What are the consequences of colonial expansion?

Section IV Overseas Colonial Expansion of Western European Powers and Its Consequences

After the geographical discovery, Spain and Portugal were the first countries to colonize and expand overseas. But by the end of 16 and the beginning of 17, the Netherlands, France and Britain had also embarked on the stage of colonial expansion. They not only replaced Spain and Portugal, but also competed for maritime hegemony with each other, and finally Britain won. The process of overseas colonial expansion of European powers is also the process of colonialists plundering and squeezing colonial people crazily. They enriched capitalism in western Europe by plundering and squeezing, thus accelerating the arrival of the industrial revolution. At the same time, the eastern countries, led by China, are closed to the outside world, content with the status quo and do not seek progress. Therefore, this period determines the situation that the west is advanced and the east is backward. During this period, the strengthening of the ties between various regions of the world laid the foundation for the formation of a complete world at the end of 19.

Overseas colonial expansion of Holland, France and Britain

The loss of maritime hegemony between Portugal and Spain16th century, Spain and Portugal were the two most powerful commercial colonial empires in the world. The two men stood side by side and launched a battle for hegemony. As a result, Spain won and 1580 merged with Portugal. Although Portugal regained its independence in 1640, after the merger, its status plummeted, maritime trade declined, and many overseas colonies were taken away by the Netherlands later. However, after losing its former advantages, Portugal still retains many colonies: rich Brazil in South America, Angola and Mozambique in Africa, Goa and Diou in India, and Macau in China.

The reason for the failure and decline of Portuguese hegemony is that Portugal lacks a solid industrial base. Second, there is no military strength to defend overseas bases. Finally, Portugal's eastern business empire is composed of fortresses, strongholds and ports scattered in many places, which are the easiest to be breached one by one. The Dutch took advantage of Portugal's weakness.

Spain's good times did not last long, and it gradually declined from the end of 16. The Dutch revolution made Spain lose its rich territory, which was a heavy blow to its hegemony. 1588, the British navy defeated Spain's "Armada", effectively weakening Spain's maritime strength. 1655, British troops occupied Jamaica, an important island in the West Indies. In the war against Britain in 1658, Spain lost Dunkirk, an important commercial port on the west coast of Europe. As a result of the Spanish war of succession to the throne (1701-1713), Spain further lost its European territory according to the Treaty of Utrecht, ceded South Holland and its territory in Italy to Austria, and gave Britain the exclusive right to engage in slave trade in Spanish American colonies.

In this way, Spain declined step by step. But it still has huge colonies overseas: in America, there are Mexico, New Granada, Peru, La Plata, Chile, Caracas, Guatemala and Florida, in the West Indies, there are Cuba, and in the East, there are Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo; In Asia, there are the Philippines and some Luzon islands.

There are many reasons for Spain's decline: first, in the16th century, Spain was often involved in dynastic wars and religious wars on the European continent; on the other hand, it carried out many naval battles and dispersed its strength. This is in stark contrast to the policy pursued by Britain later: Britain does not intervene in the affairs of the European continent, but only when the balance of power in the mainland is threatened. This policy made it possible for Britain to concentrate on overseas colonial expansion. Second, Spain's rule and restrictions on the colonies were too strict, which hindered the industrial and agricultural development and population growth (immigration) of the colonies, so that Spain could not get strong help from the colonies in the hegemonic war. Third, Spain's industrial backwardness (the reason has been discussed in the first section of the first chapter) leads to weak national strength, thus making Spain lack economic backing in the hegemonic war.

As early as the first period of17th century, Spain lost its hegemony, but the Netherlands became a first-class trade and colonial power. Dutch businessmen almost monopolized world trade; They have a huge merchant fleet, with 6,400 vessels engaged in fishing and transporting fish alone. All trade in the Baltic Sea, India and America is in the hands of the Dutch. The British East India Company is simply unable to compete with Dutch businessmen; Dutch merchants even overwhelmed British merchants in the colonies in the British West Indies, and there were twice as many Dutch merchant ships trading with Barbados as British merchant ships. Dutch businessmen not only fish in British territorial waters, but also dump in the British market. They even invaded the trading places between Britain and its colonies.

The Netherlands also captured vast overseas colonies: in addition to the Cape of Good Hope colony in South Africa, Ceylon, Malabar coast in India, Coromand coast and Malacca, it also occupied New Holland in North America, Guyana in South America, coastal colonies in Africa, Java, Sumatra and parts of Borneo in the east, Maluku Islands and Celebes Island. 1622- 1642, China occupied Taiwan Province province, but in 16 1- 1662, our national hero Zheng Chenggong drove away the Dutch colonists and recovered Taiwan Province province.

