Yr12 - Historical Factors Affecting Development - Mozambique vs New Zealand

Historical Factors - Mozambique

• Mozambique was colonised by the Portuguese in 1498.
• They turned the indigenous population into slaves and took a lot of the countries wealth in the form of gold and ivory.
• From 1964-1974 - Mozambique War of Independence. Anti-colonial viewpoints spread across Africa and the widespread belief that the white European population were still gaining benefits that would never reach the indigenous population, war broke out and the fight for independence began.
• 1975 - Mozambique became independent from Portugal. Within the year 250,000 Portuguese left the country. (some were forced to leave by the new Mozambique Government and only allowed to take what they could carry - other left before this independently).
• 1977-1992 - Mozambique Civil War. The new independent government was a Marxist one (belief that everyone is equal and wealth should be spread evenly) and was supported by Cuba and the Soviet Union. Opposition groups were formed who did not want the country run in this way and a long and violent civil war began. South Africa and other nearby countries kept the conflict going by supplying weapons and supporting resistance fighters.
• 1992 - Civil War ended. UN peace keeping force was initially sent. 
• 1993 - 1.5 million Mozambique refugees returned to the country from neighbouring countries they had fled to during the war and drought.
• 1994 - first democratic elections held.
• 2000 - Devastation cyclone hits the country. Caused widespread flooding and destroys infrastructure (roads, rail, power supplies, homes, businesses).

Historical Factors - New Zealand

• One of the last land masses settled by humans!
• Settled by eastern Polynesians between 1250-1300 (although these dates are disputed!)
• 1769 - British explorer James Cook discovered the country. Whalers and sealers followed. Then many European settlers!
• 1801-1840 - Musket wars between Maori tribes killed 30-40,000 Maori.
• 1840 - Treaty of Waitangi signed - NZ became a British Colony.
• 1860-1870 - New Zealand land wars - due to confiscation of Maori land as more and more European Settlers arrived.
• 1907 - NZ became a dominion within the British Empire, which reflected its self governing status.
• 1914-1918 - NZ fought in the first World War.
• 1949-1945 - NZ fought in the second World War.
• 1947 - NZ adopted the Statute of Westminster which meant England could no longer enforce laws on New Zealand.