Chapter 18 Comparing Work and life in Colonies Colonial rule had deep impacts on people’s economic lives World economy demanded more and more resources and raw materials from Asia and Africa Subsistence farming diminished as it became necessary to grow crops for cash to pay taxes to the colonial government People were also exposed to new products to buy and desired them as well. Artisans lost position and economic status as machine produced goods from Europe came in Asian and African merchants lost place to Europeans

Economics and Life in Colonies FORCED LABOR AND THE POWER OF THE STATE: THE ECONOMICS OF COERCION Many colonies governments demanded unpaid and forced labor from the people especially on public works projects such as roads, dams, and other infrastructure Worst abuses were in the Congo Free State (Belgian Congo) governed personally by King Leopold II of Belgium

Economic Coercion Millions of people were killed as the Belgians and agents of the king forced them to collect the sap of rubber trees Many starved to death because they were not allowed to grow food Many others were maimed by having hands or feet cut off to keep them from running away. Others were beheaded as warnings The Belgian government finally took action in 1908 after an international scandal forced them to act. This didn’t change much although the scale of violence declined

Economic Coercion The “cultivation system” in the Netherland East Indies (Indonesia Peasants had to devote at least 20% of their land to grow cash crops to pay their taxes These crops were sold at high prices for the Dutch colonial government which meant high profits for the Dutch economy Many local elites participated in forcing this system on the peasants and they were well rewarded by the colonial government for doing so

Reactions against forced labor In the German colony of Southwest Afrika a major rebellion of the Hetero people occurred when the Germans forced production of cotton at the expense of food. This resulted in the death of thousands of these people as the German moved in military and repressed the rebellion In Portuguese Africa (Mozambique): active sabotage and smuggling despite the authorities actions kept the Portuguese from achieving their desired goals

Cash crop agriculture in colonial empires Almost all empires developed cash crop agriculture as a means to make the colonies provide either raw materials or food for the mother country. Many peasants and farmers were okay with growing crops for which they received income. In some places they were able to make a good profit from them, if not too much was taken in taxes. But overall, this system was exploitative and manipulative to the needs of the colonial system

Cash crops There was also significant environmental damage in some areas as land was cleared for cash crops without much thought given to the effects of doing so. Trees were cut down and erosion occurred, some areas becoming almost uninhabitable. In the British colony of the Gold Coast (Ghana) African farmers took the initiative to develop an export cash crop economy by growing and selling cocoa. By 1911 the Gold Coast had become the leading supply of cocoa in the world. A new peasant- capitalist society was being created. But the need for labor led to an influx of migrants, exploitation of women for property, and a return of slavery like conditions

Economics of Wage Labor and Migration In many colonies the Europeans established industrial enterprises such as mining and textile production. This led to a large migration of peoples around the globe to serve as labor in these firms. People moved within empires and from outside especially from China and Japan to earn money working

Migration for work Africa: migrants moved within and out of Africa in pursuit of employment both voluntarily and involuntarily. The Slave Trade continued almost until the end of the 19th century Many people moved within Africa to find work as the European empires developed new industries and agricultural endeavors Europeans took over large areas of land using African workers to farm and tend it Gold and diamond mines in South Africa provided work under harsh and cruel conditions

Migration for work Asia: 29 million Indians and 19 million Chinese emigrated as did 1 million Japanese These immigrants generally did work that Europeans did not want to do or that Europeans thought that the colonial people in that area could not do. Many Indians moved within the British Empire to South Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean and British territory in South America. While most worked agriculture some worked in mines and at other jobs

Migration for work Chinese workers settled in Manchuria and also emigrated to the United States, Australia and Peru to work in gold fields while setting up small businesses of their own. The Japanese also migrated to the US particularly California and Hawaii to do agricultural work and set up small businesses. Many Asians suffered from segregation and discrimination in the United States and in Australia. Both nations effectively banned Asian immigration in the early 20th century

Urban Migrants While many immigrants went to the countryside to work on farms and plantations, colonial cities also attracted a great many of these migrants Cities were seen as centers of opportunity for economic advancement People could set up shops, create products, and perhaps live better Many of the colonial cities were segregated, with non Europeans being forced to live in certain areas and denied access to areas where Europeans lived and socialized

Urban Migrants The colonial cities did create a place for the native educated Western oriented middle class that was forming (a small group to be sure) despite segregation Most of the migrants to the cities ended up crowded in slums in conditions that were barely livable and which did not allow them the ability to earn enough to eat, live, or raise families

Women in the colonial economies In Africa: Prior to colonization women were usually active farmers and had some autonomy. In the colonial economy, women’s lives changed drastically Men dominated farming for good cash crops for export Women were left to raise food which had little resale value Large numbers of men migrated to jobs in other areas leaving women to do all the work both used to do They even had to supply food to the men who had migrated to cities

How did Women Cope There were a variety of ways that women found to deal with this situation Some opportunities were open such as opening small shops and trading centers Some of the food crops came to have better value as they were necessities for the migrants in the cities Some women escaped the control of the patriarchal system in which husbands or fathers ran their lives This led to an upsurge of fear in witchcraft and efforts to restrict women’s travel and social contacts.

Assessing Colonial Development What was the overall impact of colonial rule economically? Two schools of thought Defenders of colonial rule: jump started modern economic growth Critics: it was a long period of exploitation and limited, uneven growth Colonial rule did integrate Africa and Asia into a global trade network Colonial rule did introduce some modern elements: administrative and bureaucratic structures, communication and transportation infrastructures, schools, and modern health care. It did not lead to modern industrial societies.