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Location - The Congo Free State or

The Belgian Congo

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The Congo Free StateThe Congo Free State► Very large in size – some 76 times the size of Belgium!Very large in size – some 76 times the size of Belgium!

► The native inhabitantsThe native inhabitants Trading tribesTrading tribes

► Natural resourcesNatural resources► Wood, ivory, Wood, ivory, rubberrubber

► Exploitation of the natural resources and the native Exploitation of the natural resources and the native inhabitantsinhabitants

► Leopold had to cede (give over) the Congo to Belgium Leopold had to cede (give over) the Congo to Belgium in 1908 as a result of the international campaign in 1908 as a result of the international campaign exposing Leopold’s activities in the Congo.exposing Leopold’s activities in the Congo.

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Who was King Leopold II Who was King Leopold II 1835 -19091835 -1909

► Born in Brussels on April 9, Born in Brussels on April 9, 18351835

► Related to the various royal Related to the various royal families in Europe.families in Europe.

► Nephew of Queen Victoria.Nephew of Queen Victoria.► Married Marie Henriette Anna Married Marie Henriette Anna

von Hapsburg in 1853von Hapsburg in 1853► Succeeded his father, Leopold Succeeded his father, Leopold

I, to the Belgian throne in I, to the Belgian throne in 18651865

► Died on December 19, 1909Died on December 19, 1909

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King Leopold and the CongoKing Leopold and the Congo► The Congo was the personal The Congo was the personal

property of that country's king, property of that country's king, Leopold II. Leopold then went on Leopold II. Leopold then went on to use the Congo as a huge to use the Congo as a huge money-making resource, money-making resource, committing human rights committing human rights violations in the process and then violations in the process and then turning a blind eye as he built turning a blind eye as he built public works projects in Belgium public works projects in Belgium with the money he made in the with the money he made in the rubber trade. rubber trade.

► In 1876 he organized an In 1876 he organized an international association as a front international association as a front for his private plan to "develop" for his private plan to "develop" central Africa.central Africa.

► At the Berlin Conference of 1884, At the Berlin Conference of 1884, the Congo, rich with natural the Congo, rich with natural resources, was recognised as the resources, was recognised as the sovereign and personal property sovereign and personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium. of King Leopold II of Belgium.

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The Explorer Stanley’s Role The Explorer Stanley’s Role in the Congoin the Congo

► H.M. Stanley, an British-H.M. Stanley, an British-born (later claimed to be born (later claimed to be an American) journalist an American) journalist who explored the Congo who explored the Congo on an expedition on an expedition financed by King Leopold financed by King Leopold of Belgium. Stanley of Belgium. Stanley greatly aided his backer greatly aided his backer in gaining a firm foothold in gaining a firm foothold in what was to become in what was to become the Belgian Congo (later the Belgian Congo (later Zaire), now the Zaire), now the Democratic Republic of Democratic Republic of Congo.Congo.

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Stanley’s Explorations in the Congo Region: From East to West

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““The White Man’s Burden”The White Man’s Burden”

“”“”King Leopold found the Congo…cursed King Leopold found the Congo…cursed by cannibalism, savagery, and despair; by cannibalism, savagery, and despair; and he has been trying with patience, and he has been trying with patience, which I can never sufficiently admire, which I can never sufficiently admire, to relieve it of its horrors, rescue it to relieve it of its horrors, rescue it from its oppressors, and save it from from its oppressors, and save it from perditionperdition.” --H.M. Stanley.” --H.M. Stanley

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Aspects of “The White Man’s Burden”?

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Belgian CongoBelgian Congo

► Initially, no one saw King Initially, no one saw King Leopold II as the Leopold II as the scheming, ruthless scheming, ruthless dictator who only wanted dictator who only wanted to establish a private to establish a private colony that he could colony that he could exploit the people and exploit the people and the natural resources of the natural resources of the Congo for his own the Congo for his own personal benefit in order personal benefit in order to make him wealthy and to make him wealthy and own the largest piece of own the largest piece of real estate in Africa!real estate in Africa!

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How Rubber was harvested

Punishing “Lazy” workers

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Belgium’s Stranglehold on the Congo

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5-8 Million Victims! (50% of Population!.)“It is blood-curdling to see them (the

soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead... This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to their credit. “ -- Belgian Official

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Why Take the Hands?Why Take the Hands?

► The Congo contained vast The Congo contained vast areas filled with wild areas filled with wild rubber and a labor-force rubber and a labor-force that King Leopold enslaved that King Leopold enslaved to do his bidding. to do his bidding.

► Villages were given daily Villages were given daily quotas of extracted rubber. quotas of extracted rubber.

