How did colonialism change farming and contribute to famine in some countries?

Answer:

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Colonialism dramatically changed farming. In the 1600s, large American plantations grew cash crops like tobacco, sugar, and, later, cotton. In the 1700s and 1800s, colonial powers in India and Africa tried to modernize their holdings. They invested in irrigation, provided loans, and built infrastructure. In return, they expected colonists to participate in the commercial development of the colony. They did this through taxation. Taxation forced farmers to dedicate more and more of their land to cash crops rather than to local consumption in order to raise the money. This often resulted in severe famines when not enough land was producing food. Between 1876 and 1878, a famine in India killed about eight million people when the local food production was depleted.