The Scramble for Africa was a race for European nations to colonize African nations for their resources, but the African nations were unhappy about this and so were some of the other European nations that helped aid the outbreak of World War I. After World I Germany was forced to take full blame for the war which led to debt and the wanting of vengeance and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand were events that led to World War II. World War II was a major war between the Axis and Allies. The war experienced thousands of deaths and led to many disagreements between the participating nations. The war was a total war and with the war major debts arose and political confusion started after World War II. However, the affects of the war led to turmoil among the colonies of these nations in Asia and Africa that revolts and independence movements began. This turmoil was also caused by racial oppression that forced many Africans to revolt in order for them to be treated fairly and with respect. The first began in India where Mohandas Gandhi and other monks strived for peace and independence. Following India's independence countries in southeast Asia. This helped inspire the independence movements in Africa which started with Kenya.
Contents |
Kenya was among several African nations experiencing the confusion of their rule after World War II. Kenya tried to regain political stability by being peaceful with a nonviolent approach. But, under Jomo Kenyatta the Kenya African Union formed to demand independence for Kenya in the early 1950s through a more forceful approach. Many protest and riots occurred for several decades. The guerilla warfare tactics by the Land Freedom Army eventually gave the rebels the name the "Mau Mau" by the colonizers.[1] Displeased by this acquisition Jomo Kenyatta gave his speech in 1952 to prove the Kenya African Union was not what the colonizers believed it was. Kenyatta states that the Mau Mau is an organization that promotes violence while the KAU is an organization that doesn't fight violently, but fought peacefully. Also in his speech Kenyatta also the desire for all of Kenya to be united in order for the people to gain their independence.[2] Along with his speech Kenyatta also said that he would set up a government system to help settle the land differentiations and maintain peace in Kenya.[3] The KAU began weak under the British, but as their supporters grew after Kenyatta's speech and the protest Kenya’s power grew.
Kenya achieved independence, adopted a parliament system and Kenya was able to become noticed on a global scale when the KAU was set up.4 Kenya’s independence was achieved through guerilla warfare, protest, and revolts, but in the end the KAU was a peaceful organizations that was able to become a free country and helped inspire other movements across Africa and the world. The parliament system, or the Royal Commission, helped settle the land arguments between the British and the Kenyans. The KAU was an organization that strived for freedom and helped Kenya become independent through peaceful protest led by Jomo Kenyatta helped Kenya become free The Royal Commission also helped make government decisions and also proved that the KAU was an organization that desired peace and tranquility.[4] Along with the commission the global attention that Kenya received aided in the spread of independence movements in Africa and helped Kenya become a wealthier and more powerful country. Kenya was able to maintain stability along with these accomplishments with the adoption of a one party system. This one party system was made up of strictly nationalist, like Jomo Kenyatta. This allowed Kenya to have no political rivalries, which led to no civil wars, and more peace among the people along with the exile of the British people in Kenya.[5]
Once Kenya became a free nation other African nations began their own independence movements. South Africa became independent after its racial discrimination that appeared throughout Africa in the late 1950s. Though racial discrimination was a tough barrier to break the United Nations set up a resolution that set up seven points to help end the discrimination in South Africa in the government and society.[6] These points were put into place under the president, Nelson Mandela who in his inaugural address he said the time of turmoil and rebuilding has come which brought significant changes to the perception of society in South Africa.[7] In Rhodesia the Unilateral Declaration of Independence was created for them to obtain independence. In the declaration the Prime Minister, Ian Smith, states that social justice will never be obtained, and that the only way for the Rhodesian people to be treated fairly was to rid the country of foreign influence. This proved to be successful in the late 1960s.[8] Finally, in Tanzania the Arusha Declaration was created to demand independence because for as long as there is foreign influence in Tanzania there would be no industrial development just more poverty and oppression in Tanzanian society.[9] This declaration later led to their independence in 1967. Another country that was inspired by the Kenya African Union was Congo. Written in The Congo Problem the United Nations wrote that the people of Congo were revolting and the only peaceful way to respond was to develop a parliament system and give more rights to the people. Some of these rights include free trade and voting rights for everyone.[10] Algeria was another country to be influenced by the KAU and their independence movement. The Algerians created the National Liberation Front, or the FLN. The FLN saw many major defeats to the French and Berbers early on, but were able to negotiate their independence. This was created by force by the Secret Army Organization (OAS). They fought with guerilla warfare and fought in a civil war until independence and peace were restored.[11] The KAU was responsible for the independence movements throughout Africa because they were the first organization to set up protest and revolts to help aid in the end of racial discrimination and independence. Today, Kenya is its own independent nation that is growing economically and is becoming stronger on a global scale.