The Wind of Change in Africa

These flashcards are designed to help students review important terms and concepts related to the lecture 'The Wind of Change' in Africa during the 1950s and 60s.

Mau Mau Rebellion

A violent uprising against British colonial rule in Kenya (1952-1956) by the Kikuyu people.

Harold Macmillan

British Prime Minister (1957-1963) known for his 'Wind of Change' speech advocating decolonization.

Hola Camp Massacre

A tragic incident in 1959 where eleven African prisoners were beaten to death by guards in a Kenyan detention camp.

Wind of Change Speech

A speech by Harold Macmillan (1960) highlighting the growing nationalism and push for independence in Africa.

Conservative Party

The political party in Britain that, after regaining power in 1951, aimed to preserve the British Empire.

White Highlands

Fertile agricultural region in Kenya, settled by Europeans and a center of conflict during the Mau Mau rebellion.

Jomo Kenyatta

Leader of the Kenyan independence movement and first President of Kenya post-independence.

Audit of Empire

Harold Macmillan's assessment (1957) of Britain's colonial possessions to evaluate their viability.

Nationalism

A political ideology focused on the interests and culture of a specific nation, gaining momentum in Africa during the 1950s.

Decolonization

The process of dismantling colonial empires and granting independence to colonies.

Kikuyu

The largest ethnic group in Kenya, heavily involved in the Mau Mau rebellion.

Audit of Empire Report

A report presented by Norman Brook assessing Britain's colonial ties and the feasibility of holding onto them.

Frantz Fanon

A philosopher and revolutionary from Martinique, wrote about colonization and violence in 'The Wretched of the Earth'.

Sharpeville Massacre

A 1960 incident in South Africa where police opened fire on unarmed demonstrators, killing 69 people.

Apartheid

A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948-1994.

African National Congress (ANC)

A political party in South Africa that led the struggle against apartheid.

Sputnik

The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the start of the space race.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)

A missile capable of traveling over long distances, developed during the Cold War by both superpowers.

Commonwealth

An association of sovereign states, most of them are former territories of the British Empire.

Anti-colonialism

Opposition to colonial rule and ideologies supporting it, prominent in the 20th century.

Jomo Kenyatta's Sentencing

Kenyatta was sentenced to seven years' hard labor in 1953 for allegedly leading the Mau Mau movement.

Ngugi wa Thiong'o

A Kenyan writer who discussed colonialism's impacts on Africa, notably in his novel 'Weep Not, Child'.

Colonial Policy Committee

The body that reviewed Britain's colonial possessions and their independence timelines.

CIA

Central Intelligence Agency of the United States, involved in covert operations worldwide.

Operation AJAX

The CIA-led operation to overthrow Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq in 1953.

Communism

A political ideology advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned.

Post-War Adjustments

Political and economic changes following World War II, including the decolonization efforts.

Berlin Wall

Built in 1961, it separated East and West Berlin, becoming a symbol of the Cold War.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance established in 1949 to counter Soviet expansion.

Marshall Plan

U.S. program providing aid to Western Europe after WWII to prevent the spread of Communism.

Decolonization Timeline

The timeline and process through which European colonies gained independence after WWII.

Bantu Education Act

A 1953 South African law that segregated education and restricted quality for black South Africans.

Nasserism

Political philosophy associated with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, promoting Arab nationalism.

Accra Declaration

Document from the 1958 All-African Peoples' Conference advocating for African unity and independence.

Fanon's Violence Theory

Theory proposing that violence is a necessary means of achieving liberation from colonial rule.

Pan-Africanism

A worldwide intellectual movement aimed at unifying African peoples and their descendants.

Suez Crisis

A diplomatic and military confrontation in 1956 focusing on Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Canal.

Algerian War of Independence

Conflict from 1954-1962 between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front.

Postcolonial Literature

Literary works that explore the impacts and legacies of colonialism.

Kwame Nkrumah

Leader of Ghana’s independence movement and the first President of Ghana.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice by African Americans in the 1960s, influenced by global decolonization.

Self-determination

The right of a people to determine their own political status.

Decoloniality

An ideological approach that seeks to decenter colonial narratives and promote indigenous frameworks.

Cape Town Speech

Harold Macmillan's address highlighting decolonization challenges and African nationalism.

Zulu Land

Region in South Africa representing the homeland for the Zulu ethnic group, notable during apartheid.

Refugee Crisis

Situation in which people are forced to flee their country due to conflict or persecution.

Grain Shortages

Pervasive food shortages resulting from WWI and WWII in Europe, impacting post-war recovery.

Public Health Service in Britain

Medical care system implemented by the Labour government to improve public health post-WWII.

Nuclear Proliferation

The spread of nuclear weapons and technology, intensifying during the Cold War.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union over missile deployment in Cuba.

Independence Movement

Collective action by anti-colonial groups to achieve sovereignty from colonial powers.