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European Imperialism In Africa In The Late 19th Century

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During the early 19th century, Europeans had hardly penetrated the inner lands of Africa and their presence in the coastal regions consisted of small spheres of influence. As the century progressed, the presence of Europeans in Africa became more significant due to the growth of the international economy. As European nations expanded their influence in Africa the actions of Belgian King, Leopold II, were influential to the shaping of the continent at the end of the century. King Leopold wanted to claim the Congo as his own private territory, so he could use the land to make money. However, Leopold could not just claim the Congo as his own. Therefore, he created the Comite’ d’Etudes du Haut Congo to send philanthropic missions to the Congo open …show more content…

As a response de Brazza called for the French government to ratify the treaty. The ratification of this treaty increased the presence of Europe’s scramble for Africa, and this threatened Leopold’s goal regarding the Congo. Leopold now faced a dilemma because the Leopold’s Congo was not recognized as a formal state and this meant Leopold, “would have no legal right to expel the Arabs, the French, or anyone else, and these raiders would soon reach Stanley Pool” (Jeal, 275). New foreign influence in the Congo would hinder his goal of owning the Congo, but it would also expose his actions in the Congo were not based on Livingstonian ideals. Under great pressure to maintain control of the Congo Leopold offered the French a deal that would satisfy them while keeping them away from the Congo. “He had offered France first option on AIC’s territories, exercisable in the event of his financial collapse” (Jeal, 280). This deal erased the French’s fear that the British may end up with control of the Congo because is the AIC fell the French would assume control. Along with this France also backed of their missions to the Congo because they did not want to do anything to threaten the AIC. In the end the French agreed to recognize the AIC as a state due to the ‘first option’ plan, which was a big step towards Leopold’s long term goal for the Congo. Leopold manipulated Stanley in a different way in this situation by not telling him of the deal he made with the French. He did this in order to inhibit Stanley’s opinions which did not match with Leopold’s plan for keeping control of the Congo. However, an international conference between the European powers to determine the fate of the Congo was in the near future and Stanley’s knowledge of the Congo would

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