At first after world war two it seemed possible that most of Britain’s African colonies would remain a part of the British Empire, even though India and Israel were moving quickly to independence. The colonial office undertook schemes aimed at strengthening their economies and educating the elite of the country, but most did not work out. After the 1956 Suez crisis, British policy shifted to offering early grants of independence with politicians from both parties feeling they had very little other choice. The United States was not supportive to the empire, colonialism was seen as out dated and unprofitable and the USSR was looking for sympathetic clients in Africa. In the 1950’s and late 1960’s the British left all there African colonies including