Settler Colonialism - Essay Example

The quest for power led to immigration of settler colonialist into foreign lands. History records immigration and eventual settling of various groups of people in foreign lands. The immigration of these groups into foreign lands involved military invasion and conquest of various foreign territories. Many colonial powers used military support to invade foreign lands and conquer it. Conquered lands assimilated the foreign cultures leading to multicultural practices in the society. European civilization led to the immigration of most Europeans to other continents such as America, Africa, and Asia among others. The invasion by the European colonialist gave birth to cultural changes. Many native settlers adopted the colonial culture, ushering new era of modernity in the society. Colonial master used forceful methods to rule the natives, thus changing the administration systems in the society. Largely history records the contribution of settler colonialism in immigration of people. The intention of this paper is to evaluate the contribution of settler colonialism in history of immigration policy in United States and Australia. The introduction of immigration policies by colonial masters brought the following changes in the society population, socially and economically. Colonialist invaded many countries using the super military powers and influenced the lives of the native settlers. Settler colonialism entails internal and external colonialism. The two aspect of settler colonialism affected immigration policies in countries such as United States of America. European settler colonialist who came into the United States changed the social system of the society. Immigration is a process where an individual leaves his native land to settle in a foreign land. The intention of immigration includes search for better climatic conditions, land for agriculture or business. Settler colonialism refers to a situation where a foreign nations invade, conquer and a rule a foreign territory. Settler colonialism is an act that runs throughout human history; the difference lies in the manner and period in which settler colonialism took place. Colonialism involves leaving a native country to settle as a conqueror in a foreign land. Settler colonialism fostered colonization of foreign land by establishing their rule and settling in that land. This process of settling and establishing colonial rule contributes to immigration policies, which favored the colonialist as the legitimate landowners. Largely, colonialist are immigrants who have conquered a foreign land and established their policies. Several historical facts illustrate settler colonialism and its effects to immigration. Upon settlement of settler colonialists, the native lost their legitimacy in the society. In 1848, United States of America waged a war with Mexico leading to the conquest of some part of Mexico. History records that this action of United States led to change in boundary of the two nations. The entry of the Mexican people to United States territory was through settler colonialism. Today many Mexican immigrants still believe that they existence in the United States of America was not by choice, but through conquest. Largely, the conquered groups had no choice, but to be adherent to the policies and social systems introduced by the settler colonialist. History reveals that the United States used its military and political power to influence the signing of the Guadalupe Hidalgo treaty (Gonzalez 59). Arguments against signing of the treaty indicated that the intention of United States was to usurp the natural resources found in Mexico. Notably, the argument is true. Industrial revolution in the United States led to the arrival of the first Asians in Hawaii. The Asians came under the auspice of Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society and occupied land through the assistance of the settler colonial process in a period when United States was under siege of British colonialist. The Asian settlers came into Hawaii as workers whom the colonial masters wanted to work in their farms. After their settlement in Hawaii, they intermingled with the Hawaiians and their colonial master leading to multicultural practices. Identification of Asian settlers in United States indicates how settler colonialism contributed to immigration policies of people during the pre modern period. History records that the Asian settlers conquered the Hawaiian territory through initiation of political, social, and economic system without an intention of returning to Asia. Hawaiians lost the political, social, and physical property including land leading to their displacement. Other argument against the contribution of settler colonialism to immigration policies allude that once the colonialist gain power and control of the resources, it is difficult for them to relocate to other location. Instead, the natives are forced to become the subjects with limited opportunities. Asians who settled in Hawaii were not passive workers that Americanization movement sought to change, but a people who intended to rule and fit into the society (Gonzalez 87). It is important to note the social changes recorded in historical invasion allover the world resulted to immigration of individuals from one place to the other. The immigrants came with their cultural practices that they were not ready to shed and adopt the native culture. Some historical argument claims that settler colonialists used their political and military power to conquer the world. The economics needs of the colonial master gave rise to immigration policies and eventual settlement of Asians, whites and other communities favored by the colonialists. Africans brought to America by colonial