INTRODUCTION

colonialism is an act of political and economic domination involving the control of a country and its
people by settlers from a foreign power. In most cases, the goal of the colonizing countries is to profit by
exploiting the human and economic resources of the countries they colonized. In the process, the
colonizers—sometimes forcibly—attempt to impose their religion, language, cultural, and political
practices on the indigenous population.

While colonization is typically viewed negatively due to its often-disastrous history and similarity to
imperialism, some countries have benefited from having been colonized.

Many Pros and Cons of Colonialism are controversial because colonialism entails the full power over a
country, on a needy group of people or nation. During this era, the countries that underwent
colonization were mainly the African nations, which are primarily dependent on the economies of the
developed countries. The colonizers took advantage of their lack of civilization, evident in the people’s
way of life. Colonialism was gradual. Initially, it began in Europe and later on extended into various parts
of the globe.

Still, the main aim of the colonialists was to make the most of the human labor from those dependent
nations so that they could benefit their economy extensively. Thus, most Africans were forcefully taken
to the colonizers’ countries, which made them slaves in a foreign land.

Nations suffered at the hands of their colonizers, while they still relied on these colonial masters for
their economic needs. Despite the many disadvantages, colonialism still brought in some significant
benefits.

PROS OF COLONIALISM

1. Colonialism Improved Health and Care System

Before the colonizers came to Africa, the Africans experienced lots of infant and childhood deaths, yet
they were not aware of the causes of the fatalities. They also couldn’t find a remedy. This was mainly
due to their high levels of illiteracy. However, the colonizers came to Africa and brought some
enlightenment, whereby, through imperialism, the health care sector improved significantly. The infant
deaths were resolved with the discovery of both the causes and the solutions to the problem.
Imperialism, which is one of the significant facets in the benefits of colonization, defines the act of
expanding both the influence and power of a particular nation unto the others. Access to modern
healthcare became possible through imperialism. People could now access various medications,
vaccines, and up-to-date knowledge to advance new medical systems and mechanisms, which continue
to save numerous lives.

2. Enhancement of Civilization

Also, the coming of the colonizers changed the way of living for most Africans, who became informed.
Prior, the majority would only dress in leaves, while some lived in the forest. They mostly relied on
hunting and gathering. They could not think beyond. However, the colonizers brought some civilization
to Africa through education.

3. Restoration of Women’s Right

Besides, the era of colonialism favored the women, who were restored mainly from prejudice and
assaults. Hence, women began enjoying their rights. Men in the African society, who held on to old
traditions and beliefs, took advantage of the women, viewing them like their properties. The women
were not allowed to express their views in public places. Any female gender who could express their
opinions openly would receive severe harassment by the men present. Therefore, when the colonial
masters came in, they noted how women were denied their rights by enduring mistreatments and
physical attacks. Both the women and men were later subjected to almost equal rights, assuming that all
genders are humans.

4. Development of Infrastructure

An additional gain from colonizers includes developing infrastructure such as roads, rail, and electricity,
amongst others. This significant advancement placed a massive impact on the lives of Africans, who
initially embraced the old and backward mechanisms of living. They never knew what progress was
before the colonization era. However, they could, and can now conduct activities better, since the mode
of transport is now faster. Initially, most Africans would walk long distances, and therefore, could delay
in achieving different agendas. Eventually, the development process generates safer societies since it
enables people from various cultures and ethnicities to interact and better correspond, hence more
societal achievements.

5. Food Security
Further, the people of Africa acquired agricultural, industrial skills, hence food security for the people.
For instance, they embraced agrarian development, such as the processing and manufacturing food,
which made them cease their traditional hunting and gathering habits. The same progressions also
increased job opportunities. As a result, the agricultural-related activities led to a better quality of living
amongst the Africans. The powerful nations kept on bringing their advanced technologies to the
colonized countries, which they influenced through imperialism. Over time, the colonial phase enabled
the industrial revolution to spread into the developing nations. This essential form of technology has
aided the developing countries to experience economic modernization, grow new crop varieties, and
continue building the latest, beneficial infrastructures.

6. Political Development

There was also political development, which enhanced the democratic governmental system. People’s
voices could now be heard, where everyone would vote and vie, to be voted in, following some criteria
such as age. There were also trade openings, which made the Africans gain the right to access the
external operations worldwide. The people, therefore, got further exposure to new ways of trading,
hence significant improvement in the economies of the dependent nations.