► If they did not cooperate If they did not cooperate and fill their quotas, they and fill their quotas, they faced losing their families, faced losing their families, a hand, an ear, a foot, or a hand, an ear, a foot, or their life. These were the their life. These were the reprisals (punishments) for reprisals (punishments) for not meeting quotas!not meeting quotas!

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Opposition to Leopold’s Opposition to Leopold’s controlcontrol

► Edmund Morel Edmund Morel was the most famous of those who was the most famous of those who campaigned against Leopold. He became an campaigned against Leopold. He became an investigative journalist gathering accounts and proof investigative journalist gathering accounts and proof of the atrocities in the Congo.of the atrocities in the Congo.

► In 1904, In 1904, Roger CasementRoger Casement, British consul to the , British consul to the Congo, filed a report on the state of affairs there, Congo, filed a report on the state of affairs there, having been an eyewitness to some of the excesses. having been an eyewitness to some of the excesses.

► Under mounting international Leopold finally Under mounting international Leopold finally capitulated (gave in), and in November, 1908 the capitulated (gave in), and in November, 1908 the Belgian government annexed the Congo Independent Belgian government annexed the Congo Independent State which thereafter became the Belgian Congo.State which thereafter became the Belgian Congo.

► A gross debt of about 250 million francs transferred A gross debt of about 250 million francs transferred from Leopold to the Belgian government .The Belgians from Leopold to the Belgian government .The Belgians in turn ascribed this debt (moved it onto) the populace in turn ascribed this debt (moved it onto) the populace of the Congo.of the Congo.

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Belgian ruleBelgian rule

► The Africans who were The Africans who were unfortunate enough of be unfortunate enough of be subjects of King Leopold subjects of King Leopold paid an enormous price and paid an enormous price and literally became slaves in literally became slaves in their own country. Besides their own country. Besides losing possessions, life and losing possessions, life and limb, most of all they lost limb, most of all they lost the freedom to choose for the freedom to choose for themselves, they lost their themselves, they lost their liberty and basic human liberty and basic human rights.rights.

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Why King Leopold’s Ghost?Why King Leopold’s Ghost?

► Novel by Adam Hochschild written in 1998Novel by Adam Hochschild written in 1998► Tells the horrific story of King Leopold’s colonial rule Tells the horrific story of King Leopold’s colonial rule

over a country and its native peoples.over a country and its native peoples.► Based on the true story of the colonial activities. Based on the true story of the colonial activities. ► It is amazing to think that King Leopold II, never ‘set It is amazing to think that King Leopold II, never ‘set

foot’ in the Congo, but managed to ruin a country… foot’ in the Congo, but managed to ruin a country… his “ghost” remains today in memories of the his “ghost” remains today in memories of the Congolese.Congolese.

► Why little is known about this history well, for a start, Why little is known about this history well, for a start, Many documents were destroyed on Leopold’s orders Many documents were destroyed on Leopold’s orders also many documents were classified as secret and also many documents were classified as secret and not accessible to the public or researchers.not accessible to the public or researchers.

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One of the World’s First One of the World’s First Humanitarian MovementsHumanitarian Movements

► There is no doubt that There is no doubt that Congo's history with its Congo's history with its “White King, Red Rubber “White King, Red Rubber & Black Death” are & Black Death” are tragedies.tragedies.

► It was a regime that saw It was a regime that saw millions die and that millions die and that brought misery to the brought misery to the inhabitants.inhabitants.

► However Leopold did However Leopold did leave, albeit unwittingly, leave, albeit unwittingly, one positive legacy - one positive legacy - the the birth of modern birth of modern humanitarianism. humanitarianism.

► Who led the campaign Who led the campaign against Leopold?against Leopold?

E D Morel his campaign E D Morel his campaign – from 1897-8– from 1897-8

(Sir) Roger Casement (Sir) Roger Casement (1904 Report)(1904 Report)

Some of the notable writers Some of the notable writers who spoke out against who spoke out against King Leopold IIKing Leopold II - Mark Twain, Booker T. - Mark Twain, Booker T. Washington, Joseph Washington, Joseph Conrad ,Conrad ,Arthur Conan Arthur Conan DoyleDoyle

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Some Effects of ColonialismSome Effects of Colonialism

► Western African societies are torn apart as they Western African societies are torn apart as they lose their healthiest, youngest, and ablest peoplelose their healthiest, youngest, and ablest people

► Europeans raid Africa’s interior for natural Europeans raid Africa’s interior for natural resourcesresources

► Europeans compete for land rights, drawing up new Europeans compete for land rights, drawing up new political boundaries that continue to cause conflict political boundaries that continue to cause conflict between ethnic groups todaybetween ethnic groups today