Final answer:
Independence from European colonists primarily benefited settler societies and colonial elites, while Indigenous peoples and those aligned with colonial powers often faced marginalization post-independence. The colonists' self-sufficiency, combined with a sense of entitlement to rights observed in their mother countries, propelled their independence movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Benefits and Detriments of Independence from European Colonists
Those who benefited the most from independence from European colonists were typically members of the settler societies, such as the colonists in British North America, who had the chance to become economically self-sufficient, own land, and practice their religious beliefs freely.
The colonial elite and educated individuals who worked within the colonial governments or businesses connected to the imperial powers also reaped benefits. On the other hand, those who did not benefit included the Indigenous peoples whose social structures were altered, as colonial improvements often dismissed the value of traditional knowledge and practices.
Imperial powers, like Britain and France, inadvertently created conditions for robust societies that eventually yearned for and achieved independence. However, during colonization, European infrastructure developments primarily served the interests of the colonizers, such as railways in Africa designed to transport raw materials to European factories rather than to connect local communities. The transition to independence resulted in varied outcomes for different societal groups.
The independence movements led to a complex interplay of societal changes where colonists, who viewed themselves as enlightened and entitled to rights similar to those of people in the mother country, led to revolutions such as the American War for Independence. In contrast, groups that supported the European powers, like the Loyalists during the American Revolution, often found themselves marginalized or forced to flee in the aftermath.