King Leopold II of Belgium sought to acquire a colony for Belgium in the late 19th century. He set his sights on the largely unexplored Congo region of Central Africa. Through deception and exploitation, Leopold was able to establish a private colony called the Congo Free State. He used forced labor and brutal violence to extract resources from the Congo for his own profit. Mark Twain satirized Leopold's rule in his 1905 work "King Leopold's Soliloquy," exposing the horrific reality of the regime through humor and mocking Leopold's claimed justifications for his actions. The work provided one of the most accurate depictions of Leopold's cruel exploitation of the Congolese people.
King Leopold II of Belgium established a colony called the Congo Free State in central Africa in the late 1800s and treated it as his personal property, exploiting the land and people for rubber and other resources through brutal means such as forced labor, murder, and torture. Missionaries and others reported on the atrocities, including soldiers forcing villagers to collect rubber and cutting off hands to prove they had not wasted ammunition. It is estimated that Leopold's regime led to the deaths of over 10 million Congolese people through murder, disease, and declining birth rates. International pressure eventually forced Leopold to relinquish control of the Congo in 1908.
Famous Writers against an Infamous KingMiro Atanasov
The document discusses a lecture about famous writers who exposed the horrors of the Congo Free State through their literature. It provides historical context about the Congo Free State, which was privately owned by King Leopold II of Belgium from 1885 to 1908. During this time, an estimated 10 million Congolese people died due to atrocities committed by the king's forces to exploit the country's rubber and ivory trade. The lecture highlights several classic works of British and American literature from this era, including an open letter, novella, soliloquy, non-fiction expose, poetry, and popular history book, that helped bring awareness to the abuses and campaign for reforms in the Congo Free State.
The document discusses the rise of absolutism in France under King Louis XIV and his efforts to centralize power. It describes how Louis XIV and his chief minister Cardinal Richelieu reduced the power of the nobility and strengthened the monarchy. Louis went on to declare absolute rule and built the grand Palace of Versailles to demonstrate his supreme authority. He revoked protections for Huguenots and imposed religious unity, pursuing increasingly absolutist policies. Overall, the document examines how Louis XIV centralized power in the monarchy at the expense of other groups to establish absolute rule in France.
King John was an English king in the late 12th and early 13th centuries best known for agreeing to the Magna Carta, which limited his power. However, he was widely viewed as a weak and vile ruler due to military defeats, wasteful spending, poor relations with barons and the pope, and mismanagement of England and Ireland. The document instructs students to investigate King John's character and rule by considering these reported weaknesses and issues in his reign.
The document discusses key details about the history and traditions of the Olympic Games:
- The Olympics originated in Olympia, Greece and included sports like running, jumping, wrestling and javelin throw.
- The Olympic flame symbolizes the theft of fire from the gods in Greek mythology and has been part of the Olympics since 1928.
- Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and Larisa Latynina are discussed as some of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time, having won numerous medals and set world records.
18.yy historical background in English LiteratureMerve Özdemir
The 18th century in England, also known as the Augustan age, was a period of relative peace and prosperity. This was due to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy with a Prime Minister and Cabinet governing alongside the monarch. The old aristocracy and Church of England largely supported the Tory party, while the Whig party opposed absolute rule. Several events impacted Britain internationally, including the loss of the American colonies, French Revolution, conflicts in Scotland and Ireland.
The Berlin Conference of 1884 was convened to regulate colonial rivalries in Africa and negotiate spheres of influence, territories, and trade between the European powers. However, no African nations were invited to participate. The conference endorsed the Scramble for Africa by European powers and led to the partition of Africa among Germany, Britain, Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. This disrupted African societies and ultimately subjected people across the continent to colonial rule, exploitation, and atrocities like those committed by King Leopold II of Belgium in the Congo Free State.
A PowerPoint presentation based on students bloopers arranged in chronological order and compiled by teacher, Richard Lederer. This was produced for a Bus Admin course assignment.
King Leopold II of Belgium established a colony called the Congo Free State in central Africa in the late 1800s and treated it as his personal property, exploiting the land and people for rubber and other resources through brutal means such as forced labor, murder, and torture. Missionaries and others reported on the atrocities, including soldiers forcing villagers to collect rubber and cutting off hands to prove they had not wasted ammunition. It is estimated that Leopold's regime led to the deaths of over 10 million Congolese people through murder, disease, and declining birth rates. International pressure eventually forced Leopold to relinquish control of the Congo in 1908.
