The Curse of The British Colonials

From Feudal Fields to Colonial Frontiers: The Legacy of British Serfdom in the New World

I have been mulling over the question of why the British Colonials felt they had the right to subjugate Africans and enslave them. Was it a convenient or conventional attitude? One must understand how the past history of feudalism shaped the British personality forever. Serfdom and feudalism in Britain no doubt did influenced the behavior and attitudes of British colonial settlers, though the connection is complex.

The Psychology of Feudalism

Feudalism, with its rigid hierarchical structure, deeply influenced the psychology of those living under it. People internalized their social status, often accepting their roles as fixed and divinely ordained, leading to a sense of powerlessness and deference to authority. The system fostered a collective identity and loyalty within tight-knit communities but also created a fear of outsiders and limited individual autonomy. Serfs, tied to the land and exploited for their labor, often developed a fatalistic outlook, normalizing their lack of freedom and accepting exploitation as a natural part of life.

Religious teachings that justified the social order compounded the psychological burden of feudalism, instilling a sense of duty and moral obligation that could lead to guilt and cognitive dissonance. Chronic stress from the harsh realities of feudal life, such as famine and warfare, contributed to anxiety and a diminished sense of individuality.

These mindsets did not vanish with the end of feudalism but carried over into later social structures, including colonialism, where similar patterns of hierarchy and exploitation persisted, shaping the cultural and psychological landscapes of those societies.

They were the values taken to the new world by settlers who introduced the most severe form of feudalism. namely slavery:

Influence of British Serfdom on Colonial Attitudes:

 

1. Social Hierarchies and Class Systems: The British experience with feudalism and serfdom instilled a deep understanding of social hierarchies and class systems. In the colonies, this translated into a clear sense of superiority over indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans. Settlers often viewed themselves as the “landed gentry” of the new world, replicating the hierarchical structures they were familiar with from Britain.
2. Land Ownership and Control: In medieval Britain, land ownership was tied to power and status. This notion carried over to the colonies, where land acquisition and control were paramount. The dispossession of indigenous lands and the establishment of plantations were influenced by the settlers’ beliefs in the importance of land ownership, a concept rooted in feudal practices.
3. Labor Exploitation: The experience of serfdom, where peasants were bound to the land and worked for the benefit of the landowners, may have influenced the colonial approach to labor. The use of indentured servitude, and later, the enslavement of Africans and the exploitation of indigenous labor, can be seen as an extension of these practices. Settlers brought with them a mentality that accepted the exploitation of labor as a norm.
4. Legal and Economic Systems: British legal and economic systems that emerged from the feudal era also influenced colonial governance and economic practices. The idea of “improving” land for productivity, often at the expense of indigenous populations, was a concept that came from feudal land management practices.

Differences and Adaptations in the Colonies:

While these influences existed, the context of the colonies also led to significant adaptations

• New Economic Models: The colonies were part of a global economy focused on trade, especially in cash crops like tobacco, sugar, and cotton. This was different from the subsistence agriculture of feudal Britain and led to the development of plantation economies reliant on slavery.
• Frontier Mentality: The colonial context, particularly in frontier areas, created a more individualistic and often more brutal approach to land and labor. The new world’s lack of established social structures allowed settlers to create new hierarchies, often based on race and economic power rather than the rigid class systems of Europe.
• Comparative Caribbean slave systems – see blog

The Columbus View

Christopher Columbus expressed views that reflected his intention to subjugate the indigenous populations he encountered in the Caribbean. In his writings, particularly in his letters to the Spanish monarchy, Columbus described the indigenous people as naive, generous, and easy to control. He believed they could be easily converted to Christianity and made to work for the Spanish crown.

In his first letter after reaching the Americas, often referred to as the “Letter to Santángel,” Columbus wrote about the indigenous people as follows:

“They are very gentle and without knowledge of what is evil; nor do they murder or steal… Your Highnesses may believe that in all the world there can be no better people… With fifty men they can all be subjugated and made to do what is required of them.”

This passage reveals his belief that the indigenous populations could be easily subdued and exploited for labor and resources. Columbus’s reports and actions laid the groundwork for the subsequent colonization and exploitation of the Americas, which had devastating effects on the indigenous peoples.

What a sin it was to treat gentle and caring people with such evil intent and brutish ways

Summary Video

Related Links

• Caribbean Colonialism Compared
• Colonial Legacy
• Indigenous Peoples and Colonialism
• Historical Colonialism – French Example
• Colonialism and Racism
• Post-Colonial Analysis
• Feudal roots of British colonial exploitation

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