Effects of Colonization

Africa 2020

Leopold and The Congo

• “To open to civilization the only part of our globe which it has not yet penetrated, to pierce the darkness which hangs over entire peoples, is, I dare say, a crusade worthy of this century of progress.”

• “I was in no way motivated by selfish designs.”

• Agree or disagree?

Leopold and The Congo

• Takes over as personal property

• Congo “Free” State

• Takes over all vacant lands

• Takes over trade – put down rebellions

• On the bright side – works to end slavery

• But...Charge Rubber Tax: paid in labor

• Abuse

• Population falls by 50% according to some estimates; more devastating than slave trade

Rubber

• 1845: RW Thomson invents the pneumatic tire.

• It does not catch on.

• John Dunlop starts the Dunlop Tire

Company in 1888.

• Now, rubber is cheap and plentiful in Africa.

Rubber Trees and Rubber Vines

George Washington Williams

E.D. Morel

• These men began a

Humanitarian Campaign to

change the behavior of

Europeans in the Congo.

• Belgian government takes

control

• Ends worst abuses, but still

exploit

• No Africans have a role in

governing

• Took all wealth from the

resources

Leopold and The Congo

• He has been called the leader of “A secret society

of murders.”

• He has been accused of establishing “official

slavery” in the Congo.

• Leopold II has been compared to Hitler.

• Do you agree?

The Impact of Leopold on the Congo

• Independence in 1960

• Fighting, instability and corruption

• One historian claims no nation in Africa more

impacted by Imperialism