1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.