Impacts of 2nd world war and it's consequences on nationalism development in africa

1. QUESTION
ASSESS THE IMPACTS OF THE SECOND WORLD
WAR ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONALISM
AND THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE.

2. 1.Second world war led to the rise of mass
nationalism in Africa. Before the war, the Africans
fought colonial oppression and exploitation
through cooperatives, welfare associations and
independent church movements .
 After the second world war the struggle took the
form of mass political parties.

3. 2. Formation of the United Nations organization
(UNO) as a new body charged with the
responsibility of maintaining the world peace and
order.
 UNO was established to replace the league of
nation which was too weak in maintaining the
world peace.
 UNO condemned colonialism and advocated for
political rights of all colonized people of Africa
and ASIA.
 UNO raised nationalistic feelings to the African.
 UNO imposed economic sanctions to the racist

4. 3. The 2WW exposed African soldiers to European environment and war.
 African soldiers realized the weaknesses of the Europeans during their
participation. They gained the political awareness and military knowledge
necessary to develop successful nationalism movements amongst themselves.
 They were promised with a lot of promises which were unfulfilled by the
colonial governments.
 The second WW shaped the way African viewed Europeans.
 The African noticed that in the war, white men bled, cried , was scared and
when shot, died like any one else……
 They noticed that there was no difference between African and European. For
centuries the idea of superiority had existed in the minds of africans. People
thought that Europeans were insurmountable and unable to be defeated.

5. 5. Formation of political parties like the labour party
under Clement Atlee. This part campaingned against
the conservative party which was under Prime
Minister Winston Churchill.
 The labor party won the war in 1945 general
election. This was the party of liberals and
socialists’ workers.
 This party criticized the conservative party for
allowing Britain to participate in the second world
war which affected British economy.
 The labor party condemned British colonialism in
Africa and Asia Saying “it was out-dated,
oppressive and exploitative.

6. 6. Intensive exploitation in Africa.
 During and after the 2nd WW, the demand for both food
and cash crops increased.
 The aim was to revamp the economy that was already
devastated.
 As the demand for raw materials increased, prices rose
and Africans obtained good money for example ground
nuts and oil export of Senegal increased. With money
obtained they were able to support political parties.

7. 8. The war led to the EMERGENCY OF USA AND USSR AS THE NEW
LEADING SUPPER POWER.
 These powers had anti-colonial traditions and exerted diplomatic
pressure on both Britain and France decolonization.
 USA after the war emerged as a leading economic and political power.
 USA introduced the open door policy through which they needed raw
materials, markets and areas for investment hence she supported
decolonization as a condition for economic reconstruction.
 Rusia was a socialist power in the world.
 Rusia declared that it would support morally and materials all
nationalists struggle all over the world.
 The socialist ideology was against capitalism both practically and
theoretically.

8. 9. The 2nd WW contributed to the decline of EUROPEAN
ECONOMY where by various economic sectors like industries,
agriculture and financial institutions were destroyed.
 The collapse of these economic sectors was due to the
crisis and much expenditure in the war ground.
 The situation caused the failure of government to sponsor
and maintain their colonies well hence arrangements were
made to grant independence.
 Countries such as Britain, France and German were totally
weakened.
 Due to this forced them to decolonize and get the USA
loans through marshal plan.

9. 1. The role played by returned soldiers.
 The returned soldiers were exposed to the military weakness of the
white men.
 They experienced the defeat of the European armies by non- European
for example in Burma- south East Asia:- Japan defeated Britain.
Ethiopia defeated Itally in 1914.
 African saw the white men die during the war.
 African saw how whites men feared gunfire.
 African were promised with position of employment (before the war)
hence they sided with the European but soon after the war there was no
employment opportunities, land grabbing was in continuation.
 Hence the returned soldiers united together and form different
movements aimed at liberating their countries.

10. QUESTION: EXPLAIN THE FACTORS FOR THE DECLINE OF EUROPEAN
CAPITALISM.
.
• Answer. Decline of European countries economically was a result of the
second world war as they faced a lot of economic hardship as heavy
weapons used caused severe ruins. For example in France, severe
destruction occurred on houses, factories, railways, mines and live stock.
About 50% of French wealth was total destructed.
• In various colonies in Africa, production declined because there was lack
of man power to engage on production.
• Factors.
i. The great economic depression of 1929-1933. It affected Europe harder
than other capitalist countries.
ii. The outcome of the WW1 & WW2.
iii.Russian revolution of 1917.
iv.Rise of USA and Japan in the 19th Cas industrial states.
v. The marshal plan aid.
vi.Decolonization of European colonies.

11. QUESTION. DISCUSS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ECONOMIC DECLINE OF EUROPEAN
CAPITALISM FACILITATING THE DECOLONIZATION OF AFRICA.
i. European nationalism became dependant on USA financial aid through the marshal
plan of 1947.
 USA was financially stable because the world wars never fought on her soil and
joined the war very late.
 USA forced decolonization hence European countries decided to grant
independence.
ii. The colonial powers failed to run their colonies.
 The collapse of home economies led to the failure of the colonial government to
support the running of their African colonies financially hence the colonial
government decided to grant independence.
 Iii. The European powers were not able to put down African reactions. The 2nd WW
ruined European both economically and militarily.

12.  The rise of African political consciousness and reactions due to
the exploitations, forced the European powers to leave Africa.
iv. Economic decline of European powers.
 It encouraged the colonial people to increase ant colonial
struggle.
 Most of the colonial people increased armed struggle against
colonialists.
 Eg. Namibia revolted against colonialists in 1960, southern
Africa in 1990 and Angola in 1964.
v. Change in ideology. Due to heavy economic burden faced by
colonial powers (Britain and France), they opted to adopt new a
new policy known as neo -colonialism for the reason of recovery
from economic losses.
vi. The rise of anti-colonial groups in Europe. The alarming
economic situation of imperial powers changed public opinion
against colonialism. The anti-colonial feelings emerged among