ESTABLISHMENT OF COLONIAL ECONOMY
The Meaning and Objectives of Colonial Economy
Explain the meaning and objectives of colonial economy
Colonial
economy was introduced in order to increase production distribution and
consumption of material wealth.
Why colonial economy was introduced to Africa
Colonial
economy in Africa was introduced due to the industrial revolution in Europe
which led to a need for raw materials, markets, areas of investment and
labourers. In order to solve those problems, Europeans established five
economic activities such as agriculture, mining, industry, trade and
infrastructure.
Features of colonial economy
Colonial
economy had several features which differ from the pre-colonial economy in the
following ways:
1. Colonial
economy was export oriented (e.g. production of cash crops, mineral.
2. It was
exploitative in nature,that is Africans were highly exploited.
3. It went
hand in hand with alienation of Africans (Africans were alienated from their
land which was used by the Europeans).
4. Colonial
economy used forced labour (in areas where colonial rulers opened projects).
5. Colonial
economy was a cash economy that is, exchange was done on monetary terms.
6. It went
together with the use of high capital in opening of economic activities like
agriculture, mining etc.
7. Colonial
economy involved small scale and large-scale production.
8. It went
together with introduction of tax. This tax went to the colonial government.
The Tactics used to Establish Colonial Economy
Analyse critically the tactics used to establish colonial
economy
Establishment of colonial economy in Africa
In
establishing colonial economy Europeans used different methods: Creative,
destructive and preservation.
a. Creative
Colonial
rulers introduced new modes of production in Africa such as:
1. The
introduction of a cash economy, exchange took place through cash.
2. Introduction
of land alienation where European took fertile belonging to Africans.
3. Colonialists
introduced large-scale farms e.g. tea plantations and settler farms in Africa.
4. Africans
were forced to pay tax in cash to the colonial government.
5. It went
together with the construction of infrastructure for the benefit of colonial
powers.
6. Africans
were forced to work in colonial projects.
b. Destructive
Colonial
power tended to be destructive to Africa:
1. Colonialism
destroyed African local industries in order to gain market and labourers.
2. Colonial
governments tended to destroy African culture e.g. initiation ceremony. This
was done to obtain cheap labour.
c.
Preservative
1. Colonial
governments preserved peasant economy in some areas e.g. in Uganda, West Africa
etc.
2. African
mode of production was allowed to continue e.g. Feudalism in Uganda and
primitive communal mode of production in other areas.
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