The White Man's Burden - Says that what the Europeans think they are doing is HELPING Africa, Asia, India and SEA (South East Asia) –This does not justify Imperialism, but does show that not all motives were “evil” or bad What is this writing about and what is Kipling trying to say? Social Darwinism Social Darwinism - stated certain nations/races are more fit than others Social Darwinists believed “fit”/stronger nations came to rule over those nations that are weaker, often showed discrimination against citizens of ruled nations

The Congo Free State or The Belgian Congo

Background King Leopold II of Belgium persuaded the Berlin Conference that he should govern the Congo. He promised to end slavery… –He alone controlled the Congo, not Belgium itself Why did he want the Congo? –Tremendous wealth could be gained through the sale of ivory and, particularly, rubber from forced labor.

Why rubber? He needed it for the new electrical and automobile industries

How did he rule? He ruled through making treaties, or agreements, with tribal leaders and used his military, known as the Force Publique. The military was armed with artillery, machine guns, and chicottes (type of whip). –There were horrible and cruel punishments for those who did not work

One bullet = One hand King Leopold made the military submit one severed hand for every bullet that they used. Hands were also cut off when laborers did not fulfill their rubber quota.

It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead... This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to their credit. -- Belgian Official

Results of Leopold’s Rule… Estimates for the death toll in the Congo range from five million to eight million (about ½ their population). –Resulted from warfare, disease, and starvation. Some railroads and steamers were built while few schools and roads were constructed.

The world finally caught on to the horrors of what happened in the Congo. They pressured King Leopold to leave –Leopold turns the Congo over to Belgium in 1908.

Belgium took over the Congo but did virtually nothing to prepare the nation for independence. –Belgium puts leaders in control that it can manipulate and use to do what they want.