Famous Writers against an Infamous KingMiro Atanasov
The document discusses a lecture about famous writers who exposed the horrors of the Congo Free State through their literature. It provides historical context about the Congo Free State, which was privately owned by King Leopold II of Belgium from 1885 to 1908. During this time, an estimated 10 million Congolese people died due to atrocities committed by the king's forces to exploit the country's rubber and ivory trade. The lecture highlights several classic works of British and American literature from this era, including an open letter, novella, soliloquy, non-fiction expose, poetry, and popular history book, that helped bring awareness to the abuses and campaign for reforms in the Congo Free State.
The document discusses the rise of absolutism in France under King Louis XIV and his efforts to centralize power. It describes how Louis XIV and his chief minister Cardinal Richelieu reduced the power of the nobility and strengthened the monarchy. Louis went on to declare absolute rule and built the grand Palace of Versailles to demonstrate his supreme authority. He revoked protections for Huguenots and imposed religious unity, pursuing increasingly absolutist policies. Overall, the document examines how Louis XIV centralized power in the monarchy at the expense of other groups to establish absolute rule in France.
King John was an English king in the late 12th and early 13th centuries best known for agreeing to the Magna Carta, which limited his power. However, he was widely viewed as a weak and vile ruler due to military defeats, wasteful spending, poor relations with barons and the pope, and mismanagement of England and Ireland. The document instructs students to investigate King John's character and rule by considering these reported weaknesses and issues in his reign.
The document discusses key details about the history and traditions of the Olympic Games:
- The Olympics originated in Olympia, Greece and included sports like running, jumping, wrestling and javelin throw.
- The Olympic flame symbolizes the theft of fire from the gods in Greek mythology and has been part of the Olympics since 1928.
- Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and Larisa Latynina are discussed as some of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time, having won numerous medals and set world records.
18.yy historical background in English LiteratureMerve Özdemir
The 18th century in England, also known as the Augustan age, was a period of relative peace and prosperity. This was due to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy with a Prime Minister and Cabinet governing alongside the monarch. The old aristocracy and Church of England largely supported the Tory party, while the Whig party opposed absolute rule. Several events impacted Britain internationally, including the loss of the American colonies, French Revolution, conflicts in Scotland and Ireland.
The Berlin Conference of 1884 was convened to regulate colonial rivalries in Africa and negotiate spheres of influence, territories, and trade between the European powers. However, no African nations were invited to participate. The conference endorsed the Scramble for Africa by European powers and led to the partition of Africa among Germany, Britain, Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. This disrupted African societies and ultimately subjected people across the continent to colonial rule, exploitation, and atrocities like those committed by King Leopold II of Belgium in the Congo Free State.
A PowerPoint presentation based on students bloopers arranged in chronological order and compiled by teacher, Richard Lederer. This was produced for a Bus Admin course assignment.
Daniel DeFoe was an English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer born in the 17th century in London. He is best known as the author of Robinson Crusoe, considered one of the first novels in English. DeFoe had a varied career and wrote over 500 books, pamphlets, and journals on diverse topics from politics to the supernatural. Despite his success as a writer, he struggled financially and was imprisoned multiple times for his political writings. He died in 1731 in London buried in Bunhill Fields.
The document discusses Victorian literature during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. It provides context on the growth of the British Empire, the Industrial Revolution, and changing social conditions including urbanization and the role of women. Major literary genres of this period are described, including the rise of the novel, poetry, and drama. Key authors like Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Oscar Wilde are mentioned in relation to their contributions to Victorian literature.
Robin Hood was a legendary criminal folk hero from 13th century England who fought corruption in a small town with his band of thieves against the crown. Though an outlaw, Robin Hood became a symbol of freedom for the common people by challenging the power-sharing between the king and subjects through his adventures against the corrupt officials.
This document provides an in-depth analysis of the symbolism and origins behind an American WWI propaganda poster titled "Destroy this Mad Brute". The poster depicts a club-wielding ape-like beast threatening a helpless woman. The analysis traces the poster's imagery back to concepts of culture vs militarism, depictions of early humans and wild men, stories of primates abducting women, and influences from statues, films, and other popular culture sources. It seeks to understand how the poster used dehumanizing symbols of Germany as an ape-like beast to encourage enlistment in fighting WWI.
