Guinea in 1958: A Vote and a New Country
On September 28, 1958, voters in a French colony in West Africa faced a choice that would shape their country’s future. Should their territory remain connected to France under a proposed new political system, or should it choose independence? Most voters chose to break away. Four days later, on October 2, the Republic of Guinea became an independent country.
That decision did not appear out of nowhere. It grew from decades of colonial rule, political organizing, and disagreements about who should control Guinea’s future. Independence also brought difficult questions: How would the new government replace services and resources supplied by France? And would freedom from colonial rule lead to freedom for people within the country?
Which Guinea?
The Republic of Guinea is on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Its capital is Conakry, a port city that stretches along a peninsula and nearby islands. The country is sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from other places with similar names.
Guinea-Bissau lies to its northwest. Equatorial Guinea is farther away, near the Gulf of Guinea in Central Africa. Neither is the same country as Guinea. Papua New Guinea, meanwhile, is in the Pacific region, north of Australia. Similar names do not mean that these countries share a government or the same history.
- colony:
- A territory controlled by another country.
- peninsula:
- Land surrounded by water on most sides but connected to a larger land area.
- savannas:
- Grassy areas with scattered trees.
- forced labor:
- Work people are made to do against their will.
- constitution:
- A set of basic rules and principles for a government.
- personnel:
- People who work for an organization or government.
- authoritarian:
- Using concentrated power while limiting people’s political freedoms.
- opposition:
- People or groups that disagree with those in power.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How did colonial conditions and political organizing help prepare Guinea for the 1958 vote?
- 2Why did both choices in the referendum carry risks for Guineans?
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About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“Guinea in 1958: A Vote and a New Country” is a explanatory article reading passage about Guinea’s independence, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (859 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.