African control through the mid-1880s, though some of those polities distinguished themselves. The non-shaded area on the map does not represent uninhabited areas. The major Muslim, non-African power was the Ottoman Empire. African military, trade and diplomatic power kept European trade and other interests confined largely to coastal towns.

Section 2:

Title: Africa after the Berlin Confrence

Frame 1-A:
Caption:
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-02A

text box: At the Berlin Conference of 1885, European powers drew borders recognizing their respective sovereignty. Significant portions of Africa remained, however, beyond European control.

Frame 1-B:
Caption:
Use map inventory numbers: AF-01-02A

text box: Following the Berlin Conference, the European powers actively explored and extended their sovereignty into their assigned areas.

Frame 1-C:
Caption:
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: 1914-1919
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: After WWI, the British, French, and Italians expel the Germans from both East and West Africa and take formal control of Ottoman Territories.

Frame 2:
Caption: Outbreak of WWI to end of WWII
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 league of Nations legitimized these seizures and created in the process the "mandate" protectorate system, these latter entities were formally diferentiated from colonies; that is mandates and protectorates envisioned sovereignty to be in transition. Only Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent.

Section 4:

Title: From Colonialism to Independence

Frame 1: AF01-16
Caption: 1940-1950
Notes: Only show two indendent countries

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

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

text box: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 previous ones

text box: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 90's in yellow, along with previous ones

text box: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 50's in red, along with previous ones

text box: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.

Title: National Independence

Frame 4: maps 15 and 16
Caption: 1945-2000
Use map inventory numbers:

text box: 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

Frame 6:
Caption:
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Frame 7:
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Section 2:

Title:

Frame 1:
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Frame 2:
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Frame 3:
Caption:
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Frame 4:
Caption:
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Frame 5:
Caption:
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Frame 6:
Caption:
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Frame 7:
Caption:
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