Queen Victoria ruled Britain from 1837 to 1901 during a period known as the Victorian Age. Her long reign saw both progress, including industrialization and expanding trade, as well as conflicts as Britain sought to defend its vast global empire. Victorian society was characterized by morality, social reform, and optimism fueled by economic and technological advances. However, toward the end of the era, unease and doubts emerged as the limits of progress became apparent. Literature of the period reflected both the positivity of the early Victorian era as well as growing pessimism later on.
1) Sir Walter Raleigh was an English writer, poet, soldier, and explorer born in 1552 who came to favor under Queen Elizabeth I for suppressing rebellions in Ireland.
2) He was involved in early English colonization efforts in Virginia in the 1580s and 1590s, establishing the failed Roanoke colony on Roanoke Island.
3) The Roanoke colony disappeared mysteriously in 1587, with the only clues being the words "CROATOAN" and "CRO" carved into trees, leaving the fate of the colonists unknown. Raleigh made other unsuccessful voyages searching for gold and the mythical city of El Dorado.
The document provides context about Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. It includes biographical details about Conrad and discusses some of the key themes, characters, and narrative structures in the novella, such as the story within a story frame, the journey into the African jungle as a descent into darkness and savagery, and opposing views about whether Conrad endorses or critiques imperialism. It also mentions criticisms of the novella for being racist, sexist, and imperialist.
European nations engaged in imperialism in the late 19th century, conquering much of Africa and Asia. The main drivers of imperialism were economic motivations like access to raw materials and new markets, as well as political and social factors like nationalism, social Darwinism, and a desire to spread Christianity. Many European powers competed to establish colonies in Africa and Asia, including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, and Japan. Imperialism had both positive and negative impacts on colonized regions, bringing modernization but also exploitation and division. Resistance to imperialism emerged in places like Algeria, India, and China.
The Victorian Era document provides background information on Victorian literature and themes. It discusses that Victorian literature was written during Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901. Major events during this time included rapid population growth, technological advances, and Darwin's theory of evolution. Popular Victorian authors included Robert Browning, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Charles Darwin, and Henry David Thoreau. Common Victorian themes centered around issues like social classes, industrialization, and the conflict between science and religion. The document also provides brief biographies of Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning and directs students to analyze sample poems from each author.
The document discusses Africa before and during the period of European imperialism. It describes how early interactions involved trading between Africans and Europeans, with Africans controlling the trade. It then explains how the slave trade developed and how Europeans gained power through technological advances like quinine, steam engines, and maxim guns. Finally, it summarizes how European countries colonized Africa following the Berlin Conference where they arbitrarily divided the continent without African representation.
Edward the Confessor allegedly promised the English kingdom to William, Duke of Normandy before his death in 1066. William invaded England and defeated the English army led by Harold II at the Battle of Hastings. William then took control of England, installed his own nobles, and had the Domesday Book compiled to record land holdings.
Colonial Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 by William Penn as a place for Quakers to practice their religion freely. It became an important colony due to agriculture, cities like Philadelphia which fostered the arts, and its role during the American Revolution. Pennsylvania was a diverse colony inhabited by Quakers, Germans, Scots-Irish, and African slaves. Newspapers emerged as an important form of communication and entertainment for colonists.
The document provides definitions and context about European imperialism between 1870-1914. It discusses the motives and causes of late 19th century European imperialism including economic factors, nationalism, social Darwinism, and the white man's burden. Specific examples of European colonialism are given for Britain, France, Germany, and the United States in Africa and Asia during this era of imperialism.
During Queen Elizabeth I's rule of England from 1558 to 1603 (the Elizabethan Age), England became stronger in the following ways:
1) Queen Elizabeth I was a talented and strong ruler who effectively managed both the government and military to bring stability and prosperity to England.
2) The laws and government were strictly managed but power was distributed, not centralized under the Queen alone, giving the people more freedom and opportunity.
3) England developed a strong military with modern weapons and required military training, deterring enemies and increasing the chances of winning wars.
Samuel Bourne arrived in India in 1863 as a photographer seeking his fortune. By this time, the British had firmly established control over India following the 1857 Indian Mutiny, where Indian soldiers rebelled against British rule. Bourne photographed sites from the Mutiny, such as the Well of Cawnpore, which had been transformed into a memorial by the British to commemorate those killed. His photos depicted Indians in subordinate roles to British power and helped frame India as conquered and under firm British control in the aftermath of the violent suppression of the Mutiny.
