Belgium Imperialism in the Belgian Congo Allie Arnold

Imperialist Country: Belgium Small country located in Western Europe Began imperializing Africa in late 1800’s King Leopold II as leader 6.7 million people (19th century)

Imperialized Nation: Belgian Congo Country located in Mid-Africa Imperialized by Belgium in 1884 King Leopold II as leader Later, Joseph Kasavubu & Patric Lumumba 15 million people (19th century)

Motives for Imperialism King Leopold II was disappointed with his inheritance of Belgium because it was such a small country. The Belgian cabinet was not interested in acquiring a colony at the time, but Leopold wanted colonial empire of his own. King Leopold II

Resources Motives The resources wanted: Mineral rich lands Copper Ivory Rubber Network of waterways over 7,000 miles long

Geopolitical Reasons Motives In 1874, King Leopold hired Henry Stanley, an English explorer, to take a trip across the Congo Stanley returned to Europe a few years later with over four hundred treaties signed by African Chiefs to give their land away. At the Berlin Conference of 1884, the land was officially placed under Leopold’s personal sovereignty.

Economic Reasons Motives Impact on the Congo Rubber Plantation Leopold had studied the British and French Empires forms of colonization and the profits they made. He also made his own personal fortune off of Congo’s ivory. The king’s intentions were to make the people in Congo workers, with forced labor. Leopold made a huge profit from the rubber. He used this money for projects in Belgium. Leopold borrowed money putting Belgium in debt. The Belgian government made the people of Congo pay off their debt through labor. The Belgian government used some money to build schools, hospitals, roads, and a railroad in Congo. In the end, Belgium was left as a very poor nation.

Social Reasons Motives Impacts on the Congo Modernization Nationalism At the Berlin Conference, the Powers agreed to give Leopold the Free State, only if he brought the people living there into the modern world. Leopold ignored these rules and brutally governed Congo. Nationalism Leop0ld believed that oversea colonies were the key to a country's greatness. For a short amount of time, after Leopold’s rule, the Belgian’s Roman Catholic Church tried to take over the people of Congo’s religious views and teachings. They wanted the Africans to live life like the Westerners and accept their ideas. Leopold’s mistreating to the African people resulting in critical human rights movements.

Political Reasons Motives Impacts on the Congo Leopold wanted to expand Belgium’s lands with a colonized nation. When he got this land he brought a 19,000 man army to take complete control of the area. The Powers at the Berlin Conference gave King Leopold the Free State, but the Belgian government eventually had to take it away from him. Leopold is responsible for millions of deaths and mangled limbs, resulting in his loss of power.

Deaths in the Belgian Congo

King Leopold II’s Loss of Power After “the rubber boom”, the Belgian soldiers treated the Africans cruelly, forcing them to work for days at a time collecting rubber. Women and children were held captive from the men until the rubber was made. Unrealistic quotas were set and people would lose limbs for not meeting them. The Belgian people were noticing the harsh ways and cruel treatment in the Congo. Eventually Leopold was forced to surrender his private ownership of the Congo to the country of Belgium, in 1908. At this time it was renamed the Belgian Congo.

Belgian Congo’s Independence Although much better than Leopold’s rule, the Belgians could still be harsh at times. In the 1950’s they fought hard for their independence. They set up political parties and demanded self rule. On June 30, 1960 they won the battle for their independence from Belgium and became a free nation.

Bibliography "King Leopold II and the Congo." enotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/genocide-encyclopedia/king-leopold-ii- congo>.   Lands and Peoples: Africa. Conneticut: Grolier Incorporated, 1993. Print. "Leopold II of Belgium." Wikipedia. N.p., 16 Oct. 2010. Web. 25 Oct. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_II_of_Belgium>.   Brooks, Marcus. "Effects of Belgian Imperialism in Africa ." Helium. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://www.helium.com/items/ 1117152-lumumba-congo-mercernaries-simba-mutiny-coltan-diamond- genocide-seko>. "The Belgian Congo." Scribd. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://www.scribd.com/doc/12754616/The-Belgian-Congo>. Brinkmeyer, Laura, and Charles Pate. "Imperialism in the Congo." . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://165.29.91.7/classes/humanities/worldstud/ 97-98/imper/congo/zaire.htm>.