Congo > Leopold II

Congo/Leopold II-

Who- king from belgium that bought the congo His greed and the system of forced labor he imposed there prompted the first human rights movement of the 20th century., also the congo is a river mentioned in heart of darkness

What- a republic in central Africa which Leopold was free to rule as a personal domain through his private army because of philanthropy; achieved independence from Belgium in 1960 Had been discovered by Portuguese in 1483 and maps of the 15th through 18th centuries show detailed knowledge of the geography of Congo. Congo was a key point in the Black Atlantic; a high percentage of people taken as slaves were from Congo. In effect, the 19th century created Congo as the heart of the Dark Continent. Berlin Conference of 1885 divided up Africa, giving the Congo Free State--roughly the size of Western Europe--to Belgian king, Leopold II. Belgian treatment of the Congolese was considered one of the most repressive and savage colonial regimes in Africa; between 5 and 8 million people died during this time. By 1890, Leopold's regime and the concessions were paying Congo chiefs to supply "volunteer" workers. The Congo Free State also purchased or forcibly took slaves from Muslim slave traders to work as laborers or soldiers.

When- 1908-1960

Where- the congo, center of africa, where heart of darkness took place

Why- the congo free state means free trade, not free people. The extraction of rubber and ivory in the Congo relied on forced labor and resulted in the massacre and mutilation of millions of Congolese (roughly half the population at the time). Belgian techniques of terror included mutilation, imprisonment, and flogging. Conrad’s experiences in Congo in 1890 deeply influenced his treatment of colonialism in Heart of Darkness (1899). Also, this purchase led to the Rwanda genocide. It created a new ethnic identity