A Changing Continent

Question

This activity will help you meet these educational goals:

You will identify locations of African nations on a political map.
You will analyze an excerpt from a speech about decolonization in Africa.
Directions
Read the instructions for this self-checked activity. Type in your response to each question, and check your answers. At the end of the activity, write a brief evaluation of your work.
Activity
In this activity, you will complete a mapping activity and analyze part of a speech about decolonization in Africa.

Question 1
Question
Drag each label to the correct location on the map.
In the Warm-Up activity, you listed as many countries in Africa as you could think of. Now it’s your chance to see how many you can label on this map. Match the countries to their locations on the map.
GhanaKenyaAlgeriaDemocratic
Republic of
the CongoSouth AfricaNigeria
Correct!
Question 2
Part A
In 1960, British prime minister Harold Macmillan visited Africa. While there, he gave a speech in which he said this:

The wind of change is blowing through [Africa], and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact. We must all accept it as a fact, and our national policies must take account of it.

Think about this quotation. Write two to three sentences explaining in your own words what it means.

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Part B
Review MacMillan’s words again. What do you think his purpose was in making this statement? Explain your answer in two to three sentences.

Space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000
Self-Evaluation
How did you do? Rate your work on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest score. Then write a brief evaluation of your work below. Note what you learned and what challenged you.

Answer 1

Question 1

Response: (You would need to drag each label to the correct location on the map, but I will note the expected pairings here):

• Ghana
• Kenya
• Algeria
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• South Africa
• Nigeria

Question 2

Part A

Response: The quotation from Harold Macmillan suggests that African nations were increasingly becoming aware of their own national identities and desires for independence. He acknowledges that this growing consciousness cannot be ignored, indicating that political changes are inevitable as countries in Africa seek to establish their own governments and determine their futures.

Part B

Response: Macmillan's purpose in making this statement was to recognize the undeniable movement towards independence and self-determination occurring in Africa during the decolonization period. By saying that national consciousness is a "political fact," he urges colonial powers to adapt their policies to this new reality, signaling a need for change and possibly encouraging a smoother transition toward self-governance.

Self-Evaluation

Rating: 5

Evaluation: I feel that I did well in identifying and labeling the countries on the map correctly. In my analysis of Macmillan's speech, I gained a deeper understanding of the historical context of decolonization in Africa. One challenge I faced was simplifying complex ideas into concise sentences while ensuring I captured the essence of his message. Overall, this activity helped me appreciate the significance of national consciousness in Africa during the mid-20th century.