FINAL PRESENTATION Instructions: Replace the questions on each slide with your answers. Generally, you are writing the most important things that happened in your country in each time period we studied. Place pictures of important people, places, events and things from each time period where indicated. When you’re finished, email this presentation to andyweiss1982@gmail.com and print a copy to bring to class.

The Second Congo War The Congolese government fought a rebel army from 1998-2003. Joseph Kabila led the government forces and Tutsis against Jean-Pierre Bemba and Hutu rebels. Other African countries fought on both sides of the war. Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Chad fought with the government, and Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi fought with the rebels. It was the first time African countries tested the borders drawn by Europeans nations in the Age of Imperialism. The two sides were fighting over access to The Democratic Republic of Congo’s natural resources – similar to the Scramble for Africa. Over 5.4 million people died, making it the largest war in African history and the deadliest war since World War II. There were over 40,000 rapes, which spread HIV/AIDS The war caused widespread environmental destruction.

Second Congo War

1870-1914 Sir Henry Morton Stanley explored the Congo in the 1870s African leaders signed over their rights to the International African Association King Leopold II of Belgium established the Congo Free State in 1885 as a personal colony. Africans were forced to work in mines and on rubber plantations, and were treated extremely harshly. Conditions were so terrible that administration of the Congo was transferred to the Belgian government in 1908.

1870-1914:

1914-1930 Belgium was invaded by Germany in WWI and joined the Triple Alliance. After the war, Belgium was given the former German colonies of Rwanda and Burundi. The Belgian government continued to develop mines, railroads and rubber plantations using forced African labor.

1914-1930: Pictures of important people, places, events or things

1930-1950 The Great Depression lessened Belgian investment in the Congo. During World War II, the British and Americans companies increased their trade with the Congo, mostly looking for rubber and Uranium (for the atom bomb). The Belgian government conscripted Africans to fight against Italy in Ethiopia.

1930-1950: Pictures of important people, places, events or things

1950-1991 (and beyond) Congo became an independent coutry in 1960. Patrice Lumumba, the prime minister, was assassinated by the Belgian government and CIA in 1961 because he was suspected of having Communist beliefs. The second prime minister was Sese Seko Mobuto, who was friendly to the United States and the capitalist world. He was a corrupt politician who made a fortune selling Congo’s natural resources to capitalist countries. Mobuto supported the Hutu genocide of Tutsis in neighboring Rwanda. The First Congo War broke out in 1996, when Laurent Kabila overthrew him with Tutsi support.

1950-1991: Pictures of important people, places, events or things

The End Email this presentation to andyweiss1982@gmail.com, and bring a paper copy to class Monday.