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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. Reading on Rubber What caused the worldwide rubber boom?
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?