From Colonization To Exploitation

Why do people colonize?

People colonize for a variety of different reasons. Most of the time, it isn’t just the simple problem of moving somewhere new and starting over. These reasons may differ, but the most prominent seems to be for religious and territorial reasons, as well as to exploit the land of its natural resources.

An Englishman named Richard Hakluyt describes religious reasons for colonization in his book, ‘Reasons for Colonization’ (written in 1585). Some reasons he stated in his book included ‘the increase of the force of the Christians’, and ‘the glory of God by planting of religion among those infidels’, or the increase in power for Christians, and to please God by making more people believe in him. History is full of examples for these, such as the Spanish spreading their Catholicism to their colonized countries in Central and South America, such as Mexico and Argentina. The effects of the Spanish spreading their religion are shown by the devout Catholics in those countries today.

Many countries believed that by colonizing other countries, their own country would become elevated in status. Richard Hakluyt mentions this once more in ‘Reasons for Colonization’ by stating, "The possibility of the enlarging of the dominions of the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, and consequently of her honor, revenues, and of her power by this enterprise,” as one of the reasons. This shows that many British people came to Australia for honor, revenues and power because they were enlarging Britain’s territory. He also mentions, “…if we will proceed with extremity, conquer, fortify, and plant in soils most sweet, most pleasant, most strong, and most fertile, and in the end bring them all in subjection and to civility. . .”. This means that by expanding their territory, they will be more powerful than other countries and will be able to influence them.

Colonization also happens because of the riches of a new country. Whether it is riches from an ancient civilization, or natural resources, the native civilizations of those countries have been forced into being colonized. The Spanish saw the riches of the natives of Central and South America (Aztecs, Mayas and Incas), and suppressed them forcefully until most were dead and most of the riches were carted back to Spain. Also, many Europeans countries scrambled for land in Africa, where they benefitted from the natural resources there, such as gold, minerals, diamonds and rubber.

Because by colonizing, your country would benefit greatly, many people thought it was a just and sensible thing to colonize other countries. This feeling could be seen plainly in Rudyard Kipling’s poem, 'White Man’s Burden’. It is a poem of Americans colonizing the Philippines. It describes Americans sending their men over (Send forth the best ye breed; Go bind your sons to exile), and having jobs there (To seek another's profit; And work another's gain). It also talks about famine and power that they could end when Americans go to the Philippines. The poem shows that they should colonize when it states, 'Go mark them with your living; And mark them with your dead'. Once again, this supports what Hakluyt wrote, “The ends of this voyage are these: to plant Christian religion, to traffic, to conquer, or, to do all three.” The benefits of colonizing may seem too appealing to resist and so many countries colonized others.
(Visit http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw27colonizationeffects.htm for more information on the colonization of the Americas)

How does colonization lead to exploitation?

Colonization often leads to exploitation for many reasons. Although many colonies start out in with noble intentions, such as the reasons Hakluyt stated above, the powers given from gaining a colony can change a person’s actions.

The Aztec people of Mexico were exploited when the Spanish tried to colonize them. The wealth, power and majesty of the ancient cities astounded the conquistadores, who then tried to make the wealth theirs. The Aztecs first thought of the Spanish as Gods, and invited them into their capital city when they arrived. The slaughtering began and many were taken as slaves, with the riches of the ancient world stripped and carted back to Spain. Many of the Aztecs were forced to mine for more gold, give up their gold and had to work in the ships. They were exploited in the Spanish conquest for new land because of their astonishing wealth and because of their religion (they were not Christians)

King Léopold II owned much of what is presently Congo. He believed that overseas colonies were the key to a country’s success. And so, under the terms of the ‘General Act of Berlin Conference’, which was a conference in which European countries such as the UK, Spain, Portugal, France and Belgium attended, he pledged to several policies. These were to suppress the East African slave trade, promote humanitarian policies, guarantee free trade, and to encourage missions, and other enterprises. However, after realizing the wealth that Congo could give him, he made new policies that contradicted his first policies. They were to prohibit trade in arms, for indigenous workers to be forced to work for at least 7 years, and to establish the ‘Force Publique’. The FP brutally enforced the new policies. The indigenous peoples were forced to give up much of their products, such as rubber and ivory. Cutting hands off rebels and natives became a sport to see who could cut off the most for the FP. They were brutal to any rebels, cutting heads off all men, women and children, and they routinely took and tortured hostages, as well as committing many other atrocities. The Congolese were exploited in the Belgian colonization because of the territorial claims that King Léopold II insisted on having, as well as the riches the land provided to him.

The picture, ‘In The Rubber Coils’ is an illustration of a Congolese being strangled by a snake with the face of King Léopold II. It shows the tight hold that King Léopold II had on the people, dealing with brute force to them. He strangled the Congolese until they had nothing left to give him, much like many other colonies which were exploited. Colonizers become hungry for power and wealth, and when they find the power and wealth they are looking for, people are exploited to make their ends meet.
(Pictures: Portrait of Richard Hakluyt, 'In The Rubber Coils')