Tanganyika: Difference between revisions
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The German colonial administrations developed the colony through several means. Cultivating several profitable cash crops, such as cotton, sisal, cocoa, and coffee, was essential to creating the colony as these resources were used for German consumers and industry. Sisal was especially valuable to rope production and was one of German East Africa's most significant exports. In 1893, there was only one sisal plantation in the country; by 1913, there were 54. In 1913, the country exported over 20,000 tons of sisal, 30% of total exports. Several railways were built to ensure that these resources could be moved easily. The most important of these was the Mittellandbahn (Central Line, which connected much of the country with the port city of Dar es Salaam. This railroad is still in use today and has since been linked to other railways across the country. | The German colonial administrations developed the colony through several means. Cultivating several profitable cash crops, such as cotton, sisal, cocoa, and coffee, was essential to creating the colony as these resources were used for German consumers and industry. Sisal was especially valuable to rope production and was one of German East Africa's most significant exports. In 1893, there was only one sisal plantation in the country; by 1913, there were 54. In 1913, the country exported over 20,000 tons of sisal, 30% of total exports. Several railways were built to ensure that these resources could be moved easily. The most important of these was the Mittellandbahn (Central Line, which connected much of the country with the port city of Dar es Salaam. This railroad is still in use today and has since been linked to other railways across the country. | ||
After Germany's defeat during World War I, GEA was divided among the victorious powers under the Treaty of Versailles. Apart from Ruanda-Urundi (assigned to Belgium) and the small Kionga Triangle (assigned to Portuguese Mozambique), the territory was transferred to British control. The British adopted "Tanganyika" as the name for its part of the former German East Africa. | After Germany's defeat during World War I, GEA was divided among the victorious powers under the Treaty of Versailles. Apart from Ruanda-Urundi (assigned to [[Belgium]]) and the small Kionga Triangle (assigned to Portuguese Mozambique), the territory was transferred to British control. The British adopted "Tanganyika" as the name for its part of the former German East Africa. | ||
In 1927, Tanganyika entered the Customs Union of the East Africa Protectorate and the Uganda Protectorate, which eventually became the independent countries of Kenya and Uganda, and the East African Postal Union, later the East African Posts and Telecommunications Administration. Cooperation expanded with those protectorates and countries in several ways, leading to the establishment of the East African High Commission (1948–1961) and the East African Common Services Organisation (1961–1967), forerunners of the East African Community. The country held its first elections in 1958 and 1959. The following year, it was granted internal self-government, and fresh elections were held. Both elections were won by the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), which led the country to independence in December 1961. The following year, a presidential election was held, with TANU leader Julius Nyerere emerging victorious. In the mid-20th century, Tanganyika was the largest producer of beeswax in the world. | In 1927, Tanganyika entered the Customs Union of the East Africa Protectorate and the Uganda Protectorate, which eventually became the independent countries of Kenya and Uganda, and the East African Postal Union, later the East African Posts and Telecommunications Administration. Cooperation expanded with those protectorates and countries in several ways, leading to the establishment of the East African High Commission (1948–1961) and the East African Common Services Organisation (1961–1967), forerunners of the East African Community. The country held its first elections in 1958 and 1959. The following year, it was granted internal self-government, and fresh elections were held. Both elections were won by the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), which led the country to independence in December 1961. The following year, a presidential election was held, with TANU leader Julius Nyerere emerging victorious. In the mid-20th century, Tanganyika was the largest producer of beeswax in the world. | ||
Revision as of 00:01, 14 October 2024
| Tanganyika Territory (now know as Tanzania) |
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(and Tanganyika's largest city)
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Source information is available at [ Sources ] |
Tanganyika was a colonial territory in East Africa administered by the United Kingdom in various guises from 1916 until 1961. It was initially administered under a military occupation regime. On 20 July 1922, it was formalized into a League of Nations mandate under British rule. From 1946, it was administered by the UK as a United Nations trust territory.
Before World War I, Tanganyika formed part of the German colony of German East Africa (GEA). It was gradually occupied by forces from the British Empire and Belgian Congo during the East Africa Campaign, although German resistance continued until 1918. After this, the League of Nations formalized control of the area by the UK, who renamed it "Tanganyika." The UK held Tanganyika as a League of Nations mandate until the end of World War II, after which it was held as a United Nations trust territory. In 1961, Tanganyika gained its independence from the UK as Tanganyika, joining the Commonwealth. It became a republic a year later. Tanganyika now forms part of the modern-day sovereign state of Tanzania.
History of Tanganyika
The area that made up Tanganyika was commonly visited by Arabic traders who would come to the area to buy slaves and smuggle ivory. The island of Zanzibar was even taken as a part of the Sultanate of Oman. When Seyyid Said came to power in 1806, Omani interests in Tanzania began to increase. During the early 19th century, with British support, Oman began developing in the region more closely to prevent French growth in the Indian Ocean and grow Oman's wealth and influence. Trade caravans began venturing further into the continent, connecting the coast and the interior. In some areas, Islam was adopted by native peoples, such as the Yao in the south of the country. Islam has continued to be a major religion within the area, with 36% of the Tanzanian population adhering to Islam.
