Colonialism Colonial Conquests the new World 1492 Columbus

Colonialism

Colonial Conquests: the new World • 1492 Columbus’ discovery • 1493 Pope Alexander VI divides New World between Spain and Portugal—largely ignored • Conquest, forced labor, and disease— 10100 million dead • 1550 Debate at Valladolid—do Indians have souls?

Drawing from Bartolome de Las Casas’ work

Latin American Colonial Independence • Spurred by American example, independence movements sweep much of Latin America from 1810 -1820

Colonialism in Asia: India • Beginning 1490 s, colonized by many European powers • By 1750 s, Britain predominant European power, ruling by means of the East India Company

Negligent famine • In 1750 s and then 1870 s incompetence by British led to famines killing millions

Attempting to Overthrow the British Raj • 1857 “Sepoy Rebellion” “first war of Independence” was crushed

Gandhi and the Congress Party • 1920 Gandhi calls for boycott of British goods, refuse to pay taxes, peaceful protest • Calls it off when crowd kills police—through fasting • 1930 Gandhi leads “salt march” • Growing rift between Congress and Muslim League—advocate a split

War and Independence • Britain (without consultation) enters India in WWII, as they had WWI • Some leaders of Congress Party side with Germany and Japan • 1947 amid continuing protests, Britain agrees to independence—secular India, Muslim Pakistan

Aftermath • In first 2 years of independence, over 1 million die in communal violence • Over 10 million flee

India and Pakistan

Kashmir—most dangerous place on earth?

Divergent paths to independence • Gandhi vs Fanon

Colonialism and China • From 1600 s to 1800 s Chinese Emperors limited Western trade and contact to two ports • Increasingly weak dynasty tried to prohibit importation of opium • 1830 s-1850 s China lost two “Opium Wars” • Forced to give up Hong Kong, allow missionaries, and all trade

19 th century humiliation of China • European powers and Japan carved up China into “spheres of influence” and treaty ports

Reaction: “Boxer Rebellions” of 1900 • Members of a Chinese nationalist society attacked foreigners, missionaries, and Chinese Christians • Eight nation alliance sends 50, 000 troops to put down rebellion

Nationalist Revolution of 1912 • Sun Yat-Sen overthrows discredited Ching dynasty, declares a republic, and attempts to reduce foreign influence

Chinese “Imperialism”: Tibet • From 17 th Century until 1959, Tibet governed by “incarnations” of the Dalai Lama • PRC invaded in 1949, taking control in 1959— ”liberating” a backwards society—”Sinification” • 14 th Dalai Lama has ceded political power to newly democratic government also in exile in India

• http: //ia 300103. us. archive. org/0/items/tibet_gnn/tibet_bb. mov

Also the Uyghers in Xinjiang Province

Race for Africa • Beginning in 1870 s, competitive territorial claims across Africa • 1884 -5 Berlin conference

Example 1: Rwanda • 1890 s Rwanda colonized by Germans • After WWI, goes to Belgians, under League of Nations mandate • Belgians favor Tutsi minority • 1962 becomes independent—Hutu dominated • 1990 s increased fighting between Hutu and Tutsi • 1994 Hutu president killed, genocide begins • http: //www. rottentomatoes. com/m/hotel_rwanda/trailers. php

Example #2: Democratic Republic of Congo • 1870 s—claimed as the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium • 1908 Embarrassed by Leopold’s brutality, Belgian parliament purchases Congo

Evil and Good

Recent history of the Congo • 1960 Patrice Lumumba elected prime minister, killed with assistance from CIA • US and Belgium install Mobutu • 1990 s Congo becomes scene of Africa’s “world wars” • 2006 Internationally sponsored elections • Issue of “conflict diamonds and conflict gold” http: //hrw. org/video/2005/gold/

Example #3—Liberia • 1820 s American association sends free blacks back to Africa, formed Republic • 1980 s military coup overthrew republic-dictator assisted CIA • 1997 s Charles Taylor elected—being tried now for crimes against humanity • 2005 first woman in Africa elected head of govt

The Presidency of Ellen Johnson. Sirleaf • http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/globalconnections/liberia/essays/uspolicy/in dex. html

Example #4 Rhodesia/Zimbabwe • Cecil Rhodes: "I contend that we (the British) are the finest race in the world; and that the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race".

Rhodesia • 1890 s natives expropriated and white rule established under Rhodes’ BSAC • 1965 Britain refused to grant independence w/o majority rule—white Rhodesian’s declared themselves independent • 1980 after 10 years of fighting, Mugabe elected president in internationally supervised elections

Mugabe’s Zimbabwe • One party rule • White farmers’ lands redistributed • Economic free-fall

Colonial World

Post colonial world • 1945 --roughly 50 countries • now roughly 200