Notes

6.5, 6.6: Imperialism in Action + Its Impacts

 

It is a known fact that colonies around the world provided raw materials to colonizing forces. In this section, let’s analyze some cases we are yet to cover, starting off with those in South America:

 

• As Spanish influence began to decline in Argentina, the British saw it as a key opportunity to get involved in the country’s resources. The British heavily invested in infrastructure (such as railroads) which allowed for the transport of meat. They also established the Port of Buenos Aires, further allowing Argentinian resources to be exported which also skewed trade over to Great Britain. 

• The United Fruit Company: This was an American company that profited off of exporting fruit from Latin America. This is a key example of the potential of private corporations to exercise imperial power. The United Fruit Company is infamous for its labor exploitation which often kept its workers in a cycle of debt and dependence. 

• The United Fruit Company grew to be SO successful that it almost controlled entire economies. Smaller Central American nations (often with unstable governments) whose economies were dependent on the export of typically a single crop (ex. Bananas which were exported to the United Fruit Company) gained the name of “banana republics”. The fact that their economies were so reliant on the exports of fruits led to the creation of the term. 

• Copper mining asserted itself as a major economic activity in nations like Chile, as well.

 

Imperialism changed societies completely, as we touched on in the previous section. Immigration was on the rise as economic situations worsened in certain nations, and improved in others. Some individuals moved voluntarily, while others were coerced into labor (via labor systems).

• Indentured Servitude was a common labor practice during the Modern period. Through this system, people would work for a set amount of time so that they could be transported to colonies to be able to cover off previous debt. Physical work was payment for past expenses. For example, the British sent many Indians from the colony of India to other British colonies, like Trinidad or Mauritius in the form of indentured servitude on plantations. Here, Indians blended their native cultures with local culture, creating a distinct new identity. 

• While indentured servitude was unethical and exploitative, slavery luckily began to decline in the Modern period. Most nations in the Americas had abolished slavery altogether, with Brazil being the last to abolish the practice in 1888. 

 

It is important that we talk about Chinese immigration during this time period as well. Given the unstable conditions in China, many Chinese citizens migrated to the United States, where they would become indispensable contributors to the Transcontinental Railroad. In Australia, the Australian Gold Rushes likewise attracted migrants.