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Course: World History Project - 1750 to the Present > Unit 8
Lesson 3: End of Empire | 8.2- READ: End of Old Regimes
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Decolonization and Nationalism Triumphant
- WATCH: Decolonization and Nationalism Triumphant
- READ: And Then Gandhi Came — Nationalism, Revolution, and Sovereignty
- READ: Decolonizing Women
- READ: Kwame Nkrumah (Graphic Biography)
- READ: The Middle East and the End of Empire
- READ: Chinese Communist Revolution
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Chinese Communist Revolution
- WATCH: Chinese Communist Revolution
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Resisting Colonialism — Through a Ghanaian Lens
- WATCH: Resisting Colonialism - Through a Ghanaian Lens
- READ: Apartheid
- End of Empire
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READ: Kwame Nkrumah (Graphic Biography)
Kwame Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana, which achieved independence in 1957. He used his position to advocate in the Cold War and decolonization struggles.
The Graphic Biography below uses “Three Close Reads”. If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.
First read: skimming for gist
This will be your quickest read. It should help you get the general idea of what the graphic biography will be about. Pay attention to the title, headings, images, and layout. Ask yourself: what is this graphic biography going to be about?
Second read: understanding content
For this reading, you should be looking for unfamiliar vocabulary words, the major claim and key supporting details, and analysis and evidence. You should also spend some time looking at the images and the way in which the page is designed.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- Where was Nkrumah born and where was he educated?
- Why was his education in Pennsylvania important, according to the author?
- In 1957, Nkrumah became the first President of Ghana. Given the quote in this biography, why did he believe that he had to support independence movements elsewhere, and how did he do it?
- How, according to the authors, did his international efforts play a role in his overthrow in 1966?
- How does the artist use art and design to portray Nkrumah’s role in international anti-colonialism?
Third read: evaluating and corroborating
In this read, you should use the graphic biography as evidence to support, extend, or challenge claims made in the course.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
- How does this biography of Kwame Nkrumah support, extend, or challenge what you have learned about the Cold War and decolonization?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading.
Kwame Nkrumah (Graphic Biography)
Writer: Sean Bloch
Artist: Liz Clarke
Kwame Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana, which achieved independence in 1957. He used his position to advocate in the Cold War and decolonization struggles.
Download the Graphic Biography PDF here or click on the image above.
Want to join the conversation?
Kwame Nkrumah, who was an anti-colonialist, bumped into the other half of this unit, the Cold War. Describe how he did this and what it resulted in.(3 votes)