JULIUS NYERERE TANZANIAN PRESIDENT, 1964-1985Shannon Gormley

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Early Life

Born in March 1922, into the Zanaki tribe in Butiama

Went to school at 12, continued on to a British University where his political ideas began to develop

Became the first Tanzanian to earn a Masters degree in 1952

Began teaching at St. Francis School

Beginning of Political Career

Joined the Tanganyika African Association and became president in 1953

Was asked by leadership of his school to chose between teaching and politics and chose politics

Converted the Tanganyika African Association to the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in 1954

Went to New York in 1955 to request a date for Tanganyika’s independence from the Trusteeship Council and the Fourth Committee

Beginning of Political Career

Appointed a member of the Tanganyikan Legislative Council but resigned in 1957

TANU gained a large number of seats in the Legislative Assembly in the 1958 elections and even more in 1960

When Tanganyika gained independence in 1961, Nyerere was elected Prime Minister but resigned a month later to write works such as Ujamaa

Nyerere became president of 1962 of Tanganyika and of Tanzania (Tanganyika and Zanzibar) in 1964

Domestic Policies

One-party state “Ujamaa” Free and universal education, literacy

campaigns Wanted self-sufficiency Primary healthcare

Foreign Policy

Advocated overthrow of white supremacy in Rhodesia, South Africa, and South West Africa

In 1972, Uganda leader Idi Amin called for the expulsion of Asians from his country and so Nyerere sent troops to support a local movement to overthrow Amin.

In 1979, took Kampala and overthrew Amin

Foreign Policy

Criticized Britain for not opposing Ian Smith’s rule in Rhodesia; supported guerrilla groups and eventually broke off from British aid

Adopted Chinese military instructors/technicians, so the United States cut off aid

Results of Policies/Legacy

Stepped down peacefully and quietly in 1985 Tanzania remained incredibly poor, industry and

infrastructure underdeveloped, highly reliant on foreign aid

The longest term of a Commonwealth African state Maintained political stability in a turbulent region,

Tanzania had one of the highest literacy rates, economy free of inequalities

His people loved him Publically recognized his failures, but remained

committed to socialism

Why were there so many single party states in the 20th

Century?

Weak Governments

Two World Wars seriously weakened governments everywhere

Britain weak and unable to maintain its colonies

People willing to turn to a strong leader who could get things done

Disunity

Governments unable to unify people Tanzania was a colony; their British

leadership was not for their benefit Single Party leaders offered togetherness

Need for Nationalism

Governments inefficient, unable to take care of the needs of their people

Tanzanians were tired of a government that did not have their interests in mind