There are several reasons for the rise of the Netherlands: First, the geographical conditions are superior. There are several big rivers flowing into the sea from Holland, which has excellent ports facing Britain and the Atlantic Ocean, with Germany as its hinterland. Therefore, since ancient times, two major trade routes in Europe (from Burgen to Gibraltar and from the Gulf of Finland to Britain) have passed through the Netherlands. Commodities transported along these two trade routes include: salt and herring from Biscay, wine from the Mediterranean, woolen cloth from Britain and Flanders, copper and iron from Sweden, grain, flax, hemp, wood and wood products from the Baltic Sea. The Dutch made a fortune by selling these goods. After Spain and Portugal established overseas colonial empires, Dutch merchant ships loaded colonial products in Lisbon and Seville and then trafficked them to all parts of Europe. On the way back, Dutch merchant ships also trafficked Baltic grain and marine equipment to Spain and Portugal. Finally, Dutch merchant ships monopolized the shipping industry all over the world. This is how the Netherlands developed step by step. Second, 1566 After the Dutch revolution broke out, the Spanish army brutally plundered Antwerp, South Holland. Therefore, craftsmen, businessmen and bankers in Antwerp fled to Amsterdam, and the technology and capital they brought were beneficial to Dutch industry and Dutch offshore expansion, because offshore expansion required a lot of money. Third, the Dutch can dominate the world shipping industry, but also benefit from the gondolas used by Dutch businessmen, which are cheap and have a large load. Fourth, the exclusive trading company is a powerful organizational form for the Netherlands to expand overseas. Different from the feudal autocracy in Spain and Portugal, the outward development of the Netherlands was not arranged by the government, but carried out by monopoly trading companies. The East India Company established in 1602 and the West India Company established in 16 17 are such commercial organizations. It was not noble knights who participated in colonial expansion, but exclusive trading companies with businessmen and adventurous Protestants (Calvinists). The company is privately funded and pays dividends according to the number of shares. The shareholders' meeting is the highest authority. It elects the board of directors, who elects the meeting of managers, who will preside over the daily affairs. According to the charter issued by the government, the company can enjoy many privileges, even establish its own Lu Haijun, have the right to declare war and make peace, and have the right to establish and manage colonies. It is by using the powerful tool of exclusive trading company that the Netherlands established its own colonial shipping hegemony.

British and French maritime hegemony and British victory However, just as the Dutch dominated the world colonial trade in the17th century, Britain and France rose to challenge the Netherlands.

/kloc-In the 0/7th century, France established two colonies in America, Canada and Louisiana, and began to conquer India, and established local trading posts in Zhili and Chandanaga along the coast of India. France also seized Martinique and Guadeloupe in West India, invaded Madagascar in Africa, and occupied the seaports of Goree and Senegal.

Britain also began colonial activities in the early17th century, and began to establish colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America. Up to 1733, 13 colonies have been established. At the same time, Britain invaded India. By 1688, Britain had occupied three important strongholds in India: Calcutta, Fort St. George (in Madras) and Mumbai on the west coast. In West India, Britain occupied Jamaica, Barbados and Bahamas, as well as Gambia and Gold Coast in Africa.

At the same time, British and French businessmen also actively participated in maritime trade activities.

The first conflict with the Netherlands was Britain. Britain began to build a large-scale navy from the Republic of China: in the first three years after the founding of the Republic of China, more warships were built than during the whole Stuart dynasty.1In the autumn of 652, it was decided to build 30 warships. After the military preparations were made clear, the British Parliament promulgated several navigation bills starting from 165 1, stipulating that no goods were allowed to enter or leave the British colony unless they were carried by British ships. The so-called British ships refer to ships built or owned in Britain and its colonies, or at least three-quarters of the crew are British or people from British colonies. In order to force the Dutch to accept the provisions of the navigation act, Britain launched many wars against the Netherlands during the period of 1652- 1674, which dealt a fatal blow to the Netherlands. In this way, the Netherlands not only lost its position as a maritime hegemon, but also lost its colony in North America-New Holland, which was renamed new york after being acquired by Britain. Since then, the Netherlands has lost its maritime hegemony.

The fundamental reason why the Netherlands was defeated by Britain was the lack of natural resources and industrial base as the backing for overseas expansion. Moreover, the Netherlands only knows how to develop the shipping industry and concentrate on building merchant ships, while ignoring the construction of the navy accordingly. Therefore, Dutch merchant ships are often attacked and robbed by British and French privateers.

After defeating the Dutch enemy, only France was left to compete with Britain for hegemony at sea. Therefore, after the 1688 "glorious revolution", as soon as the bourgeois regime was established, Britain began a long-term struggle with France for world hegemony. In order to defeat France, Britain established an alliance with countries on the European continent that opposed France, funded them with money and weapons, and told them to fight France, while concentrating their naval forces to fight France overseas. Britain and France fought for hegemony through four important wars: the Battle of St. augsburg Alliance (1689- 1697), the Battle of Spanish Succession (1702- 17 13) and the Battle of Austrian Succession (65438+). Wars are all over the world: in North America, in Africa and India.

