1. Today’s Goal: How was Leopold able to gain control of the Congo?
Leopoldville

2. “Dr. Livingston I presume.”
Henry Morton Stanley
Born a bastard- orphanage- evidence of molestation- fear of women, liar
Handwriting – Deckhand- Civil War (both sides, Confederate …Union)
Journalist- embellishes, bribes telegraph attendant to be first story home
African Explorers become celebrities
READING---Excerpt from King Leopold's Ghost
“Dr. Livingston I presume.”

3. 1876 Formation of International Africa Association
King Leopold II
King of the Belgians
“to open civilization to the only part of the globe where it has not penetrated.”
Belgium became independent in 1830
Obsessed with profit colonies
Studies: Spanish conquistadors
Visits: British colonies
Searches the world for a colony to buy: fails to buy from Spanish Portuguese and Dutch
Finally looks to Africa: 80% still ruled by indigenous rulers.
Sept 1876 hosted a gathering of explorers and geographers
Opening speech: “to open civilization to the only part of the globe where it has not penetrated.”
Formation of International Africa Association
Many were impressed with the King’s commitment to humanitarianism
1876 Formation of International Africa Association

4. How does Leopold end up controlling the Congo?
International Africa Association
“to open civilization to the only part of the globe where it has not penetrated.”
How can he get a colony
Can’t buy,
Can’t take by force
Humanitarian angle
Many were impressed with the King’s commitment to humanitarianism

5. What could they gain from each other?
Leopold II and Stanley
What could they gain from each other?
450 treaties- from Stanley
granted Leopold exclusive trading rights and control over land
How does he get countries to recognize his hold on the Congo

6. How does Leopold get countries to recognize his hold on the Congo?
Lobbyists
Leopold turned to U.S. to recognize Belgian Congo
Tremendous lobby campaign—emphasized a great humanitarian cause
1884 U.S. became first country to recognize Belgium Congo
Leopold turned to Europe and used similar tactics

7. The Berlin Conference (1884-1885)
To promote:
Commerce
Christianity
Civilization
Otto von Bismarck arranged international conference
14 nations came together—Leopold was not invited
Three C’s were preached: Commerce, Christianity & Civilization
Three aims: ensure free trade for all nations in Congo, free navigation on Niger River, agree to a set of “rules” to divide the rest of the continent
NO African representatives invited
Purpose- And reduce the possibility of conflicts arising among the European powers
Three aims
Free trade
Free navigation on the Niger River of West Africa
Agree upon a set of rules by which the Europeans could proceed to divide the rest of the continent
The conference ended with the signing of the Berlin Act of Among the provisions:
they agreed to protect freedom of religion in all of the colonial territories of Africa.
They also promised to “watch over the preservation of the native tribes and to care for the improvement of their moral and material well-being,” and to
help in suppressing slavery.

8. The Partition of Africa

9. Write 2 Questions on the Berlin Conference (and then ask your partner)1. 2.

10. For Africans the Berlin Conference of 1885 was like…
Visual Metaphor
Create an illustrated visual metaphor about the motives and outcomes of the 1885 Berlin Conference.
Annotate your picture with at least two points to explain why the metaphor works.
For Africans the Berlin Conference of 1885 was like…

11. So how was Africa carved up?
The Berlin Act 1885
Not only to promote:
C__________
Also to reduce the possibility of c_________ arising among the European powers

12. Berlin Conference
Otto von Bismarck arranged an international conference
_____ nations came together—Leopold was not invited (Henry Stanley attended)
Three C’s were preached: Commerce, Christianity & Civilization
Three aims:
ensure f_____ t_______for all nations in Congo,
free navigation on Niger River,
agree to a set of “rules” to d________ the rest of the continent
NO A________ representatives were invited

13. Did they achieve these provisions?
The Outcome?
The conference ended with the signing of the Berlin Act of Among the provisions:
they agreed to protect f__________ of religion in all of the colonial territories of Africa,
they also promised to “watch over the preservation of the n_______ tribes and to care for the improvement of their moral and material well-being,” and to
help in suppressing sl_________.
Did they achieve these provisions?

14. King Leopold’s Ghost
Silent Sustained Reading (SSR): Book - King Leopold’s Ghost
Directions: Read pages 84 to (top of) 87. Answer the assigned questions.