Long Term Effects of Colonization

Even in today's complex society, the effects of past colonization can still be felt. The most obvious of these effects on society is a change in the culture of any colonized area or group of people. This is a direct result from the forceful tactics used during historical colonization.

Colonization has occurred throughout history. In Europe, three of the most influential colonizers were the Spanish, the French, and the British. These three countries were driven by three very basic motives: a desire for material gain, a desire to spread religion, and a desire to expand territory.

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886). Burma wasn't administered as a province of India until 1937, when it became a separate, self-governing colony. This is the arrangement of details surrounding George Orwell's story of "Shooting An Elephant". The reader finds oneself in the midst of a colonization struggle between the British and the Burmese. On one hand there is a "Burmese" elephant that needs to be contained, while on the other hand there is a growing number of people joining a crowd that seems to be an obstacle for an imperialist guard's ability to take control of the situation. The very tension of the crowd following the imperialist guard is the "colonization effect" is felt. This crowd of Burmese civilians expect the guard to shoot and kill this elephant, hence the reason they followed him. The guard finds himself being pressured by the crowd to take care of shooting the elephant. It is this pressure that almost forces the guard to make a hasty, not necessarily the right decision about handling these circumstances. If the guard were to make an error in judgment in direct result from this pressure from the crowd, he would find himself caught in a very bad position. A guard, who is part of a coalition colonizing an area, in the middle (literally) of an angry mob of local civilians unwilling to accept the colonization brought on by this guard's imperialistic philosophies.

The effects of eighteenth and nineteenth century colonization can still be felt today. When Britain colonized Burma, the English language quickly spread, and the indigenous languages of the natives began to be wiped out. In addition, the traditional culture of the Burmese was altered, taking on a more European style. With such changes to its culture, language, and

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