Abhishek, Aditya, Arjun, Kranti

Land area: 11,609,00 sq mi

Population: 800, 245,000

53 countries 2nd largest continent in

the world ( makes up 20% of the Earth’s land area)

Holds the world’s longest river, Nile R.

Many different African languages and dialects

Economic Interests Abundant in Natural

Resources Businessmen wanted to

expand their markets

Political/ Military Interests

Ships needed bases around the world

Prestige of winning colonies

Humanitarian and Religious Goals People wanted to spread the “blessings” of

the western world to Africa, such as religion and medicine

Social Darwinism People believed that western nations were

superior and rest were weaker

King Leopold II took over the Congo River Basin

Berlin Conference of 1884: Allowed Leopold to keep Congo Free trade on Congo and Niger Rivers Countries first had to set up a government

office before claiming right to a colony

Impact of World War II The West was no longer considered an

unbeatable force Most Western powers didn’t want to spend any

more money or fight to hold onto their colonies

Pressure from outside grew The two superpowers, Soviet Union and United

States, rejected colonialism India already won independence from Britain in

1947

First country to win freedom south of Sahara was the Gold Coast

Kwame Nkrumah led many strikes and boycotts in the 1940’s for freedom, and was imprisoned several times

In March 6, 1957, the Gold Coast won its independence and Nkrumah became the prime minister

He renamed it Ghana (Why?)

White settlers took over the fertile land which belonged to the Kikuyu

Jomo Kenyatta protested against this and turned to nonviolent methods to end unfair laws

Other radicals, referred to as the Mau Mau, burned farms and killed livestock

British arrested Kenyatta and sent Kikuyu to concentration camps

However on December 12,1963, Kenya became independent and Kenyatta was the first prime minister

France invaded Algeria in the 1830’s

France was determined to keep Algeria after losing Vietnam

NLF (National Liberation Front) was set up by Muslim Algerian Nationalists

Thousands from each side died in the war

France’s president, Charles de Gaulle, granted independence to Algeria on July 5, 1962

15th Century Tutsis (minority) had more land,

power, & wealth than Hutus (majority)

1962 Rwanda gains independence Economy worsened; led to

dissent towards government. April 6, 1994

800,000 Tutsis murdered for next hundred days

Government provided Hutus with machetes to kill Tutsis.

Families torn apart.

Apartheid (1948-1994): Legal segregation

against Blacks in South Africa

Asians & other colors also denied basic rights

Nelson Mandela led many strikes & demonstrations Released from jail in

1990. Nobel Peace Prize in

1993. Became S.A.’s 1st Black

President in 1994.

Africa is poorest continent in the world Economy has grown backwards Poverty increasing Southern Africa is richest part of Africa Economies of countries drastically vary

from rich to poor

South Africa is Africa’s most wealthiest nation Economic Facts:

GDP: $467.6 billion dollars Greater than many European

Countries GDP per Capita: $10,600 Inflation Rate: 6.8% Unemployment Rate: 24.2% Population Below Poverty Line:

47%

Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s poorest nations Economic Facts:

GDP: $6.186 billion One of the worlds poorest countries

GDP per capita: $500 Unemployment Rate:80% Inflation Rate: 26,470% Population Below Poverty Line:68%

Natural Disasters Drought Famine Flood

Diseases HIV/AIDS Malaria

www.grida.no/climate/vitalafrica/english/08.htm

People affected by Natural Disasters(1971-2000)

Economy dependant on exports of Natural Resources Coffee, Cocoa, Peanuts,

palm oil. Minerals- Gold, Platinum,

gemstones, diamonds. Industrial Metals-

Chromite, Manganese. Manufacturing is

limited Economy is mainly

Agriculture driven

The United Nations has created several programs to help Africa such as the UNSIA (United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa) and the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development)

President Bush has pushed for many programs like the $15 billion President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the $700 million Millennium Challenge Account contract with Tanzania

Not many successful programs to aid Darfur.

In Eastern Africa you can buy beer brewed from bananas.

The only dog in the world that does not bark is an African dog, Basenji.

In Kenya a child's middle name is given based on the time during the day the child is born.

Soweto, South Africa is the only place to have two Nobel Prize winners on the same street. The two were Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu who both lived on Vilakazi Street.

The shortest war in history was fought between Zanzibar and England in 1896, lasting only 38 minutes.