Monthly Archives: October 2014

Colonialism has shaped many regions of the world but in many different ways. In Europe a lot of what has developed that area has shaped the United States and our development. The main country involved with this has been England or Great Britain. We know that we were originally apart of that country before some of the greatest shifts in our history occurred, the revolutionary war. Most countries have experienced great shifts in their nations history and this is the same for many African countries. Colonialism has been the stepping-stone in nearly every country’s history and has been a key part of molding a countries “backbone.”

In the United States the colonial period might have been one of the most significant parts of our nation’s history. During this period many events took place that began to shape our country. At this time the country was relatively new and the people of the ‘extension of Great Britain’ were still under British reign, which meant we still had to abide by the laws of England and the King. England at the time was a supreme power in Europe and in the world, keeping the 13 colonies of the current United States of America under its rule.

Some countries have gone through colonization similar to the United States and their fight against British rule on the continent of Africa. Many African countries have a European history of ‘ownership’ and have been colonized by European countries as well. For the United States, we are particular when it comes to the colonization of our country compared to most of the African countries that were under European rule. We became a free country of our own after the Revolutionary war and in this day and age do not consider ourselves to be ‘English’ but for some of the African countries colonized by Europeans they still associate with their European ties. There are a few European countries that colonized areas of Africa including France, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany and Portugal. Before 1880 close to 90% of Africa was still under African rule and nearly two decades later the only uncolonized areas were Liberia and Ethiopia. The two most influencing European countries were England and France but they were not the limit of control. These countries held a conference referred to as the Berlin Conference establishing ground rules on dividing the continent and during the conference there was no African representation. Also it was agreed upon that new annexations would not be recognized unless the territory had been effectively occupied. Occupying most of the territory, England and France had some indirect gains. England ruled their occupied land through the traditional tribal leaders and if a tribal leader wasn’t obliging to their laws they would be replaced by British appointees who were more cooperative to the colonial regime. The original tribal leaders would often face resistance from their own people. The leaders also would use their positions to gain substantial incomes much more than any other possible position. France put together administrative units that cut across the traditional boundaries, allowing locally born residents to have rights to French citizenship. The French also established an ‘African elite’ who would accept the French expectations and standards while becoming associated with French rulers through work of governing colonies.

Europeans for the most part used Africa for its goods and natural resources. During the colonial time period greed seemed to be the center point of Europeans ideas. Most of the Europeans investment in Africa and the countries within were focused on ‘money-making’ areas such as minerals, plantation possibilities and resources. The people of Africa had their land taken from them that they had control of and had raised extensive generations of people within. Although this sounds good and probably benefitted the continent the Europeans set-up extensive railroads and ports to move the goods and resources from place to place including back to Europe. The map of Africa was actually comprised and put together by the Europeans who took control of the different countries of Africa.

Between the colonial period of the United States and the colonial period in Africa there were a few similarities I could come up with. First, both areas were annexed unjustly. In the United States there were people here before the Europeans who were forced out and took land from, the Native-Americans. In Africa the Europeans annexed the land from the native Africans. Secondly, the land was fought over in many different skirmishes. Third, the land was used in large part for crops, plantations and the resources, along with the set up of ports and railways to move things about the countries. Overall I feel a large amount of countries were hurt throughout the colonial period but some may have had some benefits from the European ‘support’.

The colonization period of the world marked a turning point in culture and the demographics of regions. Conquerors are often glorified for their performance in battle and of gaining land for their respected countries. Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, Great Britain and other countries all had claims in Africa and the newly discovered Americas. This new influx of rulers and customs had a distinct impact on the future of those lands. New rulers and settlements began to arise and old traditions and natives were driven out. Replacing entire centuries worth of religions, beliefs, and overall ownership of the land, the new colonies in the new world and Africa left their mark on the land and the globe. Furthering the development of this new expansion was the influence of new products and economic opportunities that presented themselves. Sugar cane field in the Caribbean islands and tobacco and cotton production in the antebellum drove the need for labor that was abundant and cheap. This drove owners of large plantations to desire the need of slaves. Slave trade became integral in both African colonization and the new world colonization, and is directly responsible for the change in the views of treatment of people.

            The colonization of both Africa and the new world do provide some similarities to each other. First, many European nations had claims in both territories. The Dutch in what is modern day New York, English in the majority of the coast, and the Spanish in Florida and more western areas. The French had claim in modern day Canada and main lands were disputed against. Eventually the Dutch gave up their land and the English claimed it. These were not the only areas, as the Caribbean islands were claimed by all nations, majority of which were Spanish and Portuguese, while South America was vastly Portuguese and Spanish with a little French and Dutch claim. Africa on the other hand was majority French and English owned. France laid claim to the greater part of the Northwest and Britain to the Northeast. Nations such as Germany, Belgium, and Spain all laid claims in central Africa as well, but did not own as much land. Another similarity was the participation in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade by these nations. Since the need of labor grew, indigenous African were taken and sold to traders for goods or monetary value. Conditions of the ships that were used were vastly gross and vile, and often contributed to the death of many Africans before they set foot on foreign land. The colonization of also was at a cost to the original people living there. The Indians in the new world and Africans in Africa both lost lands that they maintained for many years before the arrival of European nations.