1) The document discusses the decline of the Spanish empire from its peak in the mid-1500s due to a series of costly wars and economic troubles.
2) It then covers the rise of European overseas empires through the 15th-18th centuries as nations established colonies and trade networks in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
3) The transatlantic slave trade played a key role in building and supporting these empires, with millions of enslaved Africans transported to the Americas between 1492-1820.
The Galveston Movement operated between 1907-1914 with the goal of relocating Jews fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe. Jacob Schiff designed the program to funnel immigrants through Galveston, Texas rather than Atlantic ports. Rabbi Henry Cohen helped direct immigrants to new homes in the interior. While the movement succeeded in relocating 10,000 Jews, it ultimately fell short of its goal of resettling 2 million due to issues with ship conditions and health standards. The movement provided valuable lessons for planning large resettlement efforts.
The Victorian Age from 1830-1901 saw immense changes in England due to industrialization and the growth of cities. While industrialization created wealth for some, it also led to poor working conditions and poverty for many. Queen Victoria came to symbolize the moral values of the period such as domesticity, though there was also evidence of social problems. Literature reflected both the promise and challenges of this time of rapid transition and change in English society.
Marlow recalls how as a boy he would dream of exploring the blank spaces on maps, but by adulthood those spaces had been filled in with knowledge, ceasing to be places of mystery and instead becoming places of darkness. The passage reflects on how childhood wonder and imagination give way to adult disillusionment with imperialism and colonialism.
The document summarizes the imperialization of Sub-Saharan Africa in the late 19th century. European powers scrambled to colonize Africa due to economic, political, and military motivations. Explorers like David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley helped Europeans learn about Africa's natural resources and potential for trade. King Leopold II of Belgium established a private colony in the Congo through treaties negotiated by Stanley. The Berlin Conference formally divided African territories among European nations. France and Britain competed for control of the Nile River, and Britain defeated the Boers to gain control of South African land and its resources.
Daniel DeFoe was an English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer born in the 17th century in London. He is best known as the author of Robinson Crusoe, considered one of the first novels in English. DeFoe had a varied career and wrote over 500 books, pamphlets, and journals on diverse topics from politics to the supernatural. Despite his success as a writer, he struggled financially and was imprisoned multiple times for his political writings. He died in 1731 in London buried in Bunhill Fields.
The document discusses Victorian literature during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. It provides context on the growth of the British Empire, the Industrial Revolution, and changing social conditions including urbanization and the role of women. Major literary genres of this period are described, including the rise of the novel, poetry, and drama. Key authors like Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Oscar Wilde are mentioned in relation to their contributions to Victorian literature.
Robin Hood was a legendary criminal folk hero from 13th century England who fought corruption in a small town with his band of thieves against the crown. Though an outlaw, Robin Hood became a symbol of freedom for the common people by challenging the power-sharing between the king and subjects through his adventures against the corrupt officials.
This document provides an in-depth analysis of the symbolism and origins behind an American WWI propaganda poster titled "Destroy this Mad Brute". The poster depicts a club-wielding ape-like beast threatening a helpless woman. The analysis traces the poster's imagery back to concepts of culture vs militarism, depictions of early humans and wild men, stories of primates abducting women, and influences from statues, films, and other popular culture sources. It seeks to understand how the poster used dehumanizing symbols of Germany as an ape-like beast to encourage enlistment in fighting WWI.
Queen Victoria ruled Britain from 1837 to 1901 during a period known as the Victorian Age. Her long reign saw both progress, including industrialization and expanding trade, as well as conflicts as Britain sought to defend its vast global empire. Victorian society was characterized by morality, social reform, and optimism fueled by economic and technological advances. However, toward the end of the era, unease and doubts emerged as the limits of progress became apparent. Literature of the period reflected both the positivity of the early Victorian era as well as growing pessimism later on.
1) Sir Walter Raleigh was an English writer, poet, soldier, and explorer born in 1552 who came to favor under Queen Elizabeth I for suppressing rebellions in Ireland.
2) He was involved in early English colonization efforts in Virginia in the 1580s and 1590s, establishing the failed Roanoke colony on Roanoke Island.
3) The Roanoke colony disappeared mysteriously in 1587, with the only clues being the words "CROATOAN" and "CRO" carved into trees, leaving the fate of the colonists unknown. Raleigh made other unsuccessful voyages searching for gold and the mythical city of El Dorado.
