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.

   • The coup was unrelated, since it happened in Portugal and not in Africa, where independence came
   • 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 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
   • Portugal was stronger, since it held its colonies longer than Britain held its own
   • Later dates and a coup in Portugal, but nothing about Portugal's strength
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 fits X, a change of will in the colonizer, but the cards do not show movements' pressure
   • The coup settles reading Y, since the coup itself was a result of pressure from the colonies
   • The coup settles reading X, since independence came after it and no movement is named in the cards
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 was recognized in 1965 by Britain, since the declaration was made inside the British empire
   • It became independent in 1965, since a government declared it and held power in the territory
   • It became independent in 1980 without any earlier claim, since Zimbabwe is a name that is new
   • It declared independence in 1965, never recognized by the US; recognized independence came in 1980
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.

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

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

   • 1990 minus 106 is 1884, so the span begins with German rule and runs through two ruling powers
   • 1990 minus 106 is 1884, so the span covers South African rule alone from the start of that year
   • 1990 plus 106 is 2096, so the span is still running and has not yet reached its full length
   • The span cannot be checked, since the card gives no start year to count forward from
8. 7.

   Namibia became independent in 1990 (card D), Kenya in 1963 (card A). Noah says Namibia's rule was harsher because it ended later. What fits?

   • The two cannot be compared, since Namibia and Kenya had different rulers and different histories
   • It was milder, since a later end allowed more time to prepare for independence in the territory
   • A later end shows a later-ending rule, not a harsher one; harshness is not compared
   • It was harsher, since a rule that lasts longer must have been resisted more by those under it
9. 8.

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

   • 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
   • The five share one reason, since each country gained independence from a European power
   • 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.

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

    Tala asks which fact fits reading Y but does not show it is right.

    • Mozambique became independent under Frelimo, a movement, which fits Y but does not settle it
    • Namibia's independence in 1990, which shows that pressure had finally won after 106 years
    • Tanganyika's independence in 1961, which shows that pressure on Britain had already begun
    • Zimbabwe was recognized in 1980, which shows that movements had won the contest by that year