King Leopold's Imperialism Happened To The Democratic Republic Of Congo

In my point of view, the colonial period shifted the balance previously present throughout the world, in which imperialism had less relevance in everyday lives. Before the colonial period, the natives living in the Americas and the Caribbeans, mainly had internal fighting or conflicts between rival tribes. While in Europe, the most tension occurred between major empires competing for trade, land, recourses, and wealth. However, once the Europeans began colonizing America, both of the worlds collided in a massive fight for sovereignty and wealth. This can be seen in each country's colonization of America. In the French colonization, the colonist traded advanced weaponry to the Huron tribe for fur and strong alliances. Consequently, the natives

The age of imperialism created severe problems that leave Cameroon worse off today than if they had been left alone. Like most African countries, Cameroon

Once Léopold and Stanley came together to discuss their ideas of imperialism in the Congo, Leopold decided they needed some way to seize the land to make it his. Leopold sent Stanley down to the land, and discussed a written agreement which explained how Leopold would take over the land to prevent the Arabs from abducting the congolese as slaves. The Congolese could not understand very well, as their main language was French, but nevertheless agreed to the compliance (AWPHRocklin Belgian Congo. Web). Leopold then went on to controlling the land and forced the congolese to do

Many people have their ideas and opinions on the topic of imperialism of the different continents like Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Imperialism had different effects that came from the and different reasons for which it was done. There have been poems, essays, and short stories about the good and bad of imperialism. Those who read some of these works interpret them in different ways that can change the message the author originally had planned. Imperialism shed light upon that not everything is how it seems.

Joseph Conrad uses the white colonist’s obsession with ivory to show the of imperialism. For the colonists “The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it” (Conrad 95). Life for the colonists’ in the Congo revolved around Ivory. Colonization effort for the Congo orbited around ivory and other financial gains. In the desperation to become wealth the colonists change the lives of the native Africans living there. The natives soon find their world completely different from their ancestors: “Black rags were wound round their loins, and the short ends behind waggled to and fro like tails. I could see every rib, the joints of their limbs were like knots in a rope; each had an iron collar on his

King Leopold II ruled the Congo Free State and he mistreated his slaves for years before European leaders became aware of the forced labor. This was the beginning of European imperialism in Africa. The motivation behind Europeans imperializing Africa was the economic gain, competition between nations, and the technology and resources.

The resources were King Leopold's main reason to colonize the Congo. He knew that if he could obtain that rich land, he could receive a large sum of money at the expense of ethics. To achieve this, he sent an explorer named Henry Stanley to make his power known (BBC). Mercenaries executed this plan for Leopold. Imperialism is the way King Leopold II took over the Congo and subdued all the people that lived there. Imperialism is the domination over a society by economic or cultural means (Discovery Education). In some cases, imperialism still exists today. Cultural and economic imperialism exists today. Economic imperialism is imperialism for money. For example, one company buys its resources from Country A for a low amount. Country A then begins to believe that it should be receiving more money for all the work that it does. The company then leaves Country A to buy from Country B for the same price. Country B doesn’t complain and the company doesn’t have to spend any more money. Though, it’s not a win-win for everyone. Country A then begins to beg for the company to come back and buy resources from them. This is because the company took away something Country A

The beginning of this imperialism started with king Leopold of Belgium. For several years he had been secretly sending his representatives to the Congo region to sign treaties and purchase land from the local tribes, when it finally came to light what he was doing, he had already acquired 900,000 acres, later known as The Belgian Congo. This land was not for his country, but for his own personal use. Leopold cared nothing about the land or the native people, his goal was to exploit the land and people at all cost and that is exactly what he did. Millions of native Africans were forced into slave labor for Leopold’s needs and the land was stripped of all its natural recourses. The slaves were treated horribly and many millions were slaughtered or died from the horrific conditions forced upon them. Although the exact number is not known it is estimated to be in the tens of millions.

