COLONIAL VIOLENCE

• 1. How do some characterize Henry Morton Stanley's voyage of exploration in Africa?

  • Henry Morton Stanley's voyage of exploration in Africa is characterized by theft, attacks on villages, and lethal force against Africans
• 1. Why was the initial process of taking control of territory through colonialism so violent?


  • The initial process of taking control of territory through colonialism was violent because it involved resisting populations and the imposition of foreign rule by force
• 1. How did economic goals (production and distribution) lead to violence in colonialism?

  • Economic goals in colonialism led to violence through the exploitation of labor for profit, often through forced labor and harsh working conditions
• 1. How was violence justified ideologically?

  • Violence in colonialism was justified ideologically through racism and the belief in the superiority of colonizers, as well as the idea of "civilizing" colonial subjects
• 1. What, according to Franz Fanon, were some of the psychological effects of colonialism?


  • feelings of inferiority, self-hatred, and depression among colonial subjects due to constant messages of cultural and racial inferiority
• 1. Explain how ideologies contributed to the development of imperialism from 1750 to 1900?

  • Ideologies, such as the belief in racial superiority or the notion of "civilizing" others, justified and perpetuated imperialistic practices. These ideologies provided moral and intellectual frameworks that not only condoned but also encouraged violent actions in the pursuit of colonial domination
• • Colonialism was brutal because it involved controlling resistant populations, exploiting them for labor, and the belief in the superiority of colonizers
• • Henry Morton Stanley's African expedition showcases this brutality, including theft, attacks on villages, and lethal force against Africans
• • Colonial violence persisted post-conquest, using brutal punishments and forced labor to maintain control
• • Economic exploitation drove much of the brutality, with locals forced into labor for little or no pay
• • While colonial laws sometimes protected against violence, they often failed to prevent abuses, as seen in French-controlled Indochina
• • Extreme cases, like King Leopold II's exploitation of the Congo, illustrate the horrific conditions imposed on locals
• • The ideology of colonialism justified violence through racism and the idea of "civilizing" colonial subjects
• • Psychological violence, including constant messages of inferiority, inflicted deep mental harm on colonial subjects
• • Colonial powers sought to extract resources from their colonies to fuel their industries and economies. This often involved forcing local populations to work in harsh conditions for little or no pay, leading to exploitation and sometimes violent resistance
• • competition between colonial powers for control over resources and markets could also result in conflicts and wars, further exacerbating the violence associated with colonialism