masters did not intend to leave their native countries to come into United States of America. History records that their immigration into United States of America was due to quest for labor. White settlers in United States wanted labors who could work in their farms. The immigration of African slaves into America brought a change in population of various states in America. Africans served their slave masters and settled in their respective leaving quotas. This settlement gave birth to the African practices coupled with the culture of the whites. The result of this immigration is the mixed cultural practices witnessed in the United States today. Notably, the move introduced the African to modern education, social and economics policies. Largely, the settler colonialism is a major factor that influenced modernization in the world. The education system in many parts of the world resulted from the immigration of settler colonialists. As evident in the Mexican homeland social system where the Euro immigrants have introduced their policies, that has influenced the social structure of the Mexicans. Segregation that exists in this community is a clear evidence of the contribution of settler colonialism. Political inequality, wage inequality, racial disparity, and social economical disparities are some of the consequences that the United States witnesses due settler colonialism, and eventual settlement of the European masters in Mexico and other parts of the world. Settler colonialist dominated every sector in the society by replacing the native social system with the settler colonialist system. Historian attributes segregation in the United States as a condition that settler colonialism brought to the society. Immigration policies introduced by the colonial master supported the interest of settler colonialist over the natives. Mexican suffered educational policies that promoted disparity from 1848-1900s. Largely the settler colonialism helps to understand immigration that took place in the pre modern period and the influence that it caused to the society. Social reform in United States is a clear show of the role of settler colonialism to immigration. Many immigrants in America strived to acquire similar rights to the white colonists. For instance, the Mexicans have struggled for recognition in America for a very long time. The Asians and the Blacks in America have struggled in the like manner to change the social policies introduced by the white or settler colonialists (Zolberg 101). These reforms intended to provide an equal opportunity for the so-called second-class citizens. Many civil rights movements fought draconic policies, which did not respect human dignity. The settlement system practiced by the Australian borrows a lot from the settler colonialism that took place in the country. Settler colonialism influenced the settlement of the Aboriginals in Australia. History accounts for their distribution and displacement of Aboriginals following the invasion of colonial master who conquered the country. Land was a crucial factor that contributed to immigration of people in the pre modern world. Many colonial masters sought to establish their territory in foreign soils where they could get land to cultivate. Scholars researching on immigration and settlement of communities in Australia noted that the Asians who settle in Australia are immigrants who sought to colonize the land. Islanders of Australia were small in number with archaic cultural practices. The invasion and settlement of the Asians in the region ushered multicultural practices in the region. Scholars furthers alludes that social integration in the Australia is due to settler colonialism. Many immigrants who came to settle in Australia realized that the natives were small in number and were not powerful. Though the Asians in Australia do not wage political power, they settlement in Australia is clear indication of settler colonialism. Their economic contribution in the country clearly indicates that they came in order to be part of the society. Social structures in the society usually change following the settlement of settler colonialist who change immigration policies. The conquest of Australian Aboriginals by the Asian ushered the Asian culture in the society. It is evident that many cities in Australia portray the Asian culture. For instance, Melbourne city possess many Asian artifacts an indication of immigration of the Asian into the city. A large number Australian population trace their origin from Asia. This is because of the early settler immigration policies that took place during the pre modern period. Historians argue that many people from Asia left their original land to search for jobs leading to their settlement in foreign lands. In conclusion, settler colonialism is a situation where foreign settlers invaded and settled in a foreign land with an intention of promoting their policies in that land. Settler colonialism contributed to immigration of various communities in the pre modern period. The colonialist settled and introduced the policies in the foreign lands. Many Asian settlers displaced the natives in various locations where the settler colonialist masters took them. In Hawaii and Australia, the Asians displaced the natives giving birth to new era. Historian attributes social segregation to colonialism in the pre modern world. Largely, immigration of the settler colonialist brought many changes in the society such as political, social, and economical. Work cited Zolberg, R. Aristide. A Nation by Design: Immigration Policy in the Fashioning of America. Harvard: Harvard University Press2008. 100-112. Print. Gonzalez, Juan. A History of Latinos in America Harvest of the Empire. London: Penguin Books. 2001. 58-116. Print. Read More