19th-Century Colonialism: Causes, Administration, and Consequences

1. Causes of Colonialism

A) Political and Strategic

• Colonies were symbols of prestige.
• Control of strategic areas for security and trade.

B) Demographic

• Colonies absorbed excess European population to mitigate social conflicts and unemployment.

C) Economic

• Demand for raw materials for industry.
• Need for new markets for industrial products.
• Capitalism stimulated investment in other territories.

D) Geographical and Technical

• Scientific expeditions explored unknown areas to discover new plants, animals, and minerals.
• New means of transport facilitated exploration.

E) Cultural and Ideological

• The belief in the supremacy of white people and their duty to "civilize" inferior peoples.
• Nationalism drove the desire for large nations to rule over less "civilized" people.

2. Administration of Colonies

There were different types of colonies:

a) Exploitation Colony

• Controlled and exploited by a white minority.
• Lacked autonomy.
• Example: India (GB)

b) Settler Colony

• Majority of the population came from the metropolis.
• Possessed autonomy but were supervised by the metropolis.
• Examples: Canada, Australia

c) Protectorate

• Local authorities managed domestic policy.
• Metropolis controlled foreign policy.
• Examples: Morocco, Egypt

d) Concession

• A strategic city was ceded to a foreign country for a limited period for economic reasons.
• Example: Hong Kong (GB)

3. Consequences of Colonialism

A) For the Colonies

• Local governments were replaced by authorities from the metropolis.
• Traditional agriculture was transformed into plantations for export.
• Demographic growth without a corresponding growth of resources.
• Destruction of native cultures.
• Intensive exploitation of resources and people.
• Growth of racism.

B) For the Metropolis

• Access to raw materials and new markets.
• Political rivalry between colonizing nations, leading to conflicts such as:
  • Fashoda Crisis between France and Great Britain in Sudan.
  • Boer War between Great Britain and the Boers.
  • Crises between Portugal and Great Britain.
  • Moroccan Crisis between France and Germany.