Post-war decolonisation in Africa
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the role of nationalist movements in achieving independence for Britain's colonies in Africa.
Key learning points
- After the Second World War, Britain had initially hoped to retain control of its empire in Africa.
- From 1945, demands for independence from nationalist movements across Britain's African colonies intensified.
- Nkrumah led peaceful protests against British rule in the Gold Coast, which became independent as Ghana in 1957.
- The Mau Mau Uprising meant that Kenya's transition to independence was more violent than in other African colonies.
- The Mau Mau Uprising helped to demonstrate that Britain could no longer rule Kenya and it became independent in 1963.
Keywords
Decolonisation - the process by which colonies ruled by an empire achieve independence
Self government - when people in a community or region make their own decisions about laws, policies, and leadership without outside control
Nationalist - someone who strongly believes in and supports their own country, placing its interests above those of other nations
Guerilla - warfare that involves using surprise attacks and hit-and-run tactics to fight a larger, more traditional military force
Common misconception
Decolonisation happened in a peaceful and orderly way in all of Britain's African colonies.
Decolonisation in many of Britain's African colonies was mostly peaceful; however, there were exceptions. For example, in Kenya there was significant violence as the British authorities used brutal measures to suppress the Mau Mau Uprising (1952-60).
Teacher tip
Students could work in two groups for this lesson, one researching the role of nationalist movements in achieving independence for the Gold Coast, and one doing the same for Kenya.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who captured Jerusalem for the British during World War I?
Q2.What percentage of Palestine's population in 1917 were Arab Muslims?
Q3.The Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government in 1917, expressed support for the establishment of a national home for the people in Palestine.
Q4.Which secret agreement between Britain and France aimed to divide the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Middle East after World War I?
Q5.The Great Arab Revolt, which began in , was a response to British policies and increased Jewish immigration to Palestine.
Q6.What event on 14th May 1948 led to the start of the first Arab-Israeli War?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which British Prime Minister acknowledged the inevitability of African independence in the "Wind of Change" speech?
Q2.What was the Pan-African movement primarily focused on?
Q3.The violent uprising in Kenya led by the was crucial in showing that Britain could no longer control the colony.
Q4.What event in 1948 led to a surge in support for independence in the Gold Coast (later Ghana)?
Q5.Kwame became the first Prime Minister of the Gold Coast (which became known as Ghana) after it gained independence in 1957.
Q6.Which cash crops were grown on large-scale farms in Kenya by British settlers, leading to significant displacement of the local population?
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Post-war decolonisation in Africa, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Post-war decolonisation in Africa, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Decolonisation: how similar was decolonisation throughout the British Empire? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.