Colonialism (Think Before You Act)

Colonialism is the foundation, establishment, maintenance, acquisition, expansion, and the development of colonies in one part of the world by another country from another part of the world. It is a process whereby the nation claims control over the colony and its lands; and with it, the social structure, government, and economics of the colony. They are changed as the colony expands and develops. Colonialism also is the different relationships between the mother country and the colony, but also between the colonists and the native population. It is also linked to the two nationalist beliefs that drive countries to colonialism: mercantilism and imperialism.

The control of a colony is often exercised by a governor chosen by either the home or colonial government, to which he is loyal to. Many colonies have either been under complete national control (which was the majority of colonies during the colonial era) or self-rule (which grew as many colonies became self-sufficient and more populated). Some colonies have gained independence due to patriotic ideals, which often led to independence (such as America during the Revolutionary War).

The idea of colonialism began during the 15th century, the same time the Age of Discovery was going on. Since the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, many European nations have colonized this area nicknamed the “New World”. Many other explorers followed, who explored new places under the name of the countries they served under. The continents got their name from explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who discovered that the land was not Asia as Columbus thought, but a “New World”. The main goals of this included: increasing wealth, increasing the nation’s power, and to spread Christianity.

Europeans eventually found out that there were natives on the land. However, they were subjected under European rule due to superior technology, leading to the fall of the Incan and Aztec Empires and the conquest of many Amerindian tribes. However, some were integrated into society and intermarried as well, leading to the existence of the mesitzos, a half-white half-Amerindian race.

The Portuguese and Spanish were the first nations to establish colonies overseas, mainly the Americas. A few centuries later, Britain, France, and the Netherlands joined the colonial race. By the middle of the 18th Century, most of the Americas have been colonized by Europeans, with Spain control of most of South America (except the Portuguese colony of Brazil, Cuba, eastern Hispaniola, Puerto Rico,, Central America, Mexico, and parts of North America, while Portugal held Brazil, France held Western Hispaniola, Britain held eastern North America, and Russia held Alaska. However, certain places in the coast of Africa, the Indian coast, and the East Indies have also been colonized by European powers.

Since the Revolutionary War, European control declined in the region, especially British and Spanish. During this time, the 13 Colonies gained independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War while many people under Spanish rule fought for their independence, though British effort in the war weakened the movement. After the War of 1814 and the Second Napoleonic War, they were added into the United States. France still has a foothold in the region, having Quebec, Hispaniola, the Lesser Antilles, French Guyana, and French Uruguay under their control.

During mid 19th Century, the focus of imperialism has shifted to the Pacific, Asia, and Africa. At the same time, the westernization and the growing spirit of nationalism in China and Japan have led to expansion to not only compete with each other, but to prevent European “barbarians” to conquer parts of Asia. By the start of 20th Century, France was in control of North Africa, Mali, Guinea, and the Congo while America was in control of Liberia and Nigeria while the Brazilians had control of Zanzibar and Angola. There were only two sole independent African nations: the United Kingdom of South Africa and the Ethiopian Empire. In the Pacific, France had control of Polynesia (except Hawaii) while America had control of Micronesia, Hawaii, Melanesia (except New Guinea), and Austria. In Asia, China and Japan are the main controllers of the region, whit Japan controlling parts of Eastern Siberia, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Kra Peninsula, and New Guinea. China has control of Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, East Turkestan, Kazakhstan, Karakalpakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Burma, Indochina, and Thailand (excluding the Kra Peninsula). France does have a foothold in the Middle East while India is a French puppet and Persia-Arabia is America’s main ally in the region.

Since the mid 20th Century, there were many independence movements around Africa. While Nigeria and Liberia left successfully, France and Brazil fought a war with Zanzibar, Congo, Angola, Guinea, and Mali. Yet in the end, independence was won. Since the 1980’s, it was declares colonialism ceased to exist.