Until recently, world history has been a history of empires. From the Mongols to the Ottomans, empires have always sought to push their physical boundaries, yet none have achieved the success of the British. With colonies in the Americas, Africa, and Australia, 19th century Britons were able to claim that the sun never set on their empire. This far-reaching and wide-encompassing empire allowed the British to establish a global movement of people, goods, ideas, and capital. This global movement not only asserted Britain’s financial dominance, but it also enabled the British to project their western ideology on to the rest of the world. However, the British visions of empire did not always match up with reality. Although there was a British presence across a large part of the globe, the diversity of people and their treatment created sharp distinctions among …show more content…
Abina was a courageous and bold young woman from West Africa who was enslaved against her will, even though the practice had been outlawed many years before. After escaping to British-controlled territory, she took her case to local court and placed her hope in the colonial British judicial system. Instead of being allowed to present her case to a jury of her peers, she was forced to look for sympathy from “important men,” or the white men with political power. The story exposes the fact that, for imperialists, labor was the scarcest resource. Because of this, the British employed forced labor, claiming that the Africans were working to pay off their taxes. While the brutal and sometimes violent extraction of labor is an ugly part of imperial efforts in Africa, the greatest tragedy is the political divisions that were imposed by Western powers, and the fact that they do not leave when British rule
Ever since there has been humanity, slavery has been a mechanism used by people in order to subjugate and dehumanize other individuals. Abina and the Important Men is a book that illustrates how slavery was still able to manifest, even after it had been abolished within British society. By enslaving young women under the false pretense that the individuals were wards, powerful African leaders and British rulers were able to maintain a social hierarchy where African women occupied the lowest rung. The trafficking of Africans through the Transatlantic Slave Trade, brought wealth to European and other western nations as well as African leaders who were willing to cooperate. Europeans, such as the Portuguese, British, and French, first began arriving to Africa in the 16th century since they were drawn by the valuable resources that could be found in coastal, African societies. Early on, African leaders were able to maintain power over the Europeans and prevented the foreigners
The common factor amongst all three instances of British Imperialism was Britain’s greed for economic opportunity. Greed is often caused by unjustifiable pride, which Britain undeniably had. England was so willing to achieve various advancements to its own economy that it created long lasting and devastating destruction in three other regions of the world. These countries still face lingering effects from British greed.
Abina’s court case basically was discredited and silenced because she didn’t work in the fields. The consistency of Abina’s attempt to explain what it means to be a slave and the British’s definition of what it means to be a slave complicated her case. The fine line between the definitions of slaves implemented to the British territory was very fuzzy to begin with. According to Abina, “They’re free, but they’re not free” (60). It was easier for the British to abolish slavery in order to avoid arguments and better the economy. They jumped from abolition to focusing mainly on oil exports. The British priority was oil rather than enforcing the new law banning slavery (10). They felt like it was impossible to try and enforce the law anyway because the lack of money and people disobeying (10). Because abolition was put in effect with no explanation and not enforced, people were granted the ability to define these rights
In the novel, Abina And The Important Men written by Trevor Getz and Liz Clarke, Abina who is a woman from West Africa who was wrongfully enslaved and decided to bring it to the attention of the courts in 1876. While reading this book, the reader begins to see how the officials in Britain where turning a blind eye to the fact that slavery was indeed present all for the sake of maintaining there economic status as well as maintaining good relations with the “important men” of West Africa. Palm oil is one of the most valuable as well as important harvests and the men described in the book as the head of production are equally as valuable. The power and authority that these men have on the growth of the economy is what allows the reader to see that these men are the “important men”. Because palm oil is an important factor in the economic status of West Africa, the men who are in charge of producing it are equally as important. Abina believed that her enslavement was without merit and was willing to do whatever it took to get somebody to listen to her and to eventually take the man who did keep her as a slave, to court. Because, the man was a palm oil grower, this case would not be, in the least bit, a silent matter. Thanks to the new laws being enforced against slavery however, Abina’s story would now be put placed in the mercy of Judge William Melton who thought she deserved a fighting chance.
Examining primary sources can be a useful tool to provide partial insights of past events. Olaudah Equiano’s Interesting Narrative is an example of a primary source that provides insights on 18th century New World slavery. His autobiography takes the reader on a journey starting from his village in Africa through the slave trade to the West. He reveals many insights on slavery, but there are also limitations that do not provide the full picture, which is to be expected. Nevertheless, Equiano’s autobiography provides important insights on 18th century New World slavery through his experiences and the experiences of others.
During the second half of the nineteenth century, many Europeans came to believe that imperial expansion and colonial domination were crucial for the survival of their states and societies as well as the health of their personal fortunes.
