Africa's independence movements

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet

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 Library of Congress: Colonial rule by European powers lasted about three quarters of a century in most areas. In 1960, 17 countries gained independence. Cameroon became independent from France on January 1, 1960; by July, Togo, the Federation of Mali and the Malagasy Republic had followed. Algeria was still fighting for independence, which came two years later. Card B, a summary in our words, written today, from the United Nations: In 1960, 16 of the 17 new states admitted to the UN came from Africa. Card C, from the United Nations General Assembly's Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, adopted December 14, 1960, quoted exactly: "Inadequacy of political, economic, social or educational preparedness should never serve as a pretext for delaying independence." Card D, from the speech of British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan to the South African Parliament in Cape Town on February 3, 1960, quoted with words left out: "The wind of change is blowing through this continent ... whether we like it or not ... this growth of national consciousness is a political fact." Card E, a summary in our words, written today, from the Office of the Historian: In October 1960 Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of Ghana, told the UN that African nationalism was sweeping everything before it.

2. 1.

   Card A names Cameroon on January 1, 1960, and Togo, the Federation of Mali and the Malagasy Republic by July. Ari says all 17 gained independence by July. What does the card support?

   • Three by July, since Cameroon opened the year and just the other three followed it by July
   • The other thirteen came in July, since the card says by July and then gives a total
   • Seventeen by July, since four countries by July shows the rest followed at once in the same months
   • Four are named by July; the other thirteen are not dated in the card
3. 2.

   Card A says colonial rule lasted about three quarters of a century in most areas before 1960. Bo infers it began about 1885. What fits?

   • Colonial rule began in 1935, since a quarter of a century before 1960 is the left-over part of the span
   • Subtracting 75 from 1960 gives 1885, a rough date; the card says most areas, not each one
   • Colonial rule began in 1885 in each area, since 1960 minus 75 gives one start date for the continent
   • The inference cannot be made, since a span of years does not give a start date to anyone
4. 3.

   Card C: "Inadequacy of political, economic, social or educational preparedness should never serve as a pretext for delaying independence." Jun asks which argument it answers.

   • The argument that independence should come at once, since the sentence warns against any delay
   • The argument that the UN should rule colonies, since the Declaration came from the UN itself
   • The argument that colonies should wait until they were ready; it calls unreadiness an excuse
   • The argument that colonies were too rich to leave, since the sentence lists economic preparedness
5. 4.

   Card C was adopted on December 14, 1960. Card A dates four independences, Cameroon to the Malagasy Republic, by July. Kira says it caused them. What fits?

   • It caused them, since it was adopted in the same year as the cluster of independences
   • It caused them, since a declaration of principle is what brings independence to a colony
   • It came after the four dated by July, so it did not cause them; the other thirteen are undated
   • It had no effect, since it came after four independences and so mattered to no one
6. 5.

   Card C calls unpreparedness a "pretext." Luz asks what the word shows about the Declaration's view.

   • That unpreparedness was real but should be set aside, since a pretext can be a true reason
   • That the Declaration agreed colonies were unprepared, since it names the kinds of preparedness
   • That the Declaration was neutral, since a pretext is a word for an argument made on any side
   • That delay was seen as an excuse, with a reason given that was not the real ground
7. 6.

   Card D quotes Harold Macmillan's speech to South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town on February 3, 1960. Milo asks what the speech shows.

   • That South Africa agreed, since the speech was delivered to its Parliament in Cape Town
   • That Britain led the independence movements, since the prime minister named the wind of change
   • A British prime minister told South Africans that national consciousness in Africa was a fact
   • That Britain would leave each of its colonies, since the speech accepts national consciousness
8. 7.

   Macmillan spoke in February 1960 (card D); the UN Declaration came in December (card C). Pia asks what comparing them shows.

   • A British leader accepted a fact in February; the UN rejected excuses for delay in December
   • Neither shows anything, since a speech and a resolution are formal and ceremonial documents
   • The two say the same thing, since both are statements about independence in Africa in 1960
   • The UN followed Macmillan, since the speech came first and the Declaration came later in 1960
9. 8.

   Card E: Nkrumah told the UN in October 1960 that African nationalism was sweeping everything before it. Ren says that proves nationalism caused independence. What is the reply?

   • It shows that Ghana caused the other independences, since Nkrumah led Ghana at the time
   • It shows nothing, since leaders at the UN make speeches that cannot be used as evidence
   • It is a leader's claim made to persuade; it shows how he described the change, not the cause
   • It shows the cause, since a leader of an independent state knew the cause better than others
10. 9.

    Tala says independence was a gift from European governments. Which words in the cards weaken that claim?

    • The exact date of Cameroon's independence in card A, since a fixed date shows the French government set it
    • "Whether we like it or not" and the Declaration's "pretext" both point to pressure
    • "The wind of change," since a wind is natural and so no government could give independence
    • "Political fact" and "national consciousness," since they show Europe chose to grant freedom
11. 10.

    Zee wants to test whether the independences of 1960 came from nationalist pressure or from colonial decisions. Which added source would help most?

    • The list of UN members in 1960, since the list shows which states were formed in that year
    • Maps of the 1960 borders, since borders show which states were formed and where they stood
    • Macmillan's speech of February 1960, since it states a British leader's view of the cause
    • Cabinet papers of the colonial powers from the 1950s showing why they decided to leave