7. Reduced Poverty Gap

Part of the population from colonized nations was taken to diverse colonies to work there, hence
narrowing the poverty burden in these countries, which were mostly African. Besides, the colonial
masters selected and took the most potent and mastermind groups of people to the different colonies,
thus lowering the economic burden in the African nations. Further, these people were lucky to either
join different armed forces or become leaders of the administration. In return, they secured some
income from the jobs in the colonies. Therefore, overall poverty reduction amongst the colonized
groups, who, unlike before, began enjoying some financial security.

8. Literacy through Education

Also, during the colonization period, education was enhanced in African nations, hence slowly turning
away from illiteracy levels. Many people benefited immensely from the white missionaries, who taught
them how to speak and write in English. Most African natives became quite learned and began
understanding many new things, which enabled them to formulate valuable ideas, which they would
gradually share amongst the entire community. The cycle of learning continued, and literacy was
progressively attained by many.

9.Democracy, Legitimacy, and Nationalism

Despite all the downsides of colonialism, this period taught people a lot regarding democracy,
legitimacy, and nationalism. These concepts enabled the various colonial groups to attain their
independence. Later on, the community would formulate a national anthem to express patriotism to
their beloved nations.

10. Enhanced Defensive Networks

Imperialism, which came about during colonialism, enhanced defensive networks amongst nations.
Whenever the countries become somehow borderless, the defensive networks improve safety for the
common groups of people, who can then perform better and beneficial activities. Though imperialism
led to the control of the developing cultures (colonies) by the stable ones (colonizers), it also led to a
more forceful defense by easing the borderlines. The creation of common borders favored different
nations, both the developed and the developing. Despite the borderlines being mostly under the rights
of the influential countries, the same enabled more people to gain from modern defensive technologies.

11. Attainment of Liberation

Through colonization, people fought for independence to enjoy their liberty. Liberation was attained,
and individuals from different nations can now enjoy the freedom to explore markets overseas and
improve their economies. There is even further aspiration by the people to venture out into more
markets, seeking better commercial products and services, which they can then sell in their own
countries and acquire more profits.

12. Cultivation of Unity amongst Colonies

Additionally, colonialism cultivated unison amongst the colonies. Since all the natives were now fighting
for one agenda-to attain independence, the entire populace of the colonies treasured one other, hence
unity. Indeed, the struggle and fight for freedom brought the large community together in one accord.
CONS OF COLONIALISM

As much as the colonies benefited from the positive features of colonialism, many instances still depict
the downsides of this era. Many people suffered exploits, mistreatments, forced labor, and some, even
death, all in the hands of the cruelty of colonial masters. The cons of colonialism include:

1. Colonialism Caused Constant Wars and Conflict

Before the colonizers invaded the countries of their subjects, the now-called colonies enjoyed a great
sense of harmony. However, once their nations were overrun in the name of colonization, it marked the
beginning of constant wars and conflict. All these features of colonialism distorted the peace that
existed amongst the nations for an extended period.

2. Lose of Culture and Identity

Also, through the arrival of the colonialists to Africa, the natives somehow lost their culture and identity.
In this case, the colonial masters aimed at bringing their cultures, behavior, and other ways of livelihood
to the African community. The Africans could abandon their traditions and adapt to the cultures and
customs of the colonialists. The Africans were used to the ways of respect, conformity, and commitment
to their village elders and other rulers. However, the colonial entry made the people of Africa exhibit a
lack of significance for their culture by changing their behaviors and attitudes. It was a sign of the lack of
regard for their old and valuable practices. They acted out of fear for the colonialists rather than logic;
and submitted excessively to the techniques and mannerisms of the colonial masters.

3. Extensive Loss of Land Amongst the Colonies

Another downside is that they lost big acres of land, which were grabbed powerfully from them by the
colonialists, who used force, hence making the Africans own almost nothing both at individual and
community levels. Families suffered much in their land and under the acts of mistreatment from the
colonial masters. Life was tough for most Africans. Some couldn’t even feed their households. They had
to release their family lands by giving them to the Europeans, who hardly cared for the welfare of the
colonies.

4. Heavy Taxation Imposition

Again, after snatching the natives’ lands and leaving them homeless and landless, the colonial masters
still imposed heavy taxation over the people in their territory. This forced the naïve natives to toil for the
same colonizers who settled in the African land to enable them to pay taxes to the whites, who still
hindered them from ownership of their properties.