At a glance Imperialism is seen as a horrendous practice that many European nations practiced at the turn of the century. With Britain at the top and many other nations coming up behind them Imperialism seemed to be the way to go. But why would such a practice that involved exploiting the natives and harming both the land and people be so appealing to the public? The profits offered by Politicians and Officials hid the truth behind Imperialism, swaying the opinion in favor of money, goods, and a sense of moral duty. Imperialism was a great example of ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’, its promise of greatness for everyone involved outweighed the hardships many endured from it. The pros and cons of Imperialism
The epoch of imperialism cannot be defined simply as proliferation of inflated egos tied to the hardened opinions of nationalists, but also a multi-faceted global rivalry with roots of philosophies tainted with racism and Social Darwinism. The technique of each imperialist was specific to the motivations and desires of each combative, predominantly Western power and subsequently impacted the success of each imperialist and its colonies. Driven by industrialization, Europeans were aware of the urgent need for raw materials and new markets to maintain a constant rate of expansion and wealth. Imperialism became a competition; in general, the European countries led with fervor while the non-Western regions deemed likely to be stepped on. Britain was endowed with geographic and political advantages that allowed the country to become the first to unwittingly stumble onto industrialization. Britain was an island, therefore had developed a unique naval strength which subsequently gave Britain leverage when globalization blossomed from expanding maritime trade. Meanwhile, the rest of Europe, including Belgium, trailed behind. Presently, colonized regions still bear the traits and scars from the subjugators of their past.
There is a point of time in certain a country’s history where they become dominant and more powerful than ever before. During this elongated process a country becomes an empire. The British and the Ottomans were states that succeeded in this process, but becoming an empire such as theirs required vast amounts of political and social maneuvering to expand their boundaries, called imperialism. Imperialism is, “a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force”. By becoming a modern nation enjoying economic prosperity and political stability, the British and the Ottomans created an imperialistic impact over the globe with distinctive motivations and approaches especially during the transition period of gaining ample amount power and influence globally.
The British Empire is the largest empire ever seen on the face of this planet. The empire was divided into two. The first part of the empire revolved around the British colonies in America that were popularly known as the thirteen colonies. These gained independence from Britain in 1783. The second part of the empire, which developed from the first empire, came later. It started during the Napoleonic wars and survived throughout the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. In fact, the British withdrew from its last colony, Hong Kong, in 1997; indeed the empire lasted for a long time. It developed from India and spun to regions of Africa and Australia. The influence and the power of the empire spun around the world shaping it in different ways. This influence is still evident in many places that fell under its control (Ferguson, 2004). To many people the world is the way it is due to the effects of the British Empire. Certainly, this empire just like other numerous empires before it and after it had triumphs and humiliations; however, the fact that this empire had numerous good effects cannot be overemphasized. The empire impacted positively on Britain and the colonies.
At its height the British Empire spanned the globe with colonies in all the populated continents. Although similarities and differences in the way that they were settled, exploited, and in turn let go. Both the rise and fall of the British Empire are tied directly to the Metropol’s ironclad grasp over its vast conglomeration of colonies. This does not exclusively imply that each of the colonies were operated the same way, in fact
...w Imperialism' 1880-1902." The Rise and Fall of the British Empire. London: Abacus, 1994. 209-11. Print.
In order to understand the dynamics of each nation’s different fate through western imperialism, it is important to discuss what western imperialism is and it how came about. Over the course of history, we’ve seen many empires rise and fall through certain time periods. Imperialism is the practice of which powerful nations or peoples seek to extend and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples . Western powers such as the British already had great advantages in this procedure by the 2800’s. One of the reasons why they had an advantage of imperialism is because they led the world in technology. Technology is a valuable asset for a nation to grow and a great resource in taking over other nations. This procedure of western imperialism was designed more towards the underdeveloped world which led to the domination and exploitation of Asia.
Imperialism has not only influenced colonial territories to better themselves or to further the mother country’s realm of power, it also had a significant impact on the people’s culture, education, environment, and political systems. Japan and Britain were two imperial systems that countered each other in many facets but also had strikingly similar qualities that had helped them become strong imperial powers that needed one another to continue their position amongst others.
In West African Narratives of Slavery, Sandra Greene charts a different route than the typical text that highlights the infamous slave trade along the coasts of West Africa. The text focuses on the lives of Africans who were slaves of their fellow Africans and provides a perspective that contrasts the stories those who faced the burdens of continental travel. To enlighten readers on the impact of the slave trade and slavery on the West African locals, Greene contextualizes primary source evidence. The use of primary source evidence allows readers to closely follow Africans enslavement on the continent and their attempts at liberation. The text also uses this primary source evidence to show the slow cultural shifts that emerge in the