In the second half of the 19th century, European explorers and colonialists traveled through the African interior from Zanzibar. In 1885, the German Empire declared its intent to establish a protectorate in the area, named German East Africa (GEA), under the leadership of Carl Peters. When the Sultan of Zanzibar objected, German warships threatened to bombard his palace. Britain and Germany then agreed to divide the mainland into various spheres of influence, and the Sultan was forced to acquiesce. The Germans brutally repressed the Maji Maji Rebellion of 1905. The German colonial administration instituted an educational program for native Africans, including elementary, secondary, and vocational schools.
The German colonial administrations developed the colony through several means. Cultivating several profitable cash crops, such as cotton, sisal, cocoa, and coffee, was essential to creating the colony as these resources were used for German consumers and industry. Sisal was especially valuable to rope production and was one of German East Africa's most significant exports. In 1893, there was only one sisal plantation in the country; by 1913, there were 54. In 1913, the country exported over 20,000 tons of sisal, 30% of total exports. Several railways were built to ensure that these resources could be moved easily. The most important of these was the Mittellandbahn (Central Line, which connected much of the country with the port city of Dar es Salaam. This railroad is still in use today and has since been linked to other railways across the country.
After Germany's defeat during World War I, GEA was divided among the victorious powers under the Treaty of Versailles. Apart from Ruanda-Urundi (assigned to Belgium) and the small Kionga Triangle (assigned to Portuguese Mozambique), the territory was transferred to British control. The British adopted "Tanganyika" as the name for its part of the former German East Africa.
In 1927, Tanganyika entered the Customs Union of the East Africa Protectorate and the Uganda Protectorate, which eventually became the independent countries of Kenya and Uganda, and the East African Postal Union, later the East African Posts and Telecommunications Administration. Cooperation expanded with those protectorates and countries in several ways, leading to the establishment of the East African High Commission (1948–1961) and the East African Common Services Organisation (1961–1967), forerunners of the East African Community. The country held its first elections in 1958 and 1959. The following year, it was granted internal self-government, and fresh elections were held. Both elections were won by the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), which led the country to independence in December 1961. The following year, a presidential election was held, with TANU leader Julius Nyerere emerging victorious. In the mid-20th century, Tanganyika was the largest producer of beeswax in the world.
The British state took control of the colony of Tanganyika as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. Once Britain took control of the colony, they wished it to be a "Black man's country". The British state wished for this colony to be similar to Nigeria's state structure. As the policy of colonial rule in Nigeria changed to indirect rule, so did the governance of Tanganyika. The British also pursued an anti-German policy led by the head official in Tanganyika, Sir Horace Bryatt. Bryatt was an unpopular politician, and his policies of expelling Germans halved Tanganyika's European population. Many ex-German plantations were sold to European companies, and mixed farms were given to new British owners. Much of Tanganyika's economy was based on cash crops, particularly coffee.
British rule did have positives for the Asian community living in Tanganyika. They were protected by Britain and were no longer attacked as they were during the war. Many of them were employed by the Indian administration to work for the Tanganyikan administration. This led to the Asian population in Tanganyika increasing from 8,698 in 1912 to 25,144 in 1931.
One of the major drivers of decolonization in Tanganyika was TANU, which was founded in 1954 and led by Julius Nyerere. In 1963, TANU opened its doors to all members of society within Tanganyika, whereas it had previously only been open to Africans.
The success of TANU can be seen in the 1958 election under colonial rule, where TANU candidates or TANU-supported candidates won every seat. Most of the voters in Tanganyika were African, approximately two-thirds of the 28,500 registered voters from across the country.
There was some resistance, though, from the British settlers who established the United Tanganyikan Party (UTP) by Brian Willis in 1956. However, the party became redundant as it was clear that Nyerere and TANU would win the battle over Tanganyikan's independence. UTP was less effective due to the £4,000 annual salary for Willis, which limited the party's effectiveness, as they lacked funds to campaign effectively.
Tanganyika eventually gained its independence on 9 December 1961, after Nyerere had met a British government representative to arrange the steps to be taken on the road to independence.
Tanganyikan independence
The British colony of Tanganyika gained independence on December 9, 1961, with Julius Nyerere becoming its prime minister in 1960 under British rule and then president when Tanganyika was declared a republic in 1962. The main leader of the independence movement was undoubtedly Nyerere, who led the party TANU, a socially diverse group that had shared demands for independence from Britain. TANU gained most of its political support through national issues. For example, TANU discussed and promoted fears that the colonial state had attempted to give a disproportionate amount of power to the European and Asian minority groups living within Tanganyika. This would have undermined the entire basis of Tanganyika's independence. TANU instilled a deep-rooted fear within the African population that the colonialists might still rule or have influence, even after independence.
Challenges after independence
Although independence came peacefully for Tanganyika, the country suffered from problems similar to those of many other post-colonial African countries, such as poor financial resources and inadequate levels of infrastructure. However, two main factors that burdened Tanganyika's independence were its geography and surrounding neighbors. The destabilizing conflicts that bordered Tanganyika meant that refugees from the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda often flooded into Tanganyika. The influx of refugees was a huge issue for Tanganyika so soon after independence. These challenges only emphasized the insecurities of Tanganyika and its people. In addition, Nyerere's growing emphasis on modernization and his African socialist ideology known as Ujamaa saw many rural farmers' livelihoods destroyed by encroaching agriculturalists. In 1964, after the Zanzibar Revolution, which saw the Arab rule of Zanzibar overthrown, Tanganyika merged with Zanzibar to become the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later became known as the United Republic of Tanzania on 26 April 1964.
- See also [ Tanzania ]
External links
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Tanganyika ]
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