History · Lesson 8

Nationalism, constitutions 1922–1960 and independence

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: Section C 6 Nationalist movements and constitutional developments (Clifford, Richards, Macpherson, Lyttleton; political parties; 1957/58 conferences; 1959 elections; independence)

WAEC: Section C Nationalism and the road to independence; Paper 1: Nationalism in West Africa

NECO: Section C Nationalism and the road to independence; Paper 1: Nationalism in West Africa

What you will learn

Define nationalism and explain its causes in Nigeria.
Describe early nationalist organisations and leaders.
State the features, merits and demerits of the Clifford, Richards, Macpherson and Lyttleton constitutions.
Explain the formation and character of the main political parties.
Explain the 1953 crisis and its consequences.
Describe the constitutional conferences, the minorities question and the 1959 elections.
Assess the roles of nationalist leaders, including women.
Explain why independence came in 1960 and the problems Nigeria inherited.

Key points

Causes: education, discrimination, economic grievances, press, Pan-Africanism, WWII, UN.
NCBWA 1920; NNDP 1923 (Macaulay); WASU 1925; NYM 1936, split 1941.
Clifford 1922: 4 elected (Lagos 3, Calabar 1); south only.
NCNC 26 Aug 1944; strike 1945; Iva Valley 1949.
Richards 1946: regions, unofficial majority, no consultation.
Macpherson 1951: consultation, Council of Ministers, regional law-making.
AG 1951 (Awolowo); NPC (Ahmadu Bello); NEPU 1950 (Aminu Kano).
1953 crisis: Enahoro motion, Kano riots; Lyttleton federation 1954.
1957 self-government (W, E); Balewa PM 30 Aug 1957; North 1959; Willink.
1959 election: NPC 134, NCNC–NEPU 89, AG 73; coalition.
Independence 1 Oct 1960; republic 1 Oct 1963.
Inherited problems: regionalism, imbalance, minorities, dependence.

Start here: What nationalism is and why it arose

Nationalism is the feeling of belonging to a nation and the political movement that demands that the nation should govern itself. In colonial Nigeria, nationalism meant the struggle of Nigerians for a greater share in government and, finally, for independence from Britain.

Phases

Early resistance (to about 1914): armed resistance to conquest (hi7).
Early nationalism (about 1914–1944): protest by the educated elite through newspapers, petitions, churches and associations, demanding reforms rather than independence.
Mass nationalism (1944–1960): political parties with wide support demanding self-government and independence.

Causes of Nigerian nationalism

Western education produced an elite who read about democracy and rights and saw the contradiction between British liberal ideals and colonial rule.
Racial discrimination in jobs, pay, housing and the church (the Crowther crisis, hi6).
Economic grievances: low produce prices, expatriate monopolies, taxation and unemployment.
The press: newspapers such as the Lagos Weekly Record (John Payne Jackson), the Lagos Daily News and later Azikiwe’s West African Pilot (1937).
Pan-Africanism: ideas of Edward Blyden, Marcus Garvey and W. E. B. Du Bois; the Pan-African Congresses (the 1945 Manchester congress).
Urbanisation and ethnic unions, which linked town and village.
The two World Wars, especially World War II: Nigerian soldiers served in Burma and East Africa and returned with new ideas; the Atlantic Charter (1941) spoke of the right of all peoples to choose their government; Britain was weakened.
International pressure: the United Nations (1945), the USA and USSR opposed colonial empires; India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947 and Ghana in 1957.

Worked example 8.1 (WAEC Paper 2)

Account for the rise of nationalism in Nigeria. Use headings (education, discrimination, economic grievances, press, Pan-Africanism, World War II, international pressure) and give a Nigerian example for each. Conclude that internal grievances and external influences combined.

Continue this lesson in the free app →

Practice questions

1. The first Nigerian constitution to introduce the elective principle was the

Clifford Constitution (1922)
Richards Constitution (1946)
Macpherson Constitution (1951)
Lyttleton Constitution (1954)

Show answer

A: Clifford Constitution (1922)
Elected members for Lagos and Calabar.

2. The NNDP was founded by Herbert Macaulay in

1944
1951
1959
1923

Show answer

D: 1923
Nigerian National Democratic Party.

3. The NCNC was formed in

1951
1960
1944
1923

Show answer

C: 1944
Macaulay president, Azikiwe secretary.

4. The Action Group was formed under Obafemi Awolowo in

1959
1951
1944
1923

Show answer

B: 1951
From Egbe Omo Oduduwa.

5. The NPC was led by

Ahmadu Bello
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Herbert Macaulay
Anthony Enahoro

Show answer

A: Ahmadu Bello
The Sardauna of Sokoto.

Key words

Nationalism: The demand of a people to govern themselves.
Pan-Africanism: Movement for the unity and liberation of Africans and people of African descent.
Elective principle: Choosing members of a legislature by election.
Franchise: The right to vote.
Official member: Colonial officer sitting in a legislature.
Unofficial member: Non-official (often African) member of a legislature.
Regionalism: Division of a country into regions with their own institutions.
Federalism: Division of powers between central and regional governments.
Exclusive List: Matters only the federal government may legislate on.
Concurrent List: Matters both federal and regional governments may legislate on.
Residual powers: Matters left to the regions.
Premier: Head of a regional government.

Learn Nationalism, constitutions 1922–1960 and independence step by step, free.
The Cara's Tips app teaches every topic from the very basics, with quick checks, worked examples and exam practice. It works offline.
Open this lesson in the free app Download for Android