There are many similarities and differences between the colonization of North America and Africa. The first similarity between these two are the countries who were colonizing these lands. Britain, France, Germany, the Dutch and Spain were the main players in the colonization process. These European powers were in search for economic, political, and social power through the colonization of these continents. The nearly untouched raw materials and space these new lands provided enticed countries to completely take over. Though their motives for colonization were similar, there were different outcomes within the process of imperialism for North American and African natives.
Within both continents, the European powers did not fight with each other so much as they fought with the native people of the lands. In North America, most of the Native Americans were wiped out by disease brought over by European settlers. Relations between these settlers and the remaining Native American population was peaceful at first; the Native Americans helped the new settlers become acclimated to the land and learn how to grow crops like corn. Unfortunately when famine struck the European settlers, they raided the Indian tribes. This sparked a war between the two, but the fight was far from fair as Native American populations were dwindling due to illness. After the American Revolution from Europe, Americans forced most of the Native Americans to designated reservations, resulting in the Trail of Tears. While still devastating, this was different from the way European power fought to take over Africa. The Berlin Act was a treaty that monitored the conduct of European imperialist competition, but never included African political participation. The treaties signed with African political power was interpreted very differently by the two participants. Europeans meant them as a signing away of their power over their country, while Africans thought it was no more than a friendly alliance. When they realized they had been tricked in a way, they sought to resist the invasion of European colonists. Unfortunately, African military consisted of guerrilla warfare, which was hardly a competing force for the post-industrialized European countries. After finally succumbing to European power, African countries participated in establishing colonial state systems. This consisted of the European powers appointing native, indirect rule. These powers organized their colonies by designating native governments who indirectly established the European government in the colonies. The difference between North American and African colonization is that in North America, they pushed the native people out. In Africa, the dominated the native people, controlling them for their own needs. Similarly, though, European powers did this by exploiting the fact that these continents at the time were still pre-industrial, while Europe was post-industrial. They then exploited the raw materials and trade system set in place by the natives.
One of the principles that frustrates me the most about America is our need to impose our beliefs and systems on countries that we perceive as being “less” than us. It is the most narcissistic perspective and is the reason many of these countries hate us. After researching imperialism and colonialism, I was reminded that these principles have been set in place long before America came to existence. This is the reason parts of the Middle East have come to despise what we stand for, and in a way they have a right. Though we may have helped, we immediately tried to impose our way of life on theirs. No one in their right mind is going to embrace someone else’s culture with open arms. These ethnocentric beliefs shed light on an ugly side of humanity: the intolerance and distain for differences in other ways of life.
Sources: http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-colonization-of-africa.html
http://www.history.com/topics/thirteen-colonies
http://royalnavalmuseum.org/visit_see_victory_cfexhibition_eastafrica.htm