Form Five History TOPIC 5 : COLONIAL ECONOMY AND SOCIAL SERVICES AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR

TOPIC 5: COLONIAL ECONOMY AND SOCIAL SERVICES AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR

The Second World War, which began with the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939 and ended with the defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945, was the largest and deadliest conflict in history. The war involved over 30 countries and significantly impacted the global economy, including the economies of colonial Africa.

Impacts of the Second World War in Europe

1. Human Losses: Over 50 million troops and civilians died, leading to a labor shortage in European factories and industries. This shortage led to the emancipation of women, who filled labor roles in these sectors.
2. Destruction of Property: The war caused extensive damage to factories, social services, and infrastructure, including roads and railroads, with estimated losses of $13,849,000,000,000.
3. Financial Sector Impact: High wartime expenditure and low productivity led to financial difficulties in the metropole economies.
4. Decline in Prices and Investment: Post-war economic decline resulted in low investment and reduced purchasing power among the populace, inhibiting manufacturing.

These consequences forced European economies to alter their policies in African colonies to increase the production of cash crops and services, helping bridge the production gap after the war.

Colonial Economy

The colonial economy refers to the production and consumption patterns imposed on African colonies during the colonial era. Africans were compelled to adopt these patterns to benefit the colonial powers.

Specific Objectives of the Colonial Economy

1. Improve Agricultural Tactics and Policies: Enhance agricultural output during and after World War II.
2. Implement Development Initiatives: Introduce various development projects in the colonies.
3. Introduce Master Farmers: Establish master or progressive farmers to lead agricultural improvements.
4. Create Marketing Boards and Cooperatives: Develop institutions to manage agricultural produce and support farmers.

Objectives of the Colonial Economy

1. Need for Markets: European businesses sought markets for their industrial goods, leading to the colonization of Africa to secure these markets.
2. Requirement for Raw Materials: Africa provided cheap raw materials, such as minerals and cotton, for European industries.
3. Need for Investment Areas: With saturated European markets, colonial powers sought investment opportunities in Africa.
4. Need for Cheap Labor: Post-slave trade, the Industrial Revolution created a demand for cheap labor, which Africa provided.

Characteristics of the Colonial Economy

1. Export-Import Oriented: The colonial economies relied on importing manufactured goods from Europe and exporting agricultural and mineral raw materials.
2. Monoculture Economies: Each colony specialized in a primary commodity, such as sugar in Mauritius and cocoa in Ghana.
3. Small and Weak Manufacturing Sector: Colonial policies discouraged the development of heavy manufacturing in Africa, maintaining Africa as a market for European goods.
4. Coercive Production: Africans were forced to produce for export, leading to food shortages and famine.
5. Exploitation:
   • Land Alienation: Fertile and mineral-rich lands were seized from Africans for cash crop and mining activities.
   • Taxation: Taxes like the poll and hut taxes were used to extract labor and cash crops from Africans.

Methods Used to Establish the Colonial Economy

Creation

European powers introduced new elements to the traditional African economy, such as:

1. Land Alienation: Grabbing land for cash crop production and mining, common in settler colonies like Kenya and Zimbabwe.
2. Taxation: Implementing taxes to force Africans to sell their labor and produce cash crops.
3. Forced Cash Crop Production: Compelling Africans to grow cash crops needed in Europe, often at the expense of food crops.
4. Introduction of the Monetary System: Introducing money as a medium of exchange, forcing Africans to sell their labor to obtain money.

Conclusion

The Second World War had profound economic impacts on Europe, leading to significant changes in colonial policies and the economy in Africa. The colonial economy was characterized by exploitation, coercion, and the forced production of cash crops to meet European needs. The methods used by colonial powers to establish this economy included land alienation, taxation, and the introduction of new economic elements, ultimately benefiting the colonial powers at the expense of the African people.