Differences in the colonization periods begin with the fact that Africans had representatives through tribal leaders in some areas. In the colonization of the Americas, native tribes were pushed out and given no say in the new government that was provided. Also upon gaining freedom after the American Civil War, black slaves were not granted a nation upon which to form. Instead they had to adapt to a society that still saw them as inferior and work through stereotypes for many years to come. New nations were formed in the new world, but mostly by the European nations that claimed them, while African nations over time gained independence and are mostly ran by Africans. Despite this, newer nations in the new world have developed quicker than new nations formed in Africa.

Slavery is the number one reason for the massive growth and success of the new world. Technology change and innovation contributed, but I can argue that slavery above everything else allowed areas in North America to thrive quickly and prosper immensely. The ability to dehumanize one group or race of people, and to consistently keep them below society for hundreds of years is astounding. Through the capability of free labor that feared and obeyed its owners for decades, with only minimal uprising, directly contributed to the economic growth of the nation and its people.

Cotton production became so profitable that it was the main reason behind the defense of slavery and all of its wrongdoings. Plantation owners did not have to agree that it was moral but had to defend their profits that they were making through the struggle of a demoralized people and their ancestors. This profitable model was the primary reason for the succession of the Confederate States of America. States rights and other causes of the American Civil War all stem from the fact that the southern states all relied heavily on human property to be the catalysis for their success, and ultimately their failure.

As interest about Africa grows in the late 18^th century, explorers and missionaries settled in Africa in hope to spread religion and learn more about Africa. There were land expeditions and movements to abolish slavery and they did be able to abolish slavery the 1807. However, the abolition doesn’t stop oppression and racism towards black people. Also, the shift from slave trade to raw materials trade caused a huge change in the economy and industries. Similarly, the colonization period of US history also focuses on trade and caused oppression to the native inhabitants.

First we will start off with Colonial Africa. As we all know, the British colonized all African countries except Liberia and Ethiopia and they were ruled under either British or French system as well as other European systems. The British found out that the most efficient government system to earn revenue was to let tribal authorities lead their own subjects.

Under European colonization, Africa became more developed through construction and got more involved in the world economy, trading crops and mining goods. Although, colonization brought a lot of improvement to Africa, Africans were taken away their land and power, which is one of the disadvantages of the colonization.

For the American colonial period, the first successful English colonization of US history started in 1607, when the British settled in James town, Virginia in hoping to get rich. The leader of the colonization, however dislike farming, causing half of the colonists to die out of starvation. Replacements were assigned but most died after winter of 1610, reducing the number of colonists to a little more than 60. In 1619, twelve years after the founding of James town, the first shipment of African slaves arrived in Virginia. However, tobacco became a dominant trade item and by 1624 Virginia produced more than 200 pounds of tobacco per year. The growing industry played a huge role in shaping the social hierarchy, because at that time, ¾ of the people who came to Virginia were servants, making the population consists of few high-class citizens and a lot of low-class citizens.

Starting the 17^th century, settlers came to New England to escape the religious norms. They were the puritans and pilgrims. However, they didn’t prepare enough supplies and half of them died in the first winter. Some of them survived with the help from Native Americans.

Following the New England colony was the Massachusetts Bay colony started in 1629 by London merchants in hoping to make money. Since the merchants were serious about their business, the board of directors relocated themselves to Massachusetts creating a much more organized self-government and social unity. The first slaves were recorded to arrive in Massachusetts in the 1640s.

The colonists maintained a trade relationship with the Native Americans, in which they exchange guns and weapons for fur and food. However, as the need for fur grew, Indians started to neglect their crops and some fight with each other to acquired the resources they need. Conflict arises as time goes by and the relationship began to deteriorate when the English started to steal Indians’ crops.

The first similarity between African and American colonial period is they were targeted for raw materials such as gold and crops. The Europeans were attracted to the raw materials and land available. So they thought that coming to America and Africa would increase their profit, which was true. The second similarity is Europeans colonized them both. European countries were interested in new countries, ways to expand their territory and to spread religious beliefs. Lastly, the native inhabitants got oppressed for the colonists’ personal gain, such as the slave trade and the destructive relationship between the settlers and the Native Americans.

The difference is probably how the colonial period in America was more brutal. Native Americans were killed and forced to get out of their homeland. Moreover, they were robbed and women were raped and killed. Before the abolishment of slave trade in Africa, many Africans were killed and oppressed. However, during the colonial period, it lessened because slave trade was no longer the dominant business.

I find this assignment very challenging because I’m not American, which means I didn’t learn as much U.S. history as most people. I had to research all about US history of colonization and try to compare to Africa’s. It was a great opportunity to learn discover more truths more world history.

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States#European_exploration_and_colonization

http://royalnavalmuseum.org/visit_see_victory_cfexhibition_eastafrica.htm