How did Africa and other 3rd world countries become incredibly poor while the US rich? What was the difference?

by velvetz7

I know about slavery and the gold rush, but I would like to know the reasons, why couldn't the African people fight back?

I know this is a big topic to cover, so I would really appreciate some links to articles where I could dig deeper.

Edit: I meant the countries in Africa

zeroable

I don't want to discourage any other answers, but you might find these from the FAQ relevant.

The Native Americans and several other cultures did not experience the same technological advancements as Europe. What has caused this difference?

Why is Africa not as developed as the other continents besides Antarctica?

Why did all of the other continents develop so much quicker than Africa?