5. The entry of New Illnesses

The harsh labor, where Africans toiled for many hours in the colonial masters’ lands, exposed them to
new illnesses like yellow fever and malarial fever, compromising their health and immunity. Sadly, the
colonialists would sometimes abandon the sick Africans who labored for them, die since the African
natives were not much enlightened medically, establish what these diseases were, and find out the
treatment techniques.

6. Economic Dependency Syndrome

There was an increase in the economic dependency syndrome due to the colonial masters’ grabbing of
the African resources. Before the colonial masters came in, the Africans controlled their overall
economy without any issues. However, when the colonizers came, they began exploiting the African
land resources, forcing the inhabitants to again depend on them for food and other basic needs. The
colonizers forcefully took away different raw materials from the colonies’ nations and shifted them to
their countries. It is during such moments that the African economy was left vulnerable.

7. Tainted Morality

Also, Africa’s morality that was initially very good, became tainted during the colonization era. The
colonial masters took advantage of the uncivilized society and exploited the people. The colonial rulers
decided that they will come and take advantage of the colonies’ ignorance and use them by relying on
them in everything they needed to be done. They also misused African wealth accumulation. The
colonies were forced to adopt some new ways of life that they were not used to, and we’re not willing
to, yet they had no option.

The colonizers had some top-ranking groups of rulers who were chosen to rule the colonies. Therefore,
the colonial bosses would use these rulers as their secret agents to spy on the Africans, identify whether
they were following all regulations regarding the things they were asked to do, and other ways of living
that they were forced to adapt. Once the Africans got used to living the way the colonizers wanted, it
almost became their norm, whereby they changed from their old good morals to the colonizers’ ways of
life. Sadly, the colonial masters could misuse the colonies and still laugh at their levels of ignorance.
Consequently, the Africans were referred to as native savages, meaning uncivilized people. This was also
when living conditions within Africa changed a lot, with the imposed culture bringing about changed
behaviors, actions, and many other factors, including the dress codes. All these were central features of
colonialism.

8. Introduction of the Slave Trade

Slave trade is another negative aspect of colonization. Africans suffered at the mercy of the colonial
rulers. They were taken to the colonial masters’ nations to go and labor for them, with no good return.
Most Africans did not wish to go but were mistreated and forcefully taken to foreign countries. Worse
still, slave markets were introduced, which sold slaves as chattels.

Furthermore, these colonizers also used the African slaves to represent them in wars, such that, even
though they died in the course of the warfare, the colonial masters would not care. The colonies
selected to represent in battles would fight hard, yet the colonial bosses would sometimes mishandle
them and even deny them food. After all torture, the cruel masters still demanded from these subjects
their total commitment to duty and respect and loyalty to the masters. This con has had negative effects
reaching across the world, even in the manifest destiny era of America.

9. Initiation of the Divide and Rule Policy

Colonialism also brought about a wall of difference between the masters and the subjects. Despite
exploiting their colonial subjects, the masters still developed hatred towards these people and even
dominated them further. Ultimately, the various colonies came out to rebel against the alien colonizers.
The colonies endured a lot of struggles and pain, hence tried to fight against the spiteful rulers. In
return, the action by the colonies prompted the masters to initiate the divide and rule policy in the
settlement.

CONCLUSION

Despite the benefits attained during and after colonization, it is evident that the features of colonialism
enhanced lots of negative effects. Africa is one continent that was largely affected.
However, after a long struggle and fight for independence, colonialism in the African and Asian
continents ended. The colonies were now able to enjoy their fundamental freedom, away from the firm
grip of the ruthless colonial masters.

Some of the pros and cons still exist up-to-date, especially in Africa, which places significant impacts on
people’s daily lives. For instance, Nigeria always pays their loyalty to the colonial masters, despite all the
past negative events of colonialism. In the field of medicine, people continue to benefit from what the
colonial era ushered.

The people of Africa keep trying every means to invent better medication, from what the colonizers
introduced.

The majority of the common illnesses that people in Africa experience, such as malaria, measles, and
HIV/AIDS, can now be easily cured or controlled due to the intelligent brains at work.

The lack of civilization is now a thing of the past in many communities. Importantly, both the colonizers
and the colonies can now join together to formulate new systems and procedures, for instance, in the
medical field.

In most African countries, colonialism ended when they attained independence, which brought in
further development through new technologies, and industrialization.

The pros and cons of colonialism are an excellent historical reflection since it informs the upcoming
generations on the significant events that took place in the earlier periods and the present occurrences,
which resulted from the features of colonialism.

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