Political Development in British West Africa 1945-1951

World War II made a great impact on British West Africa, with the four colonies of the Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast, and Nigeria probably gaining more than they suffered. New ideals had dawned on the world, and informed opinion had become much concerned with the problem of dependent peoples. The United Nations Charter itself contained a section (Article 55) in which the colonial powers agreed to promote the advancement and eventual self-government of these territories. This section was not contrary to the aim of British colonial policy, the goal of which was, as agreed by both main political parties, to create a Commonwealth of self-governing nations. However, the post-war situation resulted in a great upsurge of colonial nationalism in all parts of the world. This in turn forced the British Government to quicken the tempo at which its territories in all parts of the world, including West Africa, were advancing towards autonomy.