Comment by fock

> Industrialization is what brought prosperity to the masses.

workers organization did. Early industries were mostly run like slaveshops and the only reason we didn't end up in that world was that the reigning elite needed someone to manage the colonies and thus needed some people educated a bit more (which then also went into industry too) - which turned out problematic.

> They would have been the richest country in Latin America per capita

Oh, the former slave-owners for sure are. Likely too in Nigeria if you know how to look.