The belgian congo THE BELGIAN CONGO The Late 19 th Century The Early 20 th Century The Late 19 th Century The Early 20 th Century

King Leopold II of Belgium The territory that he ruled was bigger than France, Italy, Spain, England and Germany combined He set up the Congo Free State in 1885 Hired Stanley as his chief-agent to secure the country as his possession Stanley convinced the rest of Europe that Leopold’s motives for wanting the Congo came only from a desire to put an end to ‘Arab Slavery.’ However Leopold proceeded to enslave them once the land was under his control Wanted Africa for it’s wealth –Created tax collection system –Citizens were treated like prisoners under armed sentiments Each village was ordered by the authorities to collect and bring in a certain amount of rubber. If they failed, their women were taken away and kept in compounds.

King Leopold II of Belgium Stanley claimed the citizens had surrendered their rights to the soil, but in reality he had taken the citizens land by force During this period 5 million to 10 million people were killed, or died of starvation, disease or being worked to death –All for rubber for King Leopold All land, rubber and ivory was property of the state which was Leopold himself

picture of the ‘prisoners.’ - -Feel they suffer ‘the greatest wrongs at the hands of the Belgians.’ - -Feel hatred towards the Independent State of Congo - -Feel oppression - -Feel injustice - -Feel anger that all freedom has been taken away - -Don’t have enough control from letting a few men gain a lot of power Thoughts and Feelings of Prisoners in the Congo

What Happened Next… - The people there suffered cruel treatment -Belgians and people from other countries began to protest -Leopold transferred the territory to the Belgian government in 1908 as the Belgian Congo colony -The government began to build railroads and began mining -The Congo didn’t gain its independence and full freedom until the year 1960 on June 30 th.

References Congo River Shipping at the End 19 th and Beginning 20 th Century. Urban’s Nautical Page. 1 March Conrad, Joseph. The Heart of Darkness. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, History of the Congo Basin Exploration. Rudin, Harry R. The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, Washington, Booker T. Cruelty in the Congo Country. 1 March