Key Terms in Colonialism and Independence

Colonialism

political and economic control by one country over another, often enforced through occupation and rule.

Empire

a group of territories or peoples ruled by a single sovereign power, often distant.

Mother country

the imperial nation in a colonial relationship (e.g., Spain, Britain).

Peninsulares

people born in Spain who held top colonial government positions.

Creoles (Criollos)

people of European descent born in the colonies; often wealthy but politically limited.

Undemocratic rule

governance without representation or consent of the governed.

Divide and rule

strategy to maintain power by deepening divisions among local groups.

Resource extraction

removing valuable goods like minerals or crops from colonies to benefit the empire.

Independence

Freedom from control by another country. A colony becomes its own nation—but the same elites often stay in power. Example: Latin American Creoles won independence from Spain but kept slavery and class systems.

Revolution

A big change in who has power and how society works. Usually involves ordinary people fighting to change the whole system. Example: The Haitian Revolution ended slavery and colonial rule.

Rebellion

an organized act of resistance against authority, especially colonial rule.

Cognitive dissonance

mental discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs (e.g., Creoles demanding liberty while maintaining slavery).

Mission schools

schools set up by Christian missionaries, often aiming to convert and teach them how to live 'properly,' according to European standards.

Dislocation

the forced movement or uprooting of people due to colonial labor needs or land seizure.

migration

The movement of people from one area to another.

Immigration

The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country

Internal Migration

permanent movement within the same country

External Migration

migration across an international border

Refugee

a person who has fled their country of origin and is unable or unwilling to return because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion

Economic migrant

a person who travels from one country or area to another in order to improve their standard of living.

Settler Colonist

historical category which is used to describe people who move as a part of a group that seeks to replace the original population of a territory. These new "settlers" remove or replace indigenous peoples who lived in the area and build new governments and communities based on their place of origin.

push factor

Something that makes people want to leave their home country or area, like war, lack of jobs, or natural disasters.

pull factor

Pull Factor: Something that attracts people to a new country or area, like better job opportunities, safety, or better living conditions.

encomienda

Spanish colonial system of Indigenous forced labor in the Americas.

Maroons

formerly enslaved people who escaped and created independent communities.