The Impact of Colonialism in Africa - Essay Example

Colonization of Africa by European powers in the nineteenth century was a devastating development for Africans. During the colonization of Africa, European powers introduced cash crops in the replacement of food crops ("Colonization..." 2007). African trading patterns were lost. The land was taken, and forced labor on it was instituted. Africa was used as a source of raw materials for Europe and prevented from becoming industrialized.
How colonization affected a particular country in Africa depended on what country was doing the controlling. One of the worst cases was in the Congo, where Belgium businessmen exploited the area and answered only to the King of Belgium. Africans in the Congo was given only a margin education, ordered by missionaries, and served as clerks.
Africa was ruled either directly or indirectly by the colonial powers. Officials were appointed from the ruling European country, which also passed laws for its African territory. Africans were taxed by the colonial powers and could not pass any measures without approval from the ruling European power.
Although colonization of Africa as a whole was devastating for Africa, there were some positive effects. The spread of Christianity could be considered a good outcome, depending on one's religious outlook. During colonial times, African people came into direct contact with European culture and may have been able to benefit from some of the new ideas. To some extent, some infrastructure such as railroads were built. In addition, it has been stated that “time spent under [British] colonial rule is positively associated with democratic survival” (Bernard et. al. 225). But the common consensus is that Africa is still recovering from the period of colonization.
The website "Time Travel to the Korean War" does a good job of briefly describing the different periods of the Korean War, organized in separate sections. For instance, the first section presents the final events of World War II that led to the division of Korea along the 38th parallel by the United States and advancing Soviet Union troops from the North. Other sections of this website describe events in Korea between WWII and the Korean War; the events following the North's attack on the South; counterattack by U.N. troops; the involvement of Chinese and other foreign troops; the aftermath of the war; and recent events in Korea. This website is a good short introduction to the Korean War.
The BBC website, "In-Depth: The Korean War," offers a brief summary of the war. The site also contains short audio clips of President Truman's announcement of the communist advancement into South Korea, battle accounts by commanders, and a UK army chaplain's description of a North Korean prison camp. Although this account of the war is very brief, there are links to several related BBC articles, such as one that considers the difference in attitudes towards North Korea being held by a new young South Korean generation and an elderly generation of veterans.