The document provides context about Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. It includes biographical details about Conrad and discusses some of the key themes, characters, and narrative structures in the novella, such as the story within a story frame, the journey into the African jungle as a descent into darkness and savagery, and opposing views about whether Conrad endorses or critiques imperialism. It also mentions criticisms of the novella for being racist, sexist, and imperialist.
European nations engaged in imperialism in the late 19th century, conquering much of Africa and Asia. The main drivers of imperialism were economic motivations like access to raw materials and new markets, as well as political and social factors like nationalism, social Darwinism, and a desire to spread Christianity. Many European powers competed to establish colonies in Africa and Asia, including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, and Japan. Imperialism had both positive and negative impacts on colonized regions, bringing modernization but also exploitation and division. Resistance to imperialism emerged in places like Algeria, India, and China.
The Victorian Era document provides background information on Victorian literature and themes. It discusses that Victorian literature was written during Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901. Major events during this time included rapid population growth, technological advances, and Darwin's theory of evolution. Popular Victorian authors included Robert Browning, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Charles Darwin, and Henry David Thoreau. Common Victorian themes centered around issues like social classes, industrialization, and the conflict between science and religion. The document also provides brief biographies of Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning and directs students to analyze sample poems from each author.
The document discusses Africa before and during the period of European imperialism. It describes how early interactions involved trading between Africans and Europeans, with Africans controlling the trade. It then explains how the slave trade developed and how Europeans gained power through technological advances like quinine, steam engines, and maxim guns. Finally, it summarizes how European countries colonized Africa following the Berlin Conference where they arbitrarily divided the continent without African representation.
Edward the Confessor allegedly promised the English kingdom to William, Duke of Normandy before his death in 1066. William invaded England and defeated the English army led by Harold II at the Battle of Hastings. William then took control of England, installed his own nobles, and had the Domesday Book compiled to record land holdings.
Colonial Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 by William Penn as a place for Quakers to practice their religion freely. It became an important colony due to agriculture, cities like Philadelphia which fostered the arts, and its role during the American Revolution. Pennsylvania was a diverse colony inhabited by Quakers, Germans, Scots-Irish, and African slaves. Newspapers emerged as an important form of communication and entertainment for colonists.
The document provides definitions and context about European imperialism between 1870-1914. It discusses the motives and causes of late 19th century European imperialism including economic factors, nationalism, social Darwinism, and the white man's burden. Specific examples of European colonialism are given for Britain, France, Germany, and the United States in Africa and Asia during this era of imperialism.
During Queen Elizabeth I's rule of England from 1558 to 1603 (the Elizabethan Age), England became stronger in the following ways:
1) Queen Elizabeth I was a talented and strong ruler who effectively managed both the government and military to bring stability and prosperity to England.
2) The laws and government were strictly managed but power was distributed, not centralized under the Queen alone, giving the people more freedom and opportunity.
3) England developed a strong military with modern weapons and required military training, deterring enemies and increasing the chances of winning wars.
Samuel Bourne arrived in India in 1863 as a photographer seeking his fortune. By this time, the British had firmly established control over India following the 1857 Indian Mutiny, where Indian soldiers rebelled against British rule. Bourne photographed sites from the Mutiny, such as the Well of Cawnpore, which had been transformed into a memorial by the British to commemorate those killed. His photos depicted Indians in subordinate roles to British power and helped frame India as conquered and under firm British control in the aftermath of the violent suppression of the Mutiny.
1) The document discusses the decline of the Spanish empire from its peak in the mid-1500s due to a series of costly wars and economic troubles.
2) It then covers the rise of European overseas empires through the 15th-18th centuries as nations established colonies and trade networks in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
3) The transatlantic slave trade played a key role in building and supporting these empires, with millions of enslaved Africans transported to the Americas between 1492-1820.
The Galveston Movement operated between 1907-1914 with the goal of relocating Jews fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe. Jacob Schiff designed the program to funnel immigrants through Galveston, Texas rather than Atlantic ports. Rabbi Henry Cohen helped direct immigrants to new homes in the interior. While the movement succeeded in relocating 10,000 Jews, it ultimately fell short of its goal of resettling 2 million due to issues with ship conditions and health standards. The movement provided valuable lessons for planning large resettlement efforts.
The Victorian Age from 1830-1901 saw immense changes in England due to industrialization and the growth of cities. While industrialization created wealth for some, it also led to poor working conditions and poverty for many. Queen Victoria came to symbolize the moral values of the period such as domesticity, