How did European countries use the Pacific island colonies?

How did European countries use the Pacific island colonies?

European nations used their Pacific Island colonies in various ways. Some islands were essentially plantations and were dedicated entirely to agricultural production on a large scale. Still other islands served as military bases, nuclear test sites, or trust territories.

Why did European nations want colonies?

The reason European countries wanted more colonies was that colonies helped countries accumulate wealth and power. Having more land also gave a country more global power and allowed them to establish strategic military positions across the world.

How did European countries benefit from colonization?

European settlement had a longstanding positive effect on economic development in countries that were colonies, notwithstanding the terrible effects of Western diseases and political oppression that often resulted, according to new research.

Why did Europeans colonize Oceania?

European colonization was fueled by a desire to defend nationalist pride, increase trade opportunities, and spread the Christian faith. England, France, Germany, and Spain became the most important colonial powers in the region.

Which European power colonized most of the Pacific region?

European exploration of the Pacific began with the Spanish and the Portuguese. By the late 1500s, the Spanish had colonized the Philippines and had discovered several of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, as well as the Solomon Islands in Melanesia and the Marquesas Islands in Polynesia.

What Pacific islands did Britain colonize?

Britain’s Western Pacific Territories included Fiji (1877-1970); Tonga (1900-1952); British Solomon Islands (1893-1971); and more.

What are three reasons that European countries wanted colonies?

Historians generally recognize three motives for European exploration and colonization in the New World: God, gold, and glory.

What are the positive impacts of colonialism?

Creation of a large political unit: Another positive effect of colonialism was the creation of large political unit. This was advantageous because it helped most African countries like Nigeria to grow faster. Before the coming of colonial masters to africa, most African countries had divided systems of government.

Did Europeans colonize Oceania?

European exploration and settlement of Oceania began in the 16th century, starting with Portuguese settling the Moluccas and Spanish (Castilian) landings and shipwrecks in the Marianas Islands, east of the Philippines, followed by the Portuguese landing and settling temporarily (due to the monsoons) in the Tanimbar or …

What is Colonisation of tropical Pacific islands?

The colonisation of tropical Pacific Islands by humans is said to have led to the extinction of more than. The colonisation of tropical pacific Island by humans is said to have led to the extinction of more than 2,000 species of native birds.

Why did Europeans want to colonize the New World?

Europe’s period of exploration and colonization was fueled largely by necessity. Europeans had become accustomed to the goods from Asia, such as the silk, spices, and pottery that had for centuries traveled the Silk Road. By the middle of the 16 th century, however, this trade was under threat.

Why did the Europeans trade with the Pacific Islands?

After 1840, exchange trading also met the needs of the staple trade of the islands—coconut oil, derived from copra and used for soap and candles. Copra trading became the mainstay of European trade because even islands that had no other resources had coconut palms.

What did the British do in the Pacific Islands?

The British responded with the Western Pacific Order in Council (1877), which granted the governor of Fiji authority over British nationals and vessels in a wide area of the western Pacific. The problem still remained, however, of non-British nationals in islands that had neither native kings nor European governors, especially in Melanesia.

Why did Spain want to colonize the United States?

God, Gold, and Glory Spain was driven by three main motivations. Columbus, in his voyage, sought fame and fortune, as did his Spanish sponsors. To this end, Spain built a fort in 1565 at what is now St. Augustine, Florida; today, this is the oldest permanent European settlement in the United States.