1. THE DARK HEART OF KING LEOPOLD II OF BELGIUM Kevin P. Dincher www.kevindincher.com Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at CSU East Bay

2. LEOPOLD II Africa Kevin P. Dincher 2

3. 3 Leopold II Africa and the Congo Joseph Conrad European Colonialism Mark Twain US Imperialism Stanley and Livingston Slavery Charles Darwin Cold War Sherlock Holmes

4. Leopold II (1835 – 1909) King of the Belgians: 1865 – 1909 Family Connections Mother: Louise d’Orleans, Princess of France Wife: Marie Henriette Hapsburg, Archduchess of Austria Sister: Carlota of Mexico, Empress of Mexico 1 st cousin: Queen Victoria 7 th cousin 6 times removed: Kevin Dincher 4 Leopold, 1844

5. Belgium October 4, 1830: Belgian Revolution Southern provinces declared independence from the Netherlands Catholic, officially French-speaking and neutral Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy 1831: Leopold I Elected “King of the Belgians” House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Kevin P. Dincher 5

6. Leopold II 1855: Became member of senate Immediately began urging establishing Belgian colonies Overseas colonies were the key to a country's greatness 1865: Became king 1866: first of three unsuccessful attempts to acquire the Philippines from Spain Kevin P. Dincher 6

7. Leopold II 1876: Convened the Brussels Geographic Conference Proposed an international benevolent committee “Propagation civilization among the peoples of Central Africa” (Congo) Multi-national Scientific Humanitarian Kevin P. Dincher 7 Leopold II and Marie Henriette

8. Leopold II 1876-1878: International African Association (AIA) Association Internationale Africaine Private holding company disguised as an international scientific and philanthropic association Leopold served as chairman twice Primary Achievement Convincing Belgian people and European countries that his interests in Africa were altruistic and humanitarian Kevin P. Dincher 8

9. Leopold II 1878: Study Committee of the Upper Congo Comité d'Études du Haut-Congo Exploration Scientifc Humanitarian Commercial Kevin P. Dincher 9

10. Leopold II 1879: International Association of the Congo (IAC) Association Internationale du Congo International Congo Society Humanitarian/philanthropic Scientific Commercial/economic Official Stockholders British/Dutch businessmen Belgian Banker Kevin P. Dincher 10

11. Leopold II 1879: International Association of the Congo (IAC) Henry Morton Stanley Five-year contract Establish bases in the Congo Secure trade route for ivory market Rubber and minerals Kevin P. Dincher 11 Dr. Livingston, I presume?

12. Kevin P. Dincher 12 Henry Stanley … …a fearless newspaper reporter ready to do whatever it takes to get a story, regardless of any danger to his life!

13. Leopold II 1881 – 1914: Scramble for Africa Race for Africa Partition of Africa 1870 Europeans occupied about 10% of the continent 1914: only Ethiopia and Liberia were independent Kevin P. Dincher 13

14. Leopold II 1884-1885: Berlin Conference Portuguese initiative British support Bismark’s work Austria-Hungary Belgium Denmark France United Kingdom Italy Netherlands Portugal Russia Spain Sweden-Norway Ottoman Empire United States Kevin P. Dincher 14

15. Leopold II 1884-1885: Berlin Conference *Recognized the International Association of the Congo (IAC) as sovereign government Kevin P. Dincher 15 Belgium* Britain France Germany Italy Portugal Spain Independent

16. Leopold II 1884-1885: Berlin Conference “Spheres of Influence” Region over which a state or organization has a level of cultural, economic, military, or political exclusivity An international prohibition of the slave trade throughout their respected spheres "International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs" (Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness) Kevin P. Dincher 16

17. Leopold II "I do not want to miss a good chance of getting us a slice of this magnificent African cake." King Leopold II 1885 Resolution passed in Belgian Parliament Transferred the IAC charter to “Congo Free State” État indépendant du Congo Leopold: Roi-Souverain Person property - private colony Established Force Publique (FP) Kevin P. Dincher 17

18. Leopold II "I do not want to miss a good chance of getting us a slice of this magnificent African cake." King Leopold II Kevin P. Dincher 18 1885: Congo Free State Leopold pledge to uphold Berlin Conference Suppress East African slave trade Promote humanitarian policies Guarantee free trade within the colony Impose no import duties for 20 yrs. Encourage philanthropic and scientific enterprises

19. Leopold II Exploitation of resources Ivory, Rubber, Minerals One of the greatest international scandals of the early 20th century Forced/slave labor Starvation Disease Torture/mutilation Directly and indirectly eliminated 20% of the population 10 to 13 million people Kevin P. Dincher 19 A 1906 Punch cartoon depicting Leopold II as a rubber vine entangling a Congolese man

20. Leopold II Kevin P. Dincher 20

21. "I have just returned from a journey inland to the village of Insongo Mboyo. The abject misery and utter abandon is positively indescribable. I was so moved, Your Excellency, by the people's stories that I took the liberty of promising them that in future you will only kill them for crimes they commit.“ John Harris (Missionary) Kevin P. Dincher 21

22. Hochschild: Great Forgetting Royal Museum for Central Africa Large collection of colonial artifacts Blankenberge, Belgium Monument shows a colonialist bringing "civilization" to the black child at his feet Oostend, Belgium Monument to Leopold II with grateful Oostend fishermen and Congolese. The gratitude of the Congolese to Leopold II for having liberated them from slavery under the Arabs. Kevin P. Dincher 22

23. Kevin P. Dincher 23 I have undertaken the work in Congo in the interest of civilization and for the good of Belgium.“ Monument, Arlon, Belgium

24. Kevin P. Dincher 24

25. Kevin P. Dincher 25 1. Everything’s related! 2. When we learn about other people, times and places, we learn about ourselves.

