Colonialism and Resistance
Few topics have proven more divisive over the past two decades than colonialism—and few are more critical for students to understand. Explore the roots of colonialism and the meet the powerful forces of resistance that have risen to oppose it, providing all-important historical context for today’s headline-grabbing struggles.
Featured Materials
Colonial Violence
Colonialism was inherently violent for several reasons, some of which might be unexpected.
Responses to Industrial Imperialism
When confronting imperial power, people responded in creative ways that go beyond collaboration and resistance.
Gentleman of the Jungle
What do an elephant, a lion, and a jungle full of animals have to do with colonialism? Analyze a fable as a starting point for your study of this complicated topic.
Azizun of Lucknow (Graphic Biography)
Azizun was a nineteenth-century courtesan (Tawa’if) turned anti-colonial fighter in northern India. She became a leader in the Indian Uprising of 1857.
Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Ejisu (Graphic Biography)
Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen Mother of Ejisu in Asante, was a leader of resistance to British conquest. Her actions demonstrate one strategy of resistance to colonialism.
Experiencing Colonialism: Through a Ghanaian Lens
Resisting Colonialism: Through a Ghanaian Lens
How did colonial subjects resist foreign control? Of course, there were vast differences, but we can get some answers by looking closely at Ghana as a case study.
Causation – Indian Uprising
In this activity, students will analyze the causes of the 1857 Indian uprising to investigate how and why this rebellion took place when and where it did.
Quick Sourcing – Indigenous Responses to Imperialism
How did Indigenous communities respond to imperial expansion? Use the Quick-Sourcing Tool to assess the primary sources in this collection to find out!
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