24: Relations with Indigenous Peoples
Growth of Much of the empire was affected by the war, e.g. by direct fighting and/or occupation.
Nationalism: Black soldiers fought alongside white and the colonies expected some reward but
Legacy of War Britain's reluctance brought disillusionment and impatience
: Economic Rapid post-war economic growth, but sometimes local people were not always
and Social sufficiently skilled to benefit from the job opportunities and some development came at
Discontent the expense of tradition farming and employment. When British development projects
failed it was local people who suffered. In some places e.g. Gold Coast, Nairobi, there
was a surplus of educated youth, unwilling to take manual employment - because of
efforts to improve education
: Ethnic and Nationalist movements were fuelled by tensions between ethnic groups. Some felt
Religious discriminated against when Britain favoured one above another e.g. the restriction of
Rivalries Malay nationality to those of Malay ethnicity in 1949 encouraged discontented Chinese
to support nationalist attacks upon Europeans, the political mobilisation of the Ashanti in
the Gold Coast and the Yoruba and Northern Muslims in Nigeria was in response to
suspicions that other ethnic groups were being favoured
: Charismatic Key figures able to unite different ethnic groups and factions were crucial for the
and Western emergence of nationalist independence movements. All learnt to think critically,
Educated absorbing political ideas about nationalism, liberalism, socialism and Marxism which
leaders challenged imperial rule
Why Showed they had mass support which put the British in a difficult position because of
movements their belief in democracy and self-determination. They were obliged to bow to
were a threat respectable political organisations. Nationalist parties used mass mobilisation and mass
action to achieve their aims. Sometimes they were militant which made it difficult to
maintain control. Britain allowed nationalist movements to exist through education and
some political representation
Threat from Malayan Races Liberation Army (MRLA) and Malayan Communist Party (MCP) threaten
MRLA and British Rule in Malaya. They were militant and attacked farms and police stations,
MCP organised strike activity and disruption of transport and communication with provoked
the Malayan emergency. MCP was declared illegal in 1948. In 1951, the High
Commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney was shot by MCP guerrillas
Co-operation UMNO offered a positive programme of action and was ready to combat the very
with UMNO different tactics adopted by the militant independence movements such as the MRLA
and the MCP. Britain co-operated with them in order to defeat the communists
Ethnic tensions Britain decided that Malay nationalist would be restricted to those of Malay ethnicity in
in Malaya 1949. Ja'afar left UMNO in 1951 to form his own Independence of Malaya Party (IMP)
having failed to broaden his party's ethnic membership. Under Tunku Abdul Rahman,
the UMNO increased its power through alliances, but the underlying friction remained.
Co-operation with the MCA (Malayan Chinese Association) in 1954 and the MIC
(Malayan Indian Congress) in 1955 ensured electoral success but did not resolve the
issues of a racially divided peninsula. The emergency created enough chaos to make
UMNO look moderate so the British were more likely to work with them Tunku became
the first Chief Minister of Malaya in 1955, however his discussions with Chin Peng of the
MCP broke down - even the moderates didn't agree. Tunku turned to London to support
a deal that would lead to full independence in August 1957. Even after independence
ethnic troubles plagued the politics of the new state
British Fearful of rise of communism, for the safety of their economic resources - tin and rubber
acceleration industry and for the loss of the key strategic position of Malaya. To restore stability, they
to had to depend on the local indigenous elite - which they gained by offering staged self-
independence government. They remained in control because they fought the counter insurgency
very successfully, but in order to do this they had to make concessions
Regional National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons - Dominated by the Igbo (SE) , under
Groups in the commanding personality of Azikiwe, who owned newspapers through which he
Nigeria: NCNC argued the nationalist cause. It had the widest appeal
: The Action Dominated by the Yoruba (SW), resisted the concept of unitary government.
Group Represented the comparatively economically advanced west. Despite divisions arising
from conflict with the Yoruba community, its leader, Awolowo proved a formidable
debater and political campaigner. It sought autonomous states within a federal
structure
: NCP Northern People's Congress - dominated by the Hausa and Fulani (N). Led by western
educated northern Muslims with the assent of the emirs (local elite). Led by Ahmadu
Growth of Much of the empire was affected by the war, e.g. by direct fighting and/or occupation.