26. The Dark Heart of King Leopold II Adam Hochschild King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa Lecturer, Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley Other Works: To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves The Mirror at Midnight: A South African Journey The Unquiet Ghost: Russians Remember Stalin Kevin P. Dincher 26

27. The Dark Heart of King Leopold II Other Resources Handout, page 2 Course Slides Online www.kevindincher.com Click on COURSES Click on THE DARK HEART OF KING LEOPOLD II OF BELGIUM Click on COURSE MATERIALS AND RESOUCES (at bottom of page) Kevin P. Dincher 27

28. AFRICA Kevin P. Dincher 28

29. Kevin P. Dincher 29

30. Africa: Caravan Routes Kevin P. Dincher 30

31. Africa Reconquista: 711 – 1492 1139-1179: Portugal as independent 1249: capture of the Algarve Henry (Enrique) the Navigator (1394-1460) Son of King and Queen of Portugal 1415: Battle of Ceuta (Morocco) “Key to the Mediterranean” Caravan routes Major northern trade center on the Kevin P. Dincher 31

32. Africa Battle of Ceuta 45,000 Portuguese Practical Failure “Success” Energized Europeans Ripple effect Expansion beyond continent “Christendom” Portugal took the lead 1415-1505: expanded along the Pacific Coast of North Africa Kevin P. Dincher 32

33. Africa Kevin P. Dincher 33 Henry the Navigator Trade routes Prester John Legend 1420Madeira Island 1427Azores 1434Beyond Cape Bojador 1441First Slaves from Mauritania 1444Senegal River (Beyond Sahara/Muslims) Gold/Slaves* 1444-144640 ships trading at Lagos, Portugal* 1456Cape Verde Islands 1490Cape of Good Hope 1498Vasco da Gama: Portugal to India *1552: slaves made up 10% of population of Lisbon

34. Africa First Wave of European Colonization 1415 – 1830 Primarily involved the colonization of the Americas Also some colonies in India and Maritime SE Asia Africa Trading posts Atlantic slave trade Kevin P. Dincher 34

35. ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE Kevin P. Dincher 35

36. Slavery 1. “…the right by some individuals to possess, buy, sell, discipline, transport, liberate, or otherwise dispose of the bodies and behavior of other individuals.” Seymour Drescher Abolition: A History of Slavery and Antislavery 2. “ … integral element is that children of a slave mother automatically become slaves Kevin P. Dincher 36

37. Slavery 1760 BCE Code of Hammurabi Earliest record of slavery as an established institution 1800 ¾ of all people alive in some form of slavery or serfdom. David P. Forsythe, Encyclopedia of Human Rights 1981 Mauritania: Last country to outlaw slavery Did not become a crime to own slaves until 2007 Today: 10% to 20%) of the population lives in slavery. 340,000 to 680,000 Kevin P. Dincher 37

38. Slavery: Classical Era Ancient Greece 30% of the population of some cities Athens: majority owned at least one slave Aristotle Ancient Rome Roman Republic vital to the economy Roman Empire 25% of the empire's population 30 to 40% of the population of Italy Kevin P. Dincher 38

39. Slavery: Middle Ages Vikings British Isles and Eastern Europe Sold on the Byzantine or Islamic slave markets Ended in the 11th century - Serfdom Spain/Portugal Muslim raids on Christian territories Byzantine-Ottoman Wars Both Christians and Muslims Knights of Malta Kevin P. Dincher 39

40. Charles Bridge, Prague Kevin P. Dincher 40

41. Slavery: Muslim Powers Islamic Law: forbidden to enslave “People of the Book” Muslims, Christians, Jews Sabian, Magians Exceptions could be made if they were captured in battle Expected to be freed if converted to Islam Slave Trading: Iberian Peninsula Muslim and Jewish merchants Brought slaves into al-Andalus from eastern Europe (pagan Slavs) Re-exported them to other regions of the Islamic world Christianization of Slavs ended practice Africa Kevin P. Dincher 41

42. Kevin P. Dincher 42 650 – 1900 4 million via Red Sea 4 million through the Swahili ports of the Indian Ocean 9 million along the trans-Saharan caravan route African Slave Routes

43. Slavery Before the “Age of Discovery” Not about Race Part of Human Nature Aristotle Consequence of Sin Augustine No “Slave Economies” Kevin P. Dincher 43

44. Atlantic Slave Trade 12 million African slaves to the Americas between 1600 and 1800 Kevin P. Dincher 44 70% to Brazil and Caribbean Islands 5% (600,000) to US Half during colonial era

45. Atlantic Slave Trade Kevin P. Dincher 45

46. Kevin P. Dincher 46 Slave Ship

47. Brazil Slavery = Mainstay of colonial economy Mining and sugar cane About 38% of all African slaves sent to Americas 1761: slavery abolished in Portugal but continued in colonies 1888: Last South American country to ban slavery Kevin P. Dincher 47

48. Brazil Enslavement of Native Populations Jesuit Reductions The Mission Kevin P. Dincher 48

49. Caribbean Kevin P. Dincher 49

50. Caribbean Slavery = Mainstay of colonial economy Sugar cane About 38% of all African slaves sent to Americas 1778: French alone importing 13,000 annually Death rates for Caribbean slaves were greater than birth rates Free blacks owned one-third of the plantation property and one- quarter of the slaves in Haiti 1794: French Republic abolished slavery 1802: Napoleon 1804: Haiti a free republic Kevin P. Dincher 50

51. United States 1619: Jamestown 1 st African indentured servants 1642: Colonies begin to codify slavery 1776: Declaration of Independence Gradual abolition in North Increase in slavery in the South 1787: US Constitution Article I, Section 9: allowed the continued "importation" of slaves Article IV, Section 2: Fugitive Slave Clause Kevin P. Dincher 51