Africa

• 1922: Egypt given independence
• 1957: Gold Coast changed to Ghana and given independence through the leader Nkrumah.
• Cecil Rhodes owned 9/10 of the diamonds/mines in South Africa.
• Abdel Nasser became President of Egypt in 1956. He was seen as a Arab Hitler as Nassar was also a fascist.
• Abdel Nasser wanted to nationalise the Suez Canal.
• The Suez Crisis in 1956 was a embarrassing failure for the British as the plan to fake a invasion through the British persuading Israel to plan a fake attack as the purpose of the British plan was to stop Nasser from Nationalising the canal as it was Britain's key export in trade. If the attack succeed the British could station, there soldiers by the canal which Britain and Nasser had agreed to if there was a conflict. Anthony Eden as Foreign secretary weakened Britian's position in the Middle East and had resigned in 1957, an embarrassing failure.
• 1875: the British owned the Suez Canal as the Prime Minister Disraeli bought 44% of the shares from France.
• When the Suez Canal was bought in 1875, Egypt was in a state of debt and declared bankruptcy of 100 million.
• Mahdi started to rise in power and sieged the city of Khartoum in Sudan and killed the General Gordon and his head was placed on a spike in 1885.
• Attack on British tourists and the British who lived in the capital Alexandria in Egypt in 1882.
• Kenya given independence in 1963 to the leader Kenyatta.
• South Rhodesia was controlled by the whites with a small black minority. The leader was Ian Smith who wanted independence from the British.
• In 1965 Ian Smith unilaterally declared South Rhodesia independent without the permission from Britain.
• 160,000 South Africans fought in WW1 mainly in the Middle East and Western Front. However, some South Africans were more in support of the Germans. A Germany supplied weapons during the Boer War.
• South Africa President J.C. Smuts complained about WW1 and its aftermath in 1921 and stated that "national temperature of all young countries has been raised".
• Mary Slessor took inspiration for David Livingstone and went to Nigeria, put a stop to killing of twin babies as they were seen as evil
• Brussels Conference of 1876 was held by King Leopold II of Belgium. The conference was held for explorers and leaders from geographical societies across Europe. The motive behind the conference was intended for the Kings personal interests for holding on Congo as Africans were seen as incapable of developing natural resources as European intervention was seen as necessary.
• Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, Germany had called for this conference with 14 foreign ministers from European states attended and they attained most of colonial Africa. The reason for the conference was to secure the General Act agreement that Congo's and Niger's rivers were to remain neutral and open to trade. The act also included that there should be free trade, powers with influence should protect the indigenous people and suppress slave trade. If any power took possession of further land they should notify the signatures of the Act.
• British saw the need for personal interest to colonise Africa to spread the faith to "heathen" people through missionaries.
• Trade and Economy was a reason for Britain colonising Africa as Britain was in competition with France and Germany. The Trade Slump of 1873 was due to Britain's heavy reliance on Africa's coal and iron resources, they would sell back to Africa creating great mineral wealth on the coast.
• Adventure and exploration helped to locate raw materials e.g. palm oil, gold and diamonds, which Europe merchants sought to exploit.
• The British became interested in Egypt as Britain could no longer rely on America for cotton from 1861 to 1865 due to the civil war.
• Advantage of Suez canal: is central to trade and in a central geographic position and threats of France and Russia expanding near Egypt was a reason for Britain's interest in Egypt.
• Took France 10 years to build the Suez Canal from 1859 to 1869.
• Britain paid £4 million to help with Egypt's debt in 1876.
• Israel was not allowed to use the Suez Canal till the 1940s.
• The Suez Canal made the journey of trade to India 6,000 miles less than exporting trade from South Africa.
• 5% of total British exports to Egypt
• 1/5 of Alexandria population were Europeans.
• 1898: Britain has a riot that Sudan should be taken back.
• 1936: 10,000 British troops were allowed in the Suez Canal Zone.
• 1919: Meeting to found National Congress of West Africa
• 1925: Student Union set up in West Africa
• 1960: Nigeria gained independence
• 1922: campaign for African rights and representation in East Africa
• 1946: Kenyan African Study Union set up
• 1960s: British started to decolonise mainly in Africa and Asia. Due to Britain relying heavily on America the big powers as America was anti-imperialist and economically.
• 3rd February 1960: Wind of Change speech by Harold Macmillan.
• Colonial Administrator Andrew Cohen, Head of African Department in London. Saw Ghana as one of the most advanced nations in Africa, but did not see independence as feasible until at least a generation.
• Economic/ social developments:

  • 1920: Sudan given £3 million for the Gezira cotton scheme.
  • 1925: East Africa given £10 million on railway expansion
  • West Africa: schools and education was improved, but limited through paying taxes (not accessible).