HISTORY

How did the Berlin Conference of 1884 help expedite the colonization of Africa?

In 1884, a time when most of Africa had yet to be colonized, 13 European countries and the United States met in Berlin to divide Africa up among themselves. At the conference, geometric borders were drawn across Africa, completely ignoring the continent's cultural differences. Though the borders were established over 100 years ago, they still exist today and are responsible for much of the turmoil and trauma among the now-independent African countries.

How many African countries were independent in 1950?

In 1950 there were only four independent countries on the continent: Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Liberia. All other countries gained their independence in the decades that followed. Most recently, Eritrea became independent of Ethiopia in 1993.

What is significant about the country of Comoros?

The Union of Comoros, an island nation off the coast of Southeast Africa, consists of four main islands. In 1975, when a referendum was held to become independent from France, one of the four islands, Mahore (Mayotte), decided to remain a colony of France. To this day it is still administered by France.

Which countries colonized Africa?

Seven European countries colonized Africa: Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

How many African countries were colonized by Italy?

Italy established colonies in what are now Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia.

Of all countries in Africa, which countries were never colonized?

Only three countries escaped the onslaught of European colonial occupation: Liberia, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

Who was Haile Selassie?

Haile Selassie was Emperor of Ethiopia, and was one of the great leaders of the twentieth century, as well as one of the most prominent figures in modern African history. He served as head of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, and was responsible for modernizing Ethiopia, forming the African Union, and uniting Africans both in Ethiopia and throughout the continent. He was a committed internationalist, and because of this the United Nations made Ethiopia a charter member when the U.N. was formed in 1945. Haile Selassie is revered by the Rastafarian religion as a living god.

Who is Nelson Mandela?

Nelson Mandela is a South African leader, who was the head of the African National Congress and its armed resistance group, Umkhonto we Sizwe. This group fought against the apartheid policies of South Africa. Mandela spent 27 years imprisoned on Robben Island for his political activities. Upon his release in 1990, Mandela asserted a policy of reconciliation and negotiation to end the racist policies of apartheid. He was the first fully representative, democratically elected president of South Africa, serving as head of state from 1994 to 1999. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work

in 1993.

The prison on Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa, where Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years as a political prisoner.

What was apartheid?

South Africa's legalized form of racial discrimination was known as apartheid (separateness), and it classified individuals into one of four ethnic groups: white, black, Coloured (mixed race), and Asian. Apartheid laws limited where different groups could live and where they could work. Apartheid was repealed in 1990.

Why are there so many starving people in Ethiopia?

Droughts in the 1970s and 1980s, which were especially severe from 1984 to 1986, destroyed Ethiopian agriculture. Though relief food was shipped to Ethiopia, internal political corruption kept the food from reaching the starving victims. During the 1980s, approximately one million people died of starvation in Ethiopia.

What was the Nazis' plan for Madagascar?

In 1940, after the French defeat at the hands of the Germans, the Nazis developed a plan to forcibly relocate European Jews to the French colony of Madagascar. This plan never materialized, however, and the Nazis continued the extermination of Jews throughout Europe.

What is the Organization of African Unity?

Founded in 1963, the Organization of African Unity helped strengthen and defend African unity across the continent. The 53 member-countries sought to increase

How did American slavery help found Liberia?

In 1822 the American Colonization Society succeeded in founding a colony on the western coast of Africa for freed American slaves. The colony was named Liberia from the Latin word "liber," which means "free." This colony became independent in July 1847, and was Africa's first independent country.

development and economic unity within and between member-countries. It was disbanded in 2002 by South African President Thabo Mbeki when the new African Union was created with the same 53 member states. The African Union seeks to integrate political and socio-economic interests of the member states, speaking with a common voice on issues involving Africa. Its headquarters is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Which country in Africa is the only country that is not a member of the African Union?

Morocco withdrew from the previous Organization of African Unity in 1984 over a dispute with members on the recognition of Sahrawi by the organization. It did not become a member of the newly formed African Union.