WAEC Government 2011 Theory — Question 7

Model answer

i. Colonial officials had the power to appoint and depose chiefs/traditional rulers they considered rebellious. ii. Colonial rule established law courts to adjudicate disputes; issues were no longer referred to traditional rulers for judgment. iii. Under French colonial rule (policy of assimilation), traditional rulers were removed as political heads of their domains. iv. The establishment of the Legislative Council under colonial rule took away the law-making powers of traditional rulers. v. Proceeds of taxation under colonial rule went to the colonial government rather than the traditional rulers, depleting their revenue base.