Colonialism Proposal Inquiry Question: What are the causes and effects of colonialism on the people of countries involved?

Primary Purpose: In writing this essay, I hope to learn more about the topic of colonialism and how it has affected countries around the world through the years. I know colonialism has played a huge role in this countrys history as well as many others. I would like to know what the pros and cons are and if the overall outcome is beneficial or harmful to the countries involved. Prior Knowledge: When I think of colonialism, Great Britains colonization of the United States is the first example that comes to mind. Explorers were sent here to claim the land for their countries. After several wars/battles, Great Britain won the rights to this land and essentially the people that lived here. At first, everyone was at peace with the mother country, but later on the colonists became frustrated with the unfair treatment they received. In the 1770s we fought the Revolutionary War and became the independent United States of America. Although this is the major example I think of, I know that even up until recently several countries have remained colonized by other countries in Europe. The colonialists are many times convicted of treating the colonized countries unfairly, but at the same time when those countries gain their independence they are sometimes better off than they were before the imperial country took over. Beliefs, Assumptions, Stereotypes: Many people feel that colonialism means that the people of colonized countries are not free. They think the colonialistic countries always take advantage of the countries they occupy and exploit the land, the people, and the resources. Countries that have been colonized do tend to inherit cultural aspects of the country that took them over, but this is not always a bad thing. Working Knowledge: Colonialism is defined by Collins English Dictionary as the policy and practice of a power in extending control over weaker peoples or areas. The Wikipedia site I found on colonialism explained that there are several different types of colonialism. These include settler colonialism, exploitation colonialism, plantation colonialism, surrogate colonialism, and internal colonialism. Colonialism became dominant during the Age of Discovery. Europe became a dominant colonizer over time and has occupied countries in all corners of the world. There are quite a few pros and cons for the colonized countries. Some positives include technological progress, medical advances, trade expansion, and the creation of new institutions. Negatives include exploitation, enslavement, the spread of disease, and unequal social relations. There are also positive and negative effects on the countries doing the colonizing. Although their rule and control expand, they must provide law enforcement to keep the colonized country running smoothly and unrest/uprisings from these countries are common. If I Need to Expand:

I can develop my research in the areas of how colonialism affects not only the people, but also the land. I can research famous supporters and opposers of colonialism and the reasons behind their beliefs. If I Need to Narrow: I can restrict my research to only the causes or only the effects of colonialism, as opposed to both. I also have the option of researching a specific time period or even a specific example in history of colonialism.