Nationalism: Black soldiers fought alongside white and the colonies expected some reward but
Legacy of War Britain's reluctance brought disillusionment and impatience
: Economic Rapid post-war economic growth, but sometimes local people were not always
and Social sufficiently skilled to benefit from the job opportunities and some development came at
Discontent the expense of tradition farming and employment. When British development projects
failed it was local people who suffered. In some places e.g. Gold Coast, Nairobi, there
was a surplus of educated youth, unwilling to take manual employment - because of
efforts to improve education
: Ethnic and Nationalist movements were fuelled by tensions between ethnic groups. Some felt
Religious discriminated against when Britain favoured one above another e.g. the restriction of
Rivalries Malay nationality to those of Malay ethnicity in 1949 encouraged discontented Chinese
to support nationalist attacks upon Europeans, the political mobilisation of the Ashanti in
the Gold Coast and the Yoruba and Northern Muslims in Nigeria was in response to
suspicions that other ethnic groups were being favoured
: Charismatic Key figures able to unite different ethnic groups and factions were crucial for the
and Western emergence of nationalist independence movements. All learnt to think critically,
Educated absorbing political ideas about nationalism, liberalism, socialism and Marxism which
leaders challenged imperial rule
Why Showed they had mass support which put the British in a difficult position because of
movements their belief in democracy and self-determination. They were obliged to bow to
were a threat respectable political organisations. Nationalist parties used mass mobilisation and mass
action to achieve their aims. Sometimes they were militant which made it difficult to
maintain control. Britain allowed nationalist movements to exist through education and
some political representation
Threat from Malayan Races Liberation Army (MRLA) and Malayan Communist Party (MCP) threaten
MRLA and British Rule in Malaya. They were militant and attacked farms and police stations,
MCP organised strike activity and disruption of transport and communication with provoked
the Malayan emergency. MCP was declared illegal in 1948. In 1951, the High
Commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney was shot by MCP guerrillas
Co-operation UMNO offered a positive programme of action and was ready to combat the very
with UMNO different tactics adopted by the militant independence movements such as the MRLA
and the MCP. Britain co-operated with them in order to defeat the communists
Ethnic tensions Britain decided that Malay nationalist would be restricted to those of Malay ethnicity in
in Malaya 1949. Ja'afar left UMNO in 1951 to form his own Independence of Malaya Party (IMP)
having failed to broaden his party's ethnic membership. Under Tunku Abdul Rahman,
the UMNO increased its power through alliances, but the underlying friction remained.
Co-operation with the MCA (Malayan Chinese Association) in 1954 and the MIC
(Malayan Indian Congress) in 1955 ensured electoral success but did not resolve the
issues of a racially divided peninsula. The emergency created enough chaos to make
UMNO look moderate so the British were more likely to work with them Tunku became
the first Chief Minister of Malaya in 1955, however his discussions with Chin Peng of the
MCP broke down - even the moderates didn't agree. Tunku turned to London to support
a deal that would lead to full independence in August 1957. Even after independence
ethnic troubles plagued the politics of the new state
British Fearful of rise of communism, for the safety of their economic resources - tin and rubber
acceleration industry and for the loss of the key strategic position of Malaya. To restore stability, they
to had to depend on the local indigenous elite - which they gained by offering staged self-
independence government. They remained in control because they fought the counter insurgency
very successfully, but in order to do this they had to make concessions
Regional National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons - Dominated by the Igbo (SE) , under
Groups in the commanding personality of Azikiwe, who owned newspapers through which he
Nigeria: NCNC argued the nationalist cause. It had the widest appeal
: The Action Dominated by the Yoruba (SW), resisted the concept of unitary government.
Group Represented the comparatively economically advanced west. Despite divisions arising
from conflict with the Yoruba community, its leader, Awolowo proved a formidable
debater and political campaigner. It sought autonomous states within a federal
structure
: NCP Northern People's Congress - dominated by the Hausa and Fulani (N). Led by western
educated northern Muslims with the assent of the emirs (local elite). Led by Ahmadu
