Today’s Goal: How did Leopold amass a fortune from the Congo? Leopoldville

Establish control over the Congo Vacant lands not effectively occupied by Africans 1885 1st Decree All vacant lands in control of the state 1st decrees- state takes all vacant land not effectively occupied Hunting, gathering, farming lands all lost Revolts from villages Don’t want to give up land New steam ships destroy their canoe trade State enacts pacification campaigns --- violent force response to all revolts Difficult raising money – investors not convinced Congo is profitable Vast land to control Money for railways Result – little administration – few well trained reliable people Force Publique- takes most of the funds Swahili Traders- slave trade and ivory trade to the east coast

Establish control over the Congo 1888 The Force Publique 1st decrees- state takes all vacant land not effectively occupied Revolts from villages Don’t want to give up land New steam ships destroy their canoe trade Force Publique- takes most of the funds Swahili Traders- slave trade and ivory trade to the east coast – create conflicts months to get them under control

Make a Profit What did Leopold do to raise revenues? What resources were collected from the Congo? What did Leopold do to raise revenues? To begin- operating at a loss Not collecting enough rubber or Ivory Expenses … rail ways Reminds people he is investing his own money to help the Congolese… Anti- slave trade conference… he needs to charge import/export taxes to fight the slave trade What about Free Trade? What does he do with the money? – force Congolese to work for his profit All products must be sold to the Congo State…. China Today Conscession companies…. Ok here is some land Detain Africans who do not work hard enough Pay tax to the state – but privileges allow them to make vast profits Large area given to Leopold himself Concession company workers and Leopold’s agent make little profits – depend on commissions Tax Villages… pay in rubber Anti-slave trade conference Concession Companies  “Field of the Crown” Tippu Tip

Rubber Rubber tax 20 years = 50% decrease in population Leopold has his fortune Rubber tax

Reading on Rubber What caused the worldwide rubber boom? 158-162 What caused the worldwide rubber boom? What made wild rubber so profitable? Why did Leopold have a monopoly on the rubber trade? Describe the process needed to obtain wild rubber. What methods were used to force the Congolese to collect rubber? 158-162