Course Syllabus
University of Colorado at Denver
History 4455/5455
African Struggle for Independence
Fall 2020
Instructor: Christine Sundberg
Office Hours: Anytime either by university email or phone (303) 428-1536
Student Commons Room 3113
Office Phone: (303) 556-6647
Political colonial rule in Africa began with the Berlin Conference of 1885. Without consulting the 400 million inhabitants of Africa, fourteen European states agreed on the rules of annexation and trade in Africa which included a commitment to spread European “civilization”. The Conference of Berlin was to Africa what the Yalta Agreement and Potsdam Declaration were to Europe after World War II. The Berlin understanding of 1885 helped to lay the foundations of the fragmentation of Africa among European rivals.
European rule was brief – approximately 70 years. Why then did it play such a fundamental role in African history? Or has its role been overrated? Many African Historians believe that colonialism actually began with the slave trade and, through neo-colonialism, continues to the present.
Did Africa truly become independent or was she merely decolonized? These contrary arguments relating to the impact of the West on Africa will be a major focus of the class.
Will we cover all 55 countries in Africa? Not a chance! Even U.S, History, which involves only one country and is much shorter requires two semesters. As such, generalizations will be made and efforts will be focused on five or six countries which are, at best, are representative of the general trend of the decolonization process.
REQUIRED TEXTS
H Wilson, Decolonization in Africa
Kevin Shillington, History of Africa
Ngugi wa Thiongo, Grain of Wheat
Readings on canvas
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance and Participation
This course meets twice a week for one hour and 15 minutes. Attendance is necessary and expected, whether it be by zoom or on campus in a lecture hall. Attendance is imperative. Students may miss two classes before absences begin to impact your grade. Please make an effort to attend this class as much of the information given will be through lectures and movies and will be quite difficult to make up. Also class participation plays a significant role in whatever success this class may achieve. Very few students know much about the 55 countries in Africa so it is crucial to have class. This is worth 20% of your grade.
TOPICAL PAPERS:
Throughout the semester, you will be assigned a total of five papers or oral presentations
- Demographics of your country (oral report)
- Your country during colonization
- Your country’s struggle for decolonization and who was the leader of the struggle
- Post colonization in your country
- Grain of Wheat paper
In addition, there will be several “response paragraphs” on various topics.
Each paper will have a specific direction sheet on what is required. NO LATE PAPERS ARE ACCEPTED. Each paper is worth 10 points for a total of 50 points
Reading quizzes
Throughout the semester, you may be given a “pop” quiz. This is to assure the professor that you are doing the assignments. Usually, these will be announced ahead of time but, if the professor finds that she is the only one addressing the topic of the day, a quiz may be given.
Skills Necessary for solid achievement in this class.
To earn maximum achievement in this class, you must use many skills. Since this is a 4000 level class, I assume you have been exposed to these in your earlier classes. Chief among these is an understanding of how to use and interpret primary sources. To do this, you must understand how to critically read, write and discuss the various topics introduced in this class. To do this you must having knowledge of various perspectives as well as understanding of the values and limitations of the sources used. Merely knowing the facts will not give you an “A”. You must analyze and interpret evidence and apply it to other situations and circumstances. Hopefully, this will lead to comparisons and contrasts and a deeper understanding of this amazing continent.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Students are required to know, understand, and comply with the CU Denver Academic Dishonesty Policy as detailed in the catalogue and on the CLAS website. Academic dishonesty consists of plagiarism, cheating, fabrication and falsification, multiple submission if the same work, misuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty. If you are not familiar with the definition of these offenses, go to http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/CLAS/faculty-staff/policies/Pages/Definition ofAcademicDishonesty.aspx. This course assumes your knowledge of these policies and definitions. Failure to adhere to them can result in possible penalties ranging from lowering a grade on an assignment to dismissal from the university; so be informed and be careful. If this is unclear to you, ask me. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Ethics Bylaws allow the instructor to decide how to respond to an ethics violation, whether by lowering the assignment grade, lowering the course grade, and/or filing charges against the student with the Academics Ethics Committee.
FINALPROJECT/EXAM
The exam will be administered per the university schedule the week of December 7. This will be worth 20% of your grade and will be cumulative, addressing not only your research on your country but also the readings, films, and lectures.