    Imperialism is when a stronger nation takes over a weaker nation and controls over their lifestyle. Some Europeans supported Imperialism because they needed resources that they didn't have but other places did have. This allowed them to benefit from other countries as well as gaining power. Some Europeans and others did not support Imperialism because they felt that the increase in population especially in military would get out of hand and would provide fewer rights. Imperialism has been going on throughout history and it is seen as both good and bad by certain people or groups. I believe Imperialism was and is a good thing because it allowed and still allows for progress and development within the country.

Imperialism in Africa began in the late 19th century. It began when King Leopold II began the Scramble for Africa. All of the major colonial powers went after Africa. Their goal was to gain the most wealth and to have the most territory. Having more territory and claiming valuable parts of the continent was a symbol of power. Imperialism in Africa had negative and positive consequences on both the Europeans and Africans, these can be shown through human rights issues, new industry and advancements, and wealth and influence.

European Imperialism created a rift within the world. European powers saw the use of Imperialism, as well justified and a mean of spreading their influence and securing their strength. However the nations which found themselves under rule of an imperialistic power did not share the Europeans view on the favors they were giving. European nations saw themselves fit to divide the uncivilized world, almost in a pie like manner, to be placed under their reign. With this came many mistreatments of indigenous traditions and the people themselves. King Leopold the Second’s imperialistic claim on the Congo, and the European attempts at controlling China both exemplify the disaster of Imperialism on the human condition, and the resistance created by the people.

Over the course of human history, many believe that the “Congo Free State”, which lasted from the 1880s to the early 1900s, was one of the worst colonial states in the age of Imperialism and was one of the worst humanitarian disasters over time. Brutal methods of collecting rubber, which led to the deaths of countless Africans along with Europeans, as well as a lack of concern from the Belgian government aside from the King, combined to create the most potent example of the evils of colonialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s. The Congo colonial experience, first as the Congo Free State then later as Belgian Congo, was harmful to that region of Africa both then and now because of the lack of Belgian and International

King Leopold II ruled the Congo from 1885 to 1908. “He ruled the Congo less as a colony but more as his own personal priority. He treated the native Congolese nearly as slaves and used the wealth of the Congo to grow his own personal wealth.” (http://drcimperialism.weebly.com/life-under-imperialist-power.html). Under his rule the people of the Congo were treated horribly. The Congolese experienced a humanitarian disaster consisting of enslavement, exploitation, and even extermination. Moreover, by the end of this era it was estimated that the population was cut in half. “Eventually international outrage forced Leopold to turn over his personal colony to the Belgian government.” (Esler 572) Nonetheless, during the years of Leopold’s rule imperialism thrived.

Many nations wanted to expand their territory and gain control of natural resources that are nonnative. As a result, Imperialism began in the late nineteenth century due to economic, political, and social forces including the Industrial Revolution, trade, and military conditions. Imperialism is the domination over an undeveloped, less industrialized country by a stronger, more industrialized nation. Although Imperialism has shaped the culture and customs all over the world, it had both negative and positive impacts throughout imperialized nations. The Perspectives on imperialism varied widely between those who imposed it and those who were affected by it.

Some preface before delving deep into the roots of the Congo Genocide is that before all of this happened there was King Leopold II who was in the throne of Belgium from 1865 until he died in 1909. The Congo Free State occupied almost all the Congo River basin however, now it exists as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was formed in the 1880’s as a private property by a group of European investors, and formed by King Leopold II. King Leopold II brought his attention to the Congo during the exploration of the Congo River by Henry Morton Stanley in 1874-1877. In November of 1877 Leopold formed the Committee for Studies of the Upper Congo and opened trade between Europe and The Congo through the Congo River. Between 1879 and 1882, with help from sponsors Stanley created posts in the upper Congo and created negotiations with local rulers. By the time that 1884 rolled around, their Association Internationale du Congo had signed treaties with 450 independent African tribes and regions, and with that they declared the right to govern all their territory as a singular state; this state of 905,000 square miles with an area seventy-six times as large as Belgium. King Leopold II was to