How did Europeans justify the subjugation of Africans and Natives?
White racial superiority, Bible, view of groups as “savages”
Europeans used various justifications to subjugate and exploit Africans and Native people. Some of these justifications include:
1. Religious justification: Europeans believed that they were superior to Africans and Native people because they had a more advanced Christian civilization. They saw themselves as the chosen people of God, tasked with converting others to Christianity.
2. Scientific justification: Europeans believed in the concept of Social Darwinism, which was based on the idea that some races were superior to others. Europeans believed that they were the most superior race, and therefore had the right to dominate and control others.
3. Economic justification: Europeans believed that they had the right to exploit the natural resources and labor of African and Native people for their own economic benefit. They saw these people as inferior and believed that it was their duty to “civilize” them by teaching them industrialization and Christian values.
4. Legal justification: Europeans created laws and policies to subjugate Africans and Native people. For example, the doctrine of Terra nullius, which declared the land was empty and free to claim, was used to justify the seizure of indigenous lands.
Overall, Europeans used various justifications to subjugate and oppress Africans and Native people, such as religious, scientific, economic, and legal justifications. These justifications were used to create a sense of superiority over other races and to legitimize their exploitation and domination.
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