READING SCHEDULE
REMEMBER: THIS SYLLABUS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT WILL CHANGE AS WE CHANGE AND BECOME A CLASS.
August 18 : Introductions
Overview of Class,
Geography of Africa.
Homework: Map of Africa
August 20 : Topic: The Role of Demographics of Africa
Group discussion based on your homework maps
Selection of a focus country
Turn in map
Assignment: Select a country and report about the demographics of that country. (Handout)
August 25 (remote-zoom): TOPIC: Oral reports given on the countries all of you selected (10 points)
Pass out assignment on colonization
August 27 : Topic: The Berlin Conference: Why was it held and what were the results?
Lecture: The Scramble for Africa
Readings: Shillington, chapter 21.
September 1 : Topic: British and French Colonization
Readings: Shillington, Chapter 21 (to page 338)
September 3 : Topic: The Politics of it all.
Lecture: The Belgian, German and Portuguese colonies
September 8 : Topic: Money, Money, And Money.
Lecture: The economics factors of colonization
Readings: Wilson, chapter 2
September 10 : Topic: World War I and the Mandate System
Readings: Wilson, Chapter 3
Paper Due on Colonialism in Your Country Paper (per handout- 10 points)
September 15 : Africa Between the Wars
Readings:
Shillington, Chapter 25
Wilson, chapter 5
September 17 : Topic: Africa’s involvement in World War II and the impact of the war on decolonization/independence.
Readings:
Shillington, Chapter 26
Wilson, chapter 9 to pgs. 146
September 22 : Topic: Nationalism and self-government in western Africa - Ghana
Handouts: Dates of “Independence”
Pass out paper assignment on independence/decolonization struggle
September 24 : British West Africa - Nigeria
Readings:
Wilson, Chapter 146-154
September 29 : Topic: The French Referendum and French West Africa
Readings:
Wilson, Chapter 9, pgs. 146-154
Shillington,Pages 423-426
October 1 : Kenya – special problems of Settler Colonies
The Various faces of Mau Mau
Readings:
Begin Grain of Wheat, chapter 1-4
October 6 : Topic: The Legacy of Mau Mau
Readings:
Ngugi, chapters 5-8
October 8 : Topic: The Legacy of Mau Mau
Readings:
Ngugi, Ngugi, completion of book
October 13 : Topic: Development and Disappointment
Handout, The Mau Mau: Nationalist or Tribal?
Readings:
Wilson, chapter 11
October 15 : Delayed Decolonization.
Zimbabwe:
Film: “Flame”
Paper Due on Ngugi, Grain of Wheat (10 points)
October 20 : The Belgian Congo
Film: “Death of a Prophet”
Readings:
Shillington, chap 29
October 22 : The Portuguese colonies
Readings: Shillington, chapter 31
PAPER DUE ON INDEPENDENCE. DECOLONIZATION STRUGGLE IN YOUR COUNTRY (10 points)
African responses to the colonial legacy - Economics
October 27 : The Challenges and dilemmas of development: debt and international aid
African responses to the colonial legacy – Civil Wars
October 29 : Topic: Liberia and its Civil War
Movie: “An Uncivil War”
Lecture: The founding of Liberia
November 3 : Topic: The Special case of Liberia
Lecture: The country that was never a colony???
Readings: When Elephants Fight
November 5 : Discussion of When Elephants Fight….
Lecture: Rwanda
African responses to the colonial legacy - cultural
November 10 : Film: “Do Scars Ever Fade?”
November 12 : Topic: The New Meets the Old in Congo
Film: “Piece D’Identities”
Readings
Shillington, pages 476-483
Wilson, chapter 6
November 12 : The Role of the Military in African Politics and the Cold War
Readings
Shillington, pgs. 502-505
November 17 : Health and the Environment
November 19 Topic: Decolonized Africa – Poverty
“La Petite Vendeuse du Soleil”
PAPER DUE ON POST DECOLONIZATION IN YOUR COUNTRY
November 24 and 26th: NO CLASS –THANKSGIVING BREAK
December 1 : Final Projects due
December 8 : Final Projects due
December 10 : Final Projects due
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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