Government · Lesson 12

Nationalism and constitutional development (1922–1960)

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: Process of decolonisation; nationalism (meaning, types); nationalist movements; constitutional development: Clifford 1922, Richards 1946, Macpherson 1951, Lyttelton 1954, Independence 1960

WAEC: Nationalism in West Africa: meaning, types, causes, nationalist movements and leaders; constitutional developments in Nigeria: Clifford (1922), Richards (1946), Macpherson (1951), Lyttelton (1954), Independence (1960)

NECO: Nationalism in West Africa: meaning, types, causes, nationalist movements and leaders; constitutional developments in Nigeria: Clifford (1922), Richards (1946), Macpherson (1951), Lyttelton (1954), Independence (1960)

What you will learn

Define nationalism and explain its types and phases.
Explain the causes and the methods of nationalist movements in Nigeria and West Africa.
Identify key nationalist organisations and leaders.
State the main features, merits and demerits of the Clifford, Richards, Macpherson and Lyttelton Constitutions.
Explain the constitutional conferences of 1957–1958, the Willink Commission and the Independence Constitution.
Assess how each constitution moved Nigeria towards independence and federalism.

Key points

Nationalism: shared identity plus the struggle for self-government; in colonies, for independence.
Types: proto-nationalism (e.g. Aba Women’s Riot 1929), cultural, constitutional (Nigeria’s main path), militant, Pan-Africanism.
Causes: Western education, discrimination, exploitation, press (West African Pilot 1937), WWII, Atlantic Charter 1941, India 1947, Ghana 1957, UN.
Organisations: NCBWA 1920, NNDP 1923, WASU 1925, NYM 1934/36, NCNC 1944, Zikist 1946, NEPU 1950, AG and NPC 1951.
Clifford 1922: 46-member Legislative Council, 4 elected (3 Lagos, 1 Calabar), £100 income franchise; North excluded.
Richards 1946 (in force 1 January 1947): one council for all Nigeria; regional houses; no consultation.
Macpherson 1951: Ibadan conference 1950; Council of Ministers; collapsed after the 1953 self-government crisis.
Lyttelton 1954 (1 October): federalism; Lagos federal territory; premiers; direct elections.
Self-government: West and East 1957; North 1959. Balewa Prime Minister from 1957. Willink Commission reported 1958.
Independence 1 October 1960: parliamentary, federal, monarch as head of state, Privy Council final appeal.

Start here: Meaning and types of nationalism

Imagine being educated in a mission school, reading in history books about liberty and parliaments, then being told that you cannot hold a senior post in your own country because of your colour. That frustration, multiplied across a generation, became nationalism.

Nationalism is the feeling of belonging together as a people, with a common identity and destiny, together with the desire and struggle of that people to govern themselves. In the colonial context it means the movement to end foreign rule and achieve independence.

Types and phases

Proto-nationalism (early resistance): local protests and resistance against particular colonial actions, such as wars of resistance at the beginning of colonial rule and protests against taxation or land policies. The Aba Women’s Riot (Women’s War) of 1929 in the East, against fears of taxation of women, is a famous example.
Cultural nationalism: promotion of African culture, names, dress, history and churches (e.g. African churches that broke away from mission churches), rejecting the idea that African culture was inferior.
Political/constitutional nationalism: organised parties, press and petitions demanding representation, then self-government and independence through constitutional means. This was Nigeria’s main path.
Militant (radical) nationalism: use of force where peaceful means were blocked (e.g. Kenya’s Mau Mau; Algeria). Some radical groups in Nigeria, like the Zikist Movement (1946), were confrontational, but Nigeria’s independence came through negotiation.
Pan-Africanism: a wider movement for the unity and liberation of all Africans and people of African descent.

Worked example 12.1

Classify: (a) the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot; (b) the NCNC’s demands at constitutional conferences in the 1950s.

(a) Early protest against a specific grievance: proto-nationalism.
(b) Organised party demanding self-government by negotiation: political/constitutional nationalism.

(a) proto-nationalism; (b) constitutional nationalism

Try it yourself. Define decolonisation.

Show solution

The process by which colonies gain independence from colonial powers.

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Practice questions

1. The Clifford Constitution of 1922 introduced

the elective principle
federalism
regional assemblies
independence

Show answer

A: the elective principle
Four elected members: three for Lagos, one for Calabar.

2. Under the Clifford Constitution, the income qualification for voting was

£50 a year
£10 a year
no qualification
£100 a year

Show answer

D: £100 a year
Limited franchise.

3. The Richards Constitution came into force in

1951
1954
1947
1922

Show answer

C: 1947
Proclaimed 1946; in force 1 January 1947.

4. A major criticism of the Richards Constitution was

it abolished the Legislative Council
lack of consultation with Nigerians
it introduced independence
it created too many states

Show answer

B: lack of consultation with Nigerians
Imposed without consultation.

5. The Macpherson Constitution of 1951 was preceded by a general conference held at

Ibadan
Lagos
London
Kaduna

Show answer

A: Ibadan
January 1950.

Key words

Nationalism: A people’s sense of shared identity and their demand to govern themselves.
Decolonisation: The process by which colonies gain independence.
Proto-nationalism: Early, local forms of resistance and protest before organised mass nationalism.
Cultural nationalism: Pride in and promotion of indigenous culture, history and institutions against foreign domination.
Elective principle: The right of some citizens to elect representatives to a legislature.
Legislative Council: The colonial law-making body of officials and unofficial members.
Official member: A colonial civil servant sitting in the council.
Unofficial member: A member who was not a colonial official, whether nominated or elected.
Regionalism: Organising government around regions with their own institutions.
Self-government: Internal autonomy, with a colony running its own domestic affairs.
Order in Council: A legal instrument by which the British Crown made constitutions for colonies.
Atlantic Charter: The 1941 Anglo-American declaration supporting the right of peoples to choose their government.

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