The Tanzanian political infrastructure created after the 1961 independence declaration was a critical response to colonialist values. The British had held Tanzania as a colonial state due to the border divisions in East Africa in World War I. The state was formed under British colonialism as Tanganyika Territory. In 1960, many of the native representative leadership unions were beginning to become responsible for administrative obligations on the colony. These unions were established in smaller local villages to provide limited representation during the colonialist regime. These localized forms of governmental power improved the attendance of village representation. In fact, village representation and attendance at monthly meetings increased to 75% during this time. This increase in village participation in government infrastructure occurred simultaneously with the collapse of authoritarian rule of the British.