Colonialism in zimbabwe

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Colonialism in Zimbabwe The Road from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe

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Colonialism in Zimbabwe

Transcript of Colonialism in zimbabwe

Page 1: Colonialism in zimbabwe

Colonialism in Zimbabwe

The Road from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe

Page 2: Colonialism in zimbabwe

Cecil Rhodes and the BSA

• Cecil Rhodes formed an agreement with the Shona (natives in the area that is now Zimbabwe) to mine their land in search for gold in 1888

• Rhodes received a charter to form the British South Africa Company (BSA) in 1889 to settle the land north of South Africa

• Rhodes settles this new territory and renames it Rhodesia

• Southern Rhodesia is the area that will one day become Zimbabwe

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New Settlers and Conflict

• The settlement of Rhodesia brought new settlers further into the African interior

• Rhodes began to implement taxes on the Shona• The Shona fought against the BSA

• They were overcome in 1897

• All of Rhodesia was under complete control of the BSA

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Forming a Government

• The initial government included 7 BSA officials and 7 settlers

• By 1914, the settlers held a majority of the seats

• BSA charter expired in 1923 leaving Southern Rhodesia with 2 choices• Become a new province of South Africa

• Become a self-governing British colony

• The settlers chose to become a self-governing British colony• Awarded Responsible Government

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Responsible Government

• The settler government dealt with land segregation, segregated governance, and political and economic privileges for the white settler community

• The settlers focused on utilizing Southern Rhodesia’s land for its agricultural potential and mineral resources

• Their biggest issue was learning how to govern a racially diverse colony • They had to deal with relations between the Shona, the Ndebele,

and the settlers

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Central African Federation

• Britain created a Central African Federation in 1953 of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), and Nyasaland (Malawi)• Zambia and Malawi gained independence a decade later

• The Federation was broken up upon their independence

• The Federation was formed to further economic benefits of the region while minimizing conflict

• The Federation fell apart due to political turmoil

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Towards Independence

• Southern Rhodesia wanted to become a colony independent of Britain with a guaranteed white minority ruling class

• Ian Smith became prime minister of Rhodesia in 1964• Worked to negotiate independence from Britain unsuccessfully

• Britain would not give up control of Rhodesia unless they were assured that the government would work towards shifting to majority rule

• Smith declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) on November 11, 1965

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Impacts of UDI

• The new Rhodesian government stripped blacks of their rights• International outrage

• Britain initially tries peaceful negotiations with Smith following the UDI• Smith does not budge and will not change his stance

• Britain places economic sanctions and eventually an embargo on all goods in and out of Southern Rhodesia

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Time for a Change

• Smith realized that negotiations were necessary

• Reach an agreement with internal black leaders in 1978• Secure protection of white political and economic interests

• Multiracial Elections to be held in 1979

• Civil War had been occurring throughout the 1970s and still did not cease• Britain negotiated ceasefire and set up new elections in 1980

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Independence

• Zimbabwe obtained internationally recognized independence on April 18, 1980

• Robert Mugabe became president