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West Coast Countriesof AfricaCreated by:Mr. Raponi

Coastal Countries

West Africa includes ______ coastal

Countries.

Most countries spread along west Africa’s Atlantic bend, north of the

_______________.

They begin with

______________ in the west and continue along the coast to Benin.

The Land

Coastal Lowlands sweep along the Atlantic shore.

Sandy beaches, rain forests, and

________________ swamps

cover most of the area.

Several major rivers: The Senegal,

________________,

_________________, and

The Niger flow from the highlands to the lower coast.

Illustration of a Mangrove Swamp

EconomyDue to the wet climate, most people in Coastal West Africa are

________________.

On small plots of land, farmers are able to grow yams, corn, and rice.

On large plantations, farmers are able to grow bananas, coffee, rubber, cacao, and kola.

Kola Nuts that at one time were the main ingredient in making many sodas. Has high caffeine amounts

HistoryFrom the late 1400s until the early 1800s,

__________________

set up trading posts along the West African coast.

Here, they traded with Africans for gold, ivory, and other goods that people in Europe wanted.

They also traded enslaved Africans. The traders shipped millions of people to the American colonies.

History At a time when the climate was favorable, three great African empires arose in the 300s to the 1500s.

_________________

_________________

_________________

These empires controlled the gold, salt, and other resources of west Africa

Toward Freedom

The British, French, and Portuguese set up colonies

in _______________ West

Africa.

After several ____________ of European rule, the people of Western Africa began to demand independence.

In 1957, ____________ became the first country in West Africa to become independent.

The Culture of Ghana

Guinea-Bissau andCape Verde

Guinea-Bissau lies between Senegal and Guinea.

Cape Verde is located about __________ miles offshore in

the Atlantic Ocean.

The two were

____________________ colonies until the won their independence in

_____________.

Portuguese influences are widespread in the language and cultures of both countries.

Liberia andSierra Leone

_______________ is the only West African country that was never a European colony.

Africans freed from slavery

founded it in _______________.

Sierra Leone was established as a home for people freed from enslavement.

Sierra Leone was ruled by

________________ from 1787 to 1961 when it became independent.

Cote d’Ivoireand Ghana

Cote d’Ivoire was a

_____________ colony until winning its independence in 1960.

Here, they cultivate coffee, cacao, and lumber.

Ghana’s people belong to

about _________ different ethnic groups.

The _________________ and

the _______________ are the two largest ethnic groups.

Culture of the Ashanti Tribe

Ticket To Leave

List three things that you have learned, and write at least one question that you have about the topic