Colonial powers often employed a combination of direct rule, indirect rule, and assimilation policies to maintain control over their colonies.

Direct rule aimed to establish a centralized administration directly controlled by the colonial power, often involving the appointment of colonial officials and the imposition of colonial laws.

Britain was known for its policy of indirect rule, particularly in its African colonies, where local rulers were allowed to maintain their authority under British supervision.

The policy of assimilation aimed to promote cultural and linguistic integration of the colonized population into the colonial society, often involving the imposition of the colonial language and culture.

France pursued a policy of assimilation in its colonies, aiming to integrate the colonized population into French culture and society.

The policy of economic exploitation aimed to extract resources and wealth from the colony for the benefit of the colonial power, often leading to the depletion of natural resources and the exploitation of local labor.

All of the colonial powers pursued policies of economic exploitation in their colonies, extracting resources and wealth for their own benefit.

The policy of divide and rule aimed to create divisions and conflicts among different ethnic or religious groups in the colony to maintain control and prevent unified resistance against colonial rule.

Britain was known for its policy of divide and rule in its Indian colony, playing different ethnic and religious groups against each other to maintain control.

The policy of settlement aimed to encourage the migration of people from the colonial power to the colony, often involving the establishment of settler colonies and the displacement of indigenous populations.

Britain pursued a policy of settlement in its North American colonies, leading to the displacement of indigenous populations and the establishment of settler colonies.

The policy of forced labor aimed to exploit the labor of the colonized population for economic gain, often involving the use of coercion or legal compulsion to force people to work.

All of the colonial powers pursued policies of forced labor in their African colonies, exploiting the labor of the colonized population for economic gain.

The policy of taxation aimed to generate revenue for the colonial administration, often involving the imposition of taxes on the colonized population.

Britain pursued a policy of taxation in its Indian colony, imposing taxes on the colonized population to generate revenue for the colonial administration.