DBQ: African Independence and Foreign Influence During the Cold War

Question 1

Essay

Evaluate the extent to which African countries were able to conduct independent policies during the Cold War period. In your response, consider the historical context, use the provided documents to support your argument, include at least one additional piece of historical evidence, and analyze the relevance of the documents' point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience.

Source 1.1

Africa: [Soviet] encouragement of nationalist terrorists. Stirring up racial tensions. Psychological warfare against U.S. and West based on colonialism and color.

United States Congress House of Representatives, Committee on Un-American Activities, How Communists Menace Vital Materials, map published in 1956.

Source 1.2

When it is an African uprising against tyranny and oppression, the imperialists call it 'terrorism’; but when it is White people taking up arms under similar conditions they call it a just cause. ... It is high time that we be blunt and impartial in our condemnation of imperialism, regardless of which power is carrying it out. ... We have no love for Russia and are not interested in the dirty business of Eastern-Western power bloc politics.

Editorial in Evening News, the official newspaper of the ruling Ghanaian Convention People’s Party, published on the eve of the first Conference of Independent African States, Accra, Ghana, 1958.

Source 1.3

In high quarters here [in Washington], there is the clear-cut conclusion that as long as Lumumba continues to hold high office, the inevitable result will at best be chaos and at worst it would pave the way to Communist takeover of the Congo, with disastrous consequences for the U.S. and for the interests of the free world.

United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Allen Dulles, secret diplomatic telegram to the CIA agent in the Congolese capital Leopoldville, August 26, 1960.

Source 1.4

It is surely not by chance that the hand of Moscow is ‘discovered,’ in an almost stereotyped way, behind each demand for national independence put forth by a colonial people. ... The underdeveloped countries that are awakening from a long slumber of slavery and of oppression are trying to remain outside of any warlike involvement, in order to devote themselves to the urgent economic tasks.

Frantz Fanon, French West Indian political philosopher and activist, Toward the African Revolution, book published in 1964.

Source 1.5

The Soviet Union offered Somalia a long-term loan of 40 million rubles. ... The Somali army, numbering 14,000 troops, is almost exclusively equipped with Soviet weaponry and is trained by Soviet military specialists.

Viktor Bakin, Soviet diplomatic official in Poland, briefing to Polish officials on Soviet activities in Somalia, 1971.

Source 1.6

Although many questions remain open as to the reason behind President Siad’s recent invitation to the Americans to inspect the Soviet-built military facilities in the [Somali] port of Berbera, ... This affirms the Somali policy of independence and nonalignment.

Janez Hocevar, Yugoslav ambassador to Somalia, report to the Yugoslav government, sent from Mogadishu, Somalia, 1975.

Source 1.7

We are not a creation of the Soviet Union or Cuba; we are a creation of Zimbabwe. ... It is true that the Soviets gave us aid, as did the entire international socialist community. ... But it will always be Zimbabweans who direct the struggle.

Robert Mugabe, leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union [ZANU], interview in the Mozambique-based newspaper Tempo, 1978.

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