Through these wars, especially the Seven-Year War, France suffered heavy losses, and its power in India was almost completely squeezed out by Britain. Although France was allowed to keep several trading posts along its coast, it could not maintain its army in India, so it was deprived of the possibility of conquering India. In North America, France has only two small islands off the coast of Newfoundland and several islands in West India. In South America, France only kept Guyana as a stronghold, while Britain seized the whole St. Lawrence River basin in France, the vast land east of the Mississippi River and grenada island (in the West Indies).

In this way, after the seven-year war, Britain became the largest colonial country in the world.

Why did Britain become the final winner in the long-term maritime hegemony between Britain and France? One reason is that France is more interested in European hegemony than in overseas colonial expansion. Since16th century, French rulers have been trying to seize territory in Italy to compete with the Habsburg dynasty. It was only after the Bourbon dynasty was overthrown that France began to turn its attention to overseas colonial expansion in the19th century. Since the17th century revolution, Britain has put overseas commerce and maritime hegemony in the first place.

Another reason is that Britain has more immigrants to the colonies than France. By 1688, 300,000 British immigrants lived in the coastal areas of British colonies in North America, while only 20,000 French immigrants were scattered in Canada and the Mississippi River valley. The number of French immigrants is determined by the following factors: (1) The French government prohibits French Protestants from moving to colonies, while Britain adopts a laissez-faire attitude towards Protestants moving overseas. (2) France has fertile land, and French farmers are reluctant to emigrate. On the other hand, British farmers were displaced by the enclosure movement and had to make a living overseas. (3) A few squires in England also went to the New World. Rising prices and fixed land rent make their lives in trouble, and at the same time, because most of them believe in Puritanism, they also lose their official qualifications. A large number of immigrants from British colonies greatly enhanced Britain's combat effectiveness in the Anglo-French War and became the main reason why Britain defeated France in the North American battlefield.

Britain's industrial development is the third reason for its victory. During the period of 1550- 1650, British industry grew rapidly, which laid the foundation for the development of heavy industry. The thirty years' war increased the demand for military materials and stimulated the development of British mining, metallurgy and chemical industry. The new technology brought by immigrants from Germany, France and Flanders also promoted this development. By the17th century, the wool textile industry was still the main industrial sector in Britain, and the export of its products brought huge income to the country. The amount of coal mining has also increased significantly, with the output increasing from 2 million tons in15.5 to 3 million tons in17.0. As a fuel, coal is widely used in various industrial sectors. During this period, the production of artillery, gunpowder, saltpeter, glass, paper, alum and salt also made remarkable progress. In terms of output, French industry is very different from Britain. But the population of France is more than three times that of Britain. French industry tends to produce luxury goods, while British industry mainly focuses on textiles and metal products, so it surpasses France in quality. The development of British industry is not only conducive to building a strong navy, but also provides a strong economic foundation for the war against France.

The fourth reason is that Britain has always attached importance to the construction of the navy. By the18th century, the British navy was second to none in Europe. The British navy played the most important role in the Anglo-French War, especially because it cut off the connection between the French colonies and the suzerain country, thus making the French overseas colonies isolated.

Overseas colonial expansion among European powers and maritime hegemony among powers are all for one purpose, that is, to plunder and extract overseas colonies. The scale and cruelty of European colonists' plundering and squeezing of overseas colonies are outrageous.

We in China, in particular, should not forget the oppression of our compatriots in Taiwan Province by the Dutch. During the period when the Dutch ruled Taiwan Province Province, they plundered and blackmailed the residents, which made our compatriots in Taiwan Province Province in dire straits. Dutch colonialists seized large areas of land, turned farmers into serfs, and forced serfs to pay grain every year: every acre of land 10 mu 18 stone for superior farmland, 6 buckets for medium farmland 15 stone, and 2 buckets for inferior farmland 10 stone. Dutch colonists also forced Gaoshan people to hand over 50 thousand deerskin every year.

In the North American colonies, British businessmen sold some worthless toys to Indians at appalling prices, thus defrauding them of millions of wealth. In the West Indies, colonists built plantations on a large scale, used slave labor, and accumulated countless high profits every year by the sweat of slaves. After the British colonists conquered Bangladesh, only Robert Clive (an employee of the British East India Company) stole gold and silver worth 230,000 pounds from the national treasury of Bangladesh. 1757-1765, the British East India Company took away the wealth worth 5.26 million pounds from the Bangladesh treasury, and the British East India Company also made a fortune through monopoly trade in India. The profit of salt alone reached 200-300%, and the salt monopoly in 1793 brought 800,000 pounds to the British colonists. With the colonial slave trade, slave traders earned incalculable huge profits every year.

Colonial plunder accelerated the primitive accumulation process of European countries and prepared for the arrival of the industrial revolution. But it was at the expense of the colonial people. Three hundred years of colonial expansion and plunder have caused millions of deaths. In the process of American colonization, the whole native Indian tribe was wiped out. By 154 1 year, not less than150,000 Indians were annihilated in the Spanish colonies alone. The evil slave trade caused Africa to lose about 654.38 billion blacks in its prime. Under the plunder of European colonial robbers, the social economy of the colonies inevitably stagnated or even regressed.