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.

   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?

   • The coup fits X, a change of will in the colonizer, but the cards do not show movements' pressure
   • 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
   • Both readings are wrong, since neither one mentions a coup in Portugal or its effects on colonies
4. 3.

   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
   • Zimbabwe was independent for fifteen years before 1980, since the declaration of 1965 began its independence
   • Nothing can be said, since the cards give two dates for two different governments in the territory
5. 4.

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

   • 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 backed by the majority of the people, since independence on its own means popular
   • A declaration made by Britain, since Britain was the colonial power over the territory in 1965
6. 5.

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

   • 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
   • 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
7. 6.

   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
   • It was harsher, since a rule that lasts longer must have been resisted more by those under it
   • A later end shows a later-ending rule, not a harsher one; harshness is not compared
8. 7.

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

   • No date has a reason, since cards that give dates cannot also give causes for them
   • 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
   • The dates differ, but the cards give a cause only for the 1975 pair, the coup
9. 8.

   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.

   • 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
   • Namibia's 106 years of rule, which shows colonizers did not leave until they were forced to go
   • Kenya's independence in 1963, which shows Britain chose to leave its colonies in Africa
10. 9.

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

    • Zimbabwe was recognized in 1980, which shows that movements had won the contest by that year
    • 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
    • Mozambique became independent under Frelimo, a movement, which fits Y but does not settle it
11. 10.

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

    • 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
    • Speeches by Macmillan in 1960, since a prime minister's words show the reasons Britain gave
    • Maps of the independence dates, since maps show the order in which each country changed status