Imperialism devastated most conquered societies. By the end of the 19th century, loss of land, loss of control over their labor, and loss of independent economic decision-making meant colonial societies primarily benefited the colonizers. Only small elite groups of natives that worked closely with colonizers benefited from imperialism. Despite the power of imperial forces, most people within conquered societies resisted fiercely through various movements of resistance and rebellion.
Native grievances against 2nd wave imperialism
Missionary activities
Political control of colonizers
Changing landholding patterns resulted in colonizers benefiting most from the land
Over taxation of peasants and the poor
Exploitation of labor
Racism
Anti-colonial nationalist movements
Anti-colonial resistance movements sprang up against the expansion of colonial powers.
Types of anti-imperial nationalist movements
Direct resistance within empires
active defiance of colonial regimes that often used violent strategies to counter the violence of colonizers
The creation of new states within and along colonizers borders
some anti-colonial movements sought to carve out new states for their people
Religious rebellions
anti-colonial rebellions often used references to traditional religious beliefs to organize against colonizers
Direct resistance within empires
Within established colonial empires, native populations resisted colonial control through direct action against colonial authorities.
New states within and along colonial boundaries
During the 19th century, new states developed on the borders of major empires. During much of the 19th century, these new states maintained some independence from industrial colonizers. However, in the early 20th century, most of these states were taken over and incorporated into their more powerful neighbors.
Rebellions inspired by religion
Native peoples’ traditional religions were powerful tools that native leaders used to motivated their communities against colonial authorities.