EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION

EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION

L.O: To consider, compare and contrast the positive and negative effects of colonization on Ghana.

EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION

British colonialism in the Gold Coast had a lot of positive impacts as well as negative effects.

Open Ended

Mention positive effect of colonization.

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Education: 

Europeans introduced formal education in the form of schools. They opened schools in their castles and in nearby towns. Many of these were run by Christian missionaries and provided educational opportunities for some Ghanaians.

Multiple Choice

Which kind of education was introduced by the Europeans?

• Informal

• Semi-formal

• Formal

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Infrastructure Development:

Roads and railways were constructed by colonial governments. They also provided many social facilities like hospitals, harbours, etc. This development improved trade, progress, and provided many services to a growing number of Ghanaians.

Multiple Choice

The provision of many social facilities such as hospitals, roads, railways, harbors and schools is termed as ...

• New technology

• Infrastructure development

• Education

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Plantation Agriculture: 

European colonial governments encouraged the cultivation of certain crops in Africa which could be exported to Europe (for instance cocoa, coffee beans, etc). Farmers were encouraged to make large farms that specialized in this produce and they became wealthy as a result.

Multiple Select

Identify some of the crops that were exported from the Gold Coast

• Coffee beans

• Slaves

• Cocoa

• Gold

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Architecture Development:

New forms of building techniques were introduced to replace the old mud and thatch houses. In Ghana for example, a missionary known as Andreas Riss introduced the rectangular houses and storey buildings with wooden steps and floors. The use of bricks, concrete, cement blocks, iron bars and sheets all improved local architecture greatly.

Multiple Choice

The use of bricks, concrete, cement blocks, iron bars and sheets all improved local agriculture greatly.

• True

• False

POSITIVE EFFECTS

New Technology:

Traditional machines used in many areas were replaced by new European technologies. Stronger tools could be built with new methods and materials. People sent heavy loads of goods by lorries and trains instead of by walking over long journeys.

Multiple Choice

After the introduction of new European technologies, how were heavy loads of goods moved from one place to another?

• by canoes

• by lorries

• by animals

• by slaves

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Political:

Colonialism led to the creation of the present states in Africa. European methods of government and judicial systems (courts) were introduced in their colonies. Former English colonies like Ghana have established parliaments, judiciary and civil services similar to those of Britain.

Multiple Choice

Former English colonies like Ghana have established parliaments similar to those of France.

• True

• False

POSITIVE EFFECTS

Cash Economy

Colonial governments introduced cash in the form of their currencies in African countries. These helped in trading and opening up the countries for commerce. Banks opened and people could store wealth in the form of Bank Savings

Open Ended

Mention any negative effect of colonization.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Dependence:

Under Colonialism, the Africans were made to rely on their colonial masters for everything. They came to be dependent on Europeans for any major decision. Africans developed the taste for foreign goods like suits, milk, beverages and rice at the expense of locally made goods. Over time, this led to their feeling inferior to Europeans.

Multiple Choice

African's taste for foreign goods negatively affected locally made goods.

• True

• False

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Loss of African Identity:

Through formal education, the Christian religion and their opposition to some traditional elements of African culture, many Africans looked at the traditional African way of life as primitive. Under colonialism, British culture and values replaced Ghanaian culture and led to some loss of the Ghanaian identity. This happened in most African countries that were under colonial rule.

Multiple Choice

What was the effect of the British culture replacing the Ghanaian culture?

• New technology

• Loss of Ghanaian identity

• Agriculture

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Racism

The Transatlantic Slave Trade needed an excuse to exist, so those in charge dehumanized Africans by falsely suggesting that Africans were inferior to Europeans. When colonization came into existence later, the Europeans did not respect Africans. Some Africans did not even respect themselves, and discrimination and racism continued.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Division & War

During the slave trade, many African groups went to war against others to capture slaves that could be traded to the Europeans. Later on, during colonialism, when the European powers carved up Africa, many African ethnic groups were divided between two or more countries. eg. The Ewes of West Africa were divided among the Gold Coast, Togo and Benin. This often led to disputes and conflict, even Civil War between ethnic groups that continue to this day (eg. the Rwandan genocide).

Multiple Choice

Many African groups were ______ as a result of the slave trade.

• devoted

• defeated

• divided

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Nothing for Africa:

The colonial governments exploited the people and resources of the African colonies for greater benefit of the Europeans than the Africans. All profits from their work went to the colonial masters’ countries - Africa did not receive any of the profits or benefits for its labour.

 

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Delayed Development

The ultimate effect of the above factors (and others) is that many of the countries on the African continent are delayed in development. Many countries have made a lot of progress over the last 70 years, but to this day much of the African continent is still behind other regions of the world in terms of its overall social and economic development.