The Belgian Congo: "King Leopold's Ghost"
A King Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a king. His name was Leopold.
Of Belgium Leopold was the king of a little country called Belgium. Belgium is not very big.
Africa Leopold was sad. He wanted more land. I want more land. Wait! “Wait!” he thought, “Isn’t there always land to take in Africa?” .
Competition But most of the land was already taken by other countries.
Competition !
What to do? Leopold wanted to own a part of Africa too. Yeah!
The Congo So Leopold set his heart on “the Congo,” a little space in the middle of Africa.
Comparison This seems silly, because Belgium is this big... In comparison to the Congo, which is this big.
How? Leopold didn’t want to take it over with his armies. He planned to take it over through trickery.
Excuses Leopold tells all the other countries that he isn’t taking over the Congo. He has a lot of excuses. I’m Leopold, baby! Let’s make a peace treaty. I’m spreading Christianity. Other nations are warlike. I’m all for peace. Someone should help the Congans. I just want to explore Africa.
Help me explore the Congo, Stanley! Leopold even gets help from his friend Henry Stanley, an explorer. Help me explore the Congo, Stanley! Okay, King Leopold!
Stanley Henry Stanley is an interesting guy. Adopted Ran from fights in the American Civil War Wanted to be famous Sent to find famous Dr. Livingstone in Africa
Dr. Livingstone was lost in Africa, supposedly. He had to be found. Leopold used it as a big publicity stunt. Even though Stanley found him, half his explorers and slaves died trying to get to him. When Stanley arrived in Livingstone’s camp, he asked…
“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
Alright! Now I have my own colony! Anyway… Back to Leopold. All the other countries are fooled. They defeat the Congo for him. Alright! Now I have my own colony!
He even called for a meeting of all European countries to make sure that Africa was treated with “kindness.” The conference met in Berlin. It turned into a decision to carve up Africa and decide which country gained which land they wanted.
Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 Another point of view?
The Congo Free State becomes The Belgian Congo
King Leopold II makes money for the Congo poeple…
Construction He gives them wonderful works of art… …well, okay, he orders them to make them.
…and he orders them to harvest Rubber.
Punishing “Lazy” Workers
5-8 Million Victims! (50% of Popul.) 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
Belgium’s Stranglehold on the Congo
Leopold’s Conscience??
Too much This massacre of the Congo people is too much, even for the other European countries. They order Leopold to give up the country to his country’s government.
Bibliography Pojer, Susan M.; Horace Greeley HS; Chappaqua, NY; 2009; http://www. pptpalooza.net/PPTs/GlobalStudies/ EuropeanColonialisminAfrica.ppt