Colonialism by the Major Western Powers

Colonialism by the Major Western Powers

Introduction

The Soviet Union has certainly played a role in dismantling colonialism at times. And the U.S., recalling its own past as a British colony and fight back for freedom, also paved the way that led to the demolishing of colonization (Loomba, 2005). In this hunt the U.S. had diverse motives: it did so out of naïve and unrealistic conviction; to remove hurdles from the way for the influence of America in the earlier colonial territories of former trade competitors; and to put off the Soviet Union from points scoring and rising as the winner of the browbeaten.

Discussion

Different Roads leading towards the Dismantling of Colonialism

The main causes for the ending of 500 years of colonial domination in Europe are to be explored in the growth of nationalism in colonial countries, the rise of democracy, and the failing of the powers of European metropolitan on account of the First and Second World Wars. The UK of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, the United Provinces of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Belgium, the French Republic, Spain in the consequences of the despotism of Generalissimo Franco, in addition to the Portugal subsequent to Salazar need of the political will and military power to keep a hold of their colonial empires (Kirkby & Coleborne, 2001). Thus, one at a time, more or less in reverse array of their founding, the powers of Western European gave up their colonies.

The American Empire

On account of the 1898 Spanish American War, the U.S. got hold of a small empire comprising of Philippines, Cuba, and the Puerto Rico. Cuba got its independence however the U.S. carries on controlling Guantanamo Bay underneath an unending lease. Under the control of United States, Puerto Rico stays as a Commonwealth while the Philippines ...