Back to Topic 21.18 — Post-independence politics in Africa to 2005
21.18.2History HL12 flashcards

From One-Party Rule to Multi-Party Democracy: Ghana and Kenya to 2005

Practice Flashcards

Flip to reveal answers
Card 1 of 1221.18.2
21.18.2
Question

What is a one-party state?

Click to reveal answer

Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.

All 12 Flashcards — From One-Party Rule to Multi-Party Democracy: Ghana and Kenya to 2005

Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.

Card 1definition

Question

What is a one-party state?

Answer

A country where the law (or practice) allows only one political party to exist and compete for power.

Card 2concept

Question

Which party did Kwame Nkrumah lead, and when did Ghana become a one-party state?

Answer

The Convention People's Party (CPP); Ghana became a formal one-party state in 1964.

Card 3concept

Question

Which party did Kenyatta and then Moi lead in Kenya, and when did Kenya become a one-party state by law?

Answer

Kenya African National Union (KANU); Kenya became a one-party state by law in 1982 under Moi.

Card 4concept

Question

Give three reasons leaders gave for establishing one-party states.

Answer

Personal ambition, the perceived 'failure' of Western-style multi-party democracy, and the need for unity/effective government.

Card 5example

Question

What ended Nkrumah's rule in Ghana in 1966?

Answer

A military coup, driven by growing repression, economic crisis (falling cocoa prices), and discontent with prestige projects.

Card 6example

Question

Who seized power in Ghana in 1981 and later led its transition to multi-party civilian rule?

Answer

Jerry Rawlings — ruled as a military leader from 1981, then won civilian elections in 1992 and 1996 after legalising parties.

Card 7process

Question

What external event around 1989-91 pressured African one-party states to liberalise?

Answer

The end of the Cold War — Western donors no longer needed to tolerate authoritarian allies and made aid conditional on multi-party reform.

Card 8process

Question

Why did Moi's KANU keep winning Kenyan elections in 1992 and 1997?

Answer

The opposition vote was split among several rival candidates, allowing KANU to win with only a minority of overall support.

Card 9example

Question

What happened in Kenya's 2002 election?

Answer

A united opposition under Mwai Kibaki decisively defeated KANU's chosen successor — the first real transfer of power in Kenya's history.

Card 10example

Question

What happened in Ghana's 2000 election?

Answer

Rawlings respected constitutional term limits and stepped down; opposition candidate John Kufuor won, marking a peaceful transfer of power.

Card 11concept

Question

According to the syllabus, what factors combine to explain economic growth in Africa to 2005?

Answer

Political stability, multi-partyism, strong leadership, infrastructural development, investment, and economic reforms — together, not any single factor alone.

Card 12comparison

Question

Compare Ghana's and Kenya's transitions to multi-party democracy.

Answer

Ghana: leader-driven, ended in a peaceful handover (Rawlings to Kufuor, 2000). Kenya: donor-driven, delayed by a split opposition until Kibaki's win in 2002.

Track your progress with spaced repetition

Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.

Start Free