AFRICA

1914 - 1945
Africa in 1914-1945
- The European started to colonize Africa
- People in Africa were recruited by the European to fight in WWI
- The period between the World Wars saw a huge increase in political activity in Africa
- People in Africa were recruited by the European to fight in WWII
- People in Africa fought for freedom
West Africa
● Recruitment was widely spread, especially by France.

● Over 90 percent of West Africans were recruited.

● Took place in Togo and Cameroon.

● Turned English, French, Portuguese, Lingala, and Swahili as a common

language.
● Younger men and women often resisted the power of chiefs and elderly men.

● Younger men: migrated to cities, to the mines, and to other agricultural

regions.

● If women could escaped their arranged first marriage:

○ escape to the urban centers and became prostitutes.

○ Marriage among Christian provided greater choice.

North Africa
● Britain and France: influence in countries that they did not rule directly.

● Many areas recovered by the Great Depression : during World War II.

● Suppliers of raw materials and importers of finished goods from industrialized

countries.

● Expanding over 1.5 percent per year.

● High fertility rate coupled→ improvements in hygiene, diet, and medical

care.

● The educational system expanded

● Education→ restricted to a privileged group.

● The upper class gained exposure: Western ideas, attitudes, and tastes.
Colonialized Regions
● Great Depression: affected world goods markets & African social life.

● direct rule: European colonial officials ruled over administrative districts

● indirect rule: “indigenous authorities” were empowered to rule with European

● invention of tradition : increase the power of men over both women and younger
men.--> leader of religious beliefs

● the expansion of Western education, and the growth of cities.

Colonialized Regions

● 300,000 Africans died : military campaigns

● European victory → opportunities for Africans with Western literacy

● ambitious economic development programs: rising goods prices - develop

countries
Colonialized Regions
● the European dominated the African economy

● developed Africa → exporter of raw materials

● benefit to Europeans -- but to few Africans.

● forced to work in European mines and plantations→ bad conditions

Map of Africa
in 1945
Europian Attitude towards Africa.
● After world war 1 urban African citizens are asking for more power in managing

their own country forward. In order for their voice to be heard movement were

formed. However, when things is going right world war 2 starts.

● Africa help on the side of grievance and fight the Axis Power

● After the war Europe considered as Africa ask for freedom in return from help

fighting in the war.

THANK YOU