Transitions to Independence After the African Partition

After the African Partition took place during the Berlin Congress in 1884, Africa was dived into territories by countries such as Britain, France, and Portugal. These countries divided the continent without regard to the tribal and natural barriers of the area, and invaded their territories, taking over their government, their land, and taking control of their daily lives. During World War I, the territories suffered greatly through taxation, drafts to war, and famine.

Then during World War II, while the Africans were fighting for the British, French, and other countries that had taken over their land, they were able to see the world. They began to see the mistreatment of the African people in a new light.

When President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill wrote the Atlantic Charter, they promised that all countries would have the power to choose their own government. This gave the African soldiers hope that they too would be able to choose their own government, but in 1945 when World War II ended, there was not relief in sight for the suppressed areas in Africa. The African soldiers came home and spread the word that things would be changing. They believed that they would be freed from their oppressors and be able live as they once did, in peace and harmony with their land and with each other.

Unfortunately, Britain had other plans. They did not see the need to free their territories and did not make any moves to release their control. In 1952, Kenya, which was controlled by Britain, declared a state of emergency. After the riots in the Gold Coast, a party was formed to overthrow the government. This spurred Kenya on and resulted in riots against the colony. The government not only deported 100,000 people to the countryside, but they also took up arms against the 20,000 people living in the forests. In all, 9,000 African were killed during the Kenya incident, but only 50 Europeans.