The Attainment of Independence – JSS3 Nigerian History Lesson Note (Third Term)

The attainment of independence is when a country becomes free to rule itself. Many countries in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world were once ruled by European countries like Britain, France, Portugal, and others. This rule by foreign countries is called colonialism. The journey from being a colony to becoming an independent country was often long and difficult. This lesson explains how countries fought for and won their independence.

The Rise of Nationalism

What is Nationalism?

Nationalism is the strong feeling of pride and love for one’s country. It is when people begin to see themselves as one nation with shared goals. In colonies, nationalism grew when people started to feel that they should rule themselves instead of being ruled by foreigners.

Early Nationalist Movements

Nationalist movements started in many colonies in the early 1900s. At first, only a few educated people were involved. They formed small groups and wrote in newspapers about wanting more rights. As time passed, more people joined these movements, including workers, farmers, students, and religious leaders.

Methods Used to Fight for Independence

Peaceful Protests

Many independence movements used peaceful methods:

• Writing letters and petitions to the colonial rulers
• Holding public meetings and rallies
• Refusing to buy goods from the colonial country (boycotts)
• Going on strike and refusing to work
• Civil disobedience (not following unjust laws)

Famous leaders like Mahatma Gandhi in India and Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana showed that peaceful methods could work.

Armed Struggle

Some colonies had to fight with weapons to gain independence:

• In Algeria, people fought a war against France from 1954 to 1962
• In Kenya, the Mau Mau rebellion fought against British rule
• In Vietnam, people fought first against France and then against the United States

Political Negotiations

Most colonies gained independence through talks and meetings with the colonial powers:

• Political leaders met with colonial officials
• They discussed how and when independence would happen
• They wrote constitutions (rules for how the new country would be governed)
• They planned elections to choose the first leaders of the new country

Factors That Helped Independence Movements

World War II (1939-1945)

World War II weakened many colonial powers:

• European countries spent a lot of money on the war
• Many colonial soldiers fought in the war and saw that Europeans were not superior
• The war was fought for freedom, which made people ask why colonies couldn’t be free too

The United Nations

The United Nations (UN) was formed in 1945. It supported the idea that all people had the right to rule themselves. Many new countries used the UN to speak about their desire for independence.

The Cold War

After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became the world’s superpowers. Both wanted the support of new countries in Africa and Asia. This helped some colonies gain independence as the superpowers pressured European countries to let their colonies go.

Success of Early Independence Movements

When one country gained independence, it gave hope to others:

• India gained independence from Britain in 1947
• Ghana became independent in 1957
• These successes showed other colonies that independence was possible

The Process of Gaining Independence

Constitutional Steps

Most colonies went through these steps:

1. Limited self-government (local people got some small powers)
2. Internal self-government (local people controlled most things except defense and foreign affairs)
3. Full independence (complete control of all affairs)

Writing a Constitution

Before independence, a new constitution had to be written:

• It set out how the government would work
• It listed the rights of citizens
• It created institutions like courts, parliament, and the civil service

Independence Ceremonies

When a country finally gained independence, there was usually a special ceremony:

• The colonial flag was lowered
• The new country’s flag was raised
• Power was officially handed over
• There were celebrations with music, dance, and speeches

Waves of Independence

First Wave: Asia (1940s-1950s)

• India and Pakistan (1947)
• Indonesia (1949)
• Burma (now Myanmar) (1948)
• Sri Lanka (1948)

Second Wave: Africa (1950s-1960s)

• Ghana (1957)
• Nigeria (1960)
• Kenya (1963)
• Many other African countries

Third Wave: Other Regions

• Caribbean islands like Jamaica (1962)
• Pacific islands like Fiji (1970)
• Some countries in the Middle East

Challenges After Independence

Political Challenges

New countries faced many problems:

• Creating stable governments
• Training people to run the government
• Dealing with different ethnic and religious groups
• Building a sense of national unity

Economic Challenges

Independence did not automatically bring wealth:

• Many new countries still depended on their former colonizers for trade
• They needed to build industries and create jobs
• They had to develop natural resources for their own benefit
• They had to improve farming and food production

Social Challenges

There were also social issues to address:

• Expanding education for all citizens
• Improving healthcare
• Reducing poverty
• Building roads, water systems, and electricity networks

Neo-colonialism

What is Neo-colonialism?

Neo-colonialism means that even though countries became politically independent, they often remained economically dependent on rich countries. Foreign companies still controlled many industries and resources in the newly independent countries.

Fighting Neo-colonialism

Many new countries tried to reduce foreign control:

• Nationalizing foreign-owned companies (taking them over)
• Creating their own industries
• Forming groups with other new countries to have more power in trade

Different Paths After Independence

Democratic Systems

Some countries established democratic governments:

• Regular elections
• Multiple political parties
• Free press and freedom of speech

One-Party States

Other countries had single-party systems:

• One political party controlled the government
• Leaders said this was needed for unity and development
• Critics said this limited freedom

Military Rule

In some countries, the army took power:

• Military leaders overthrew elected governments
• They ruled by force and limited freedoms
• Many promised to return to civilian rule but stayed in power for years

Success Stories and Struggles

Success Stories

Some countries did very well after independence:

• Singapore became one of the richest countries in the world
• Botswana used its diamond wealth to benefit its people
• India built a strong democracy despite many challenges

Ongoing Struggles

Other countries faced harder times:

• Civil wars in some African and Asian countries
• Economic problems and poverty
• Political instability and corruption

The Importance of Independence

Freedom and Dignity

Independence gave people:

• The right to rule themselves
• Pride in their nation and culture
• The ability to make their own decisions

Legacy of the Independence Movements

The struggle for independence left important lessons:

• People can achieve great things when they work together
• Freedom is worth fighting for
• Building a nation takes time and hard work

Conclusion

The attainment of independence was a major turning point for many countries. It ended centuries of foreign rule and gave people the chance to shape their own future. While independence brought many challenges, it also brought hope and opportunity. The journey from colony to independent nation shows the power of human desire for freedom and self-determination.