The importance of economic and ideological motives in creating and sustaining the colonial resistance movement

Sample Solution

   

Both economic and ideological motives played important roles in the creation and sustenance of the colonial resistance movement. However, I believe that ideological motives were more important in the long run.

Economic motives

The economic motives for colonial resistance were varied. In some cases, people resisted colonial rule because it disrupted their traditional way of life and economic system. For example, the Maasai people in Kenya resisted British rule because it disrupted their pastoral way of life.

In other cases, people resisted colonial rule because it

Full Answer Section

      Ideological motives The ideological motives for colonial resistance were also varied. Some people resisted colonial rule because they believed that it was wrong to impose one culture on another. For example, the Vietnamese people resisted French rule because they believed that the French were trying to destroy their Vietnamese culture. Other people resisted colonial rule because they believed that they had the right to self-determination. For example, the American colonists resisted British rule because they believed that they had the right to govern themselves. Which was more important? I believe that ideological motives were more important than economic motives in the long run. This is because economic motives can be addressed through reforms, while ideological motives are more difficult to change. For example, the British colonial government made some economic reforms in India in response to Indian resistance. However, these reforms did not address the underlying ideological issue of self-determination. As a result, the Indian independence movement continued to grow. Primary document The following primary document from the Indian independence movement illustrates the importance of ideological motives in the colonial resistance movement: Speech by Jawaharlal Nehru to the Indian National Congress, 1930 We are fighting for freedom. We are fighting for the right of self-determination. We are fighting for the right to be our own masters. We are not fighting for any economic gain. We are not fighting for any political power. We are fighting for a principle. We are fighting for the right to live our own lives in our own way. We are fighting for the right to be free from foreign domination. We are fighting for the right to be our own masters. We are fighting for the right to be a nation. This speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the leaders of the Indian independence movement, clearly illustrates the importance of ideological motives in the colonial resistance movement. Nehru is not talking about economic gain or political power. He is talking about the right to self-determination and the right to be a nation. Conclusion Both economic and ideological motives played important roles in the creation and sustenance of the colonial resistance movement. However, I believe that ideological motives were more important in the long run. This is because economic motives can be addressed through reforms, while ideological motives are more difficult to change.