King Leopold's Reign Over The Congo

The excerpt from King Leopold’s Ghost centers around a journalist, E.D. Morel an investigative journalist that who collected a multitude of stories from individuals that spent time in the Congo. At this time, the general public knew little about the actual practices occurring there because it was never discussed. Upon hearing the stories from missionaries, soldiers, and civilians of the mistreatment of native people in the area as well as the fraud committed by the administration running the area he made the decision to bring this news to the public. One of the most extensive accounts of life in the Congo came from Robert Casement who spent nearly 20 years in the area. The natives were required to collect materials for rubber and would be punished

During the imperialism in Africa, a lot of different events happened in Uganda. The imperialism had effects on the country, some of the effects benefited the country, and some did not. Mostly, it did not benefit the country. The British did most things to only benefit themselves, and did not care about what happened to the citizens of Uganda. The British only wanted power over the country, and to make a profit.

Independence could either be the uprising of a new and better maintained country or the uprising of a very deadly war. Kenya and Congo were very alike in terms of how they got to become independent, but how they handled it was the difference. Just like Congo and Kenya many other countries have their differences and similarities. For example, Congo had a much more violent approach to the situation unlike Kenya. Congo took everything very offensive, which is why the there was much tension between the colonies and the African countries. Kenya tried to fix their problem by not ignoring the important things and realizing that things can be fixed.

European powers began to take over territories throughout the continent of Africa during the 19th century. Historian Adam Hochschild’s depiction of King Leopold of Belgium was written in 1998 and titled, King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Hochschild talked extensively about the greed for money and slavery resulting in the genocide of the Congo and the protests of humanitarians that followed the King’s exploitation of Africans. In his thesis, the author stated that “[t]his is the story of that movement, of the savage crime that was its target, of the long period of exploration and conquest that preceded it, and of the way the world has forgotten one of the great mass killings of recent history.”

The second king of Belgians, King Leopold II, were admired throughout European. He was first known for his generous and noble act, sacrificing his time and fortune to benefits the Africans. Of course, Edmund Dene Morel learned the truth behind King Leopold II’s practices of slave labors and eventually brought it to the public eyes. King Leopold II was able to keep the horrific practices of slavery murder, and mutilation of millions in the Congo hidden from the rest of the world for roughly two decades through propagandas. As stated on page 1, “ … the troop, it is said, fought, and defeated local slave-traders who preyed on the population, and for more than a decade European newspaper has praised him for investing his personal fortune in public works to benefit the Africans.” Newspaper bragging about King Leopold II’s selfless service to the Africans was preventing the people from seeing the truth about his true practices.

More himself is the original narrator. He is not a trustworthy source as it is possible that he fabricates the story to later criticize society; thus, there is bias present. He later meets someone named Hythloday who becomes the narrator later in the work.

British Imperialism is a monstrous, militarized, and advanced system of oppression. British imperialism in Africa destroyed indigenous peoples lives and land. Once the slave trade became illegal, Britain's economy was in shambles. Therefore, Britain's imperialists went to Africa seeking wealth from its raw materials. The British was able to overthrow an already weakened governments, and put in place settler colonies. They installed authoritarian governments and exploited Africans by forcing them to do strenuous labor for Britain's profit. British imperialism in Africa is important today because it provides an answer as to why an entire continent is suffering for mass poverty, famine , and underdevelopment.

William Sheppard was a black man who called out Leopold's injustice in the Congo. Interestingly enough, he was supported by white supremacists who help in the idea of getting African Americans back to Africa. He was one of the first missionary black american missionary in the Congo. He worked there for about 20 years writing articles, speeches, and a book. He worked with the Kuba people who were artists. But unfortunately, the was ransacked when King Leopold discovered the profits he could make with rubber. Leopold used forced labor and made villages meet a certain quota before letting go of hostages/food. It was pretty terrible. William Shepard came to investigate to what had happened and found destroyed villages and corpses. He then went

The king Leopold’s ghost “Great Congo scandal” was a hit topic starting from the 19th century even till today. The King Leopold’s Ghost book consist of a wide range of topic, starting with the effort made by King Leopold II to make Congo get colonies, People who resisted the colonization of Congo, New Imperialism. The administration of King Leopold II portrayed humanitarianism and also a philanthropist to the public by gathering explorers, geographer and anti-slavery reformers to make the International African Association, but he manipulated the government and the people from other colonies by using slave trade, suffering, and Genocide and also to extract rubber and ivory form what was known as the “Congo Free State” according to Craig page 867.

The story unfolds around the turn of the twentieth century when European powers began to explore and colonize Sub-Saharan Africa. Belgian king Leopold II laid individual claim to the enormous chunk of land surrounding the Congo River and proceeded to strip the land of its resources, including, but not limited to, rubber, ivory, and people using a deadly system of forced labor. Under the ironic and spurious guise of humanitarianism, Leopold built himself an empire in central Africa, lining his pockets and satisfying his egotism, becoming the largest individual landowner in the world, while the brutality of his reign slashed the Congolese population by 10 million people, or approximately in half (Hochschild, 233). The narrative is uplifting at points as it also tells the story of the courageous few Africans, Europeans, and Americans that stood up to Leopold in what, in hindsight, was the first major humanitarian effort of the twentieth century (Straus).

Uganda Throughout the continent of Africa, a majority of the territories experienced colonization. Several nations, specifically Uganda, were placed under the rule of Great Britain. Uganda, an East African country surrounded by the Great Lakes of Africa, was one of the last parts of the continent to be reached by outsiders. Colonization in Uganda has brought many new customs and religion to the land and people.

Do you accept the view that More was a cruel man with little compassion for others?

Women played an important role in the campaign for public support for reform of King Leopold II’s Congo Free State and the forced labor that took place there. Both in the Congo and in Europe women influenced the perception and reaction to the État Indépendant du Congo and the Congolese people. The treatment of Congolese women by the Force Publique and white colonial officials such as Léon Rom inspired both sympathy from European missionaries and rebellion from the Congolese. While in Europe and America reformers like Englishwomen Alice Harris and Mary Morel campaigned for reform in the Congo Free State. Through newspaper articles, organizations and photographs they swayed many influential members of English and American society — church and government officials, businessmen, and authors — to their side. The Congo Reform Association(CRA) also had two women on its executive council. Through their treatment at the hands of the regime, involvement in public campaigns against Leopold, and a sex scandal, women in the both the Congo and in Europe encouraged opposition to King Leopold II’s draconian rule of the État Indépendant du Congo.

In the beginning of the play, More compares the logs of the trees on the land to the laws of the society: “This country’s planted thick with laws from coast to coast.” More explains to Roper that there is order and law on the land that shall be respected and applied, because this order is what makes the land safe. More continues to explain, “and if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, d'you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?” More emphasizes the protection that the land offers in comparison to the laws. The land is being compared to be a safe landmark that will offer protection and security within its borders. However , More differentiate this law as “man’s law” and “not God’s.” In this case, the law is can be adjusted as seen in the play. It provides convenience to the politicians and men in power. On the other hand, God’s law is non adjustable and fixed to More along with his conscience. He believes that following the laws of men will offer protection to him and convenient to them. His “silent” throughout the play makes it clear how More understands these laws and follows them but this “silent” also made it clear that he is in opposition to the king’s objectives of divorcing the queen. Tragically, More is not able to bring convenience to Henry, and is killed because of his silent opposition. More describes the law as a safe land to walk on for the citizens: “The law is

The control or ruling of a dominant county over weaker nation. It may control other countries’ diplomatic, political, or economic issues.