Africa's independence movements

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to E. Card A, a summary in our words, written today, from the Office of the Historian and Encyclopaedia Britannica: Tanganyika became independent from Britain on December 9, 1961, and Kenya on December 12, 1963. Card B, a summary in our words, written today: After a coup in Portugal in April 1974, Mozambique became independent on June 25, 1975, under Frelimo, and Angola on November 11, 1975. Card C, a summary in our words, written today: In 1965 Rhodesia's white minority government declared independence on its own, and the United States never recognized it. Zimbabwe became internationally recognized as independent from Britain on April 18, 1980. Card D, a summary in our words, written today: Namibia became independent on March 21, 1990, after 106 years of German and South African rule. Card E, two readings written for this sheet, not quotations from any historian. Reading X: Independence came when colonial powers chose to leave. Reading Y: Independence came when African movements and the cost of resisting them forced colonial powers to leave.

2. 1.

   Card B: a coup in Portugal in April 1974; Mozambique independent June 1975, Angola November 1975. Ari asks what the order shows.

   • Independence followed Portugal's change of government; that fits a link but not a stated cause
   • Independence came first and then the coup, since the card lists the independence dates last
   • The coup was unrelated, since it happened in Portugal and not in Africa, where independence came
   • The coup caused independence, since both countries became independent within two years of it
3. 2.

   Cards A and B date Tanganyika to 1961, Kenya to 1963, Mozambique and Angola to 1975. Bo says the Portuguese colonies were later because Portugal was weaker. What do the cards support?

   • The dates are unrelated to Portugal, since Tanganyika and Kenya had a different ruler
   • Portugal was weaker, since its colonies became independent later than the British ones
   • Later dates and a coup in Portugal, but nothing about Portugal's strength
   • Portugal was stronger, since it held its colonies longer than Britain held its own
4. 3.

   Esme says the 1974 coup means Angola's and Mozambique's independence was a gift of Portugal's new government. Using readings X and Y, what is the careful reply?

   • Both readings are wrong, since neither one mentions a coup in Portugal or its effects on colonies
   • The coup settles reading X, since independence came after it and no movement is named in the cards
   • The coup settles reading Y, since the coup itself was a result of pressure from the colonies
   • The coup fits X, a change of will in the colonizer, but the cards do not show movements' pressure
5. 4.

   Card C: Rhodesia's white minority government declared independence on its own in 1965, and the United States never recognized it. Jun says Rhodesia became independent in 1965. What fits?

   • It declared independence in 1965, never recognized by the US; recognized independence came in 1980
   • It became independent in 1965, since a government declared it and held power in the territory
   • It was recognized in 1965 by Britain, since the declaration was made inside the British empire
   • It became independent in 1980 without any earlier claim, since Zimbabwe is a name that is new
6. 5.

   Card C dates Rhodesia's declaration to 1965 and Zimbabwe's recognized independence to April 18, 1980. Kira asks what the fifteen years show.

   • Fifteen years passed with Rhodesia recognized by Britain, since the 1980 date marks the change
   • Zimbabwe was independent for fifteen years before 1980, since the declaration of 1965 began its independence
   • A declaration stood fifteen years, unrecognized by the US, before recognized independence in 1980
   • Nothing can be said, since the cards give two dates for two different governments in the territory
7. 6.

   Card C says Rhodesia declared independence "on its own." Luz asks what the phrase marks.

   • A declaration backed by the majority of the people, since independence on its own means popular
   • A unilateral act made without Britain's grant, not independence given by Britain
   • A declaration made after a vote at the UN, since declarations need approval from other states
   • A declaration made by Britain, since Britain was the colonial power over the territory in 1965
8. 7.

   Card D: Namibia became independent in 1990 after 106 years of German and South African rule. Milo checks the start of that span.

   • The span cannot be checked, since the card gives no start year to count forward from
   • 1990 plus 106 is 2096, so the span is still running and has not yet reached its full length
   • 1990 minus 106 is 1884, so the span covers South African rule alone from the start of that year
   • 1990 minus 106 is 1884, so the span begins with German rule and runs through two ruling powers
9. 8.

   Pia reads the dates 1961, 1963, 1975, 1980 and 1990 and says each shows a different reason. Which statement is sound?

   • The five share one reason, since each country gained independence from a European power
   • The dates differ, but the cards give a cause only for the 1975 pair, the coup
   • Each date has a reason in the cards, since each card gives a date and a country together
   • No date has a reason, since cards that give dates cannot also give causes for them
10. 9.

    Reading X: independence came when colonial powers chose to leave. Reading Y: movements and the cost of resisting them forced the powers out. Ren asks which fact favors X.

    • Namibia's 106 years of rule, which shows colonizers did not leave until they were forced to go
    • Rhodesia's declaration of 1965, which shows colonial subjects chose independence for themselves
    • Portugal's coup of 1974 was followed by independence, a change of will in the colonizer
    • Kenya's independence in 1963, which shows Britain chose to leave its colonies in Africa
11. 10.

    Zee wants to decide between X and Y. Which new evidence would help most?

    • Speeches by Macmillan in 1960, since a prime minister's words show the reasons Britain gave
    • The list of UN members in 1990, since membership shows which countries had gained independence
    • Colonial and movement records of 1960 to 1990 showing what each side said forced decisions
    • Maps of the independence dates, since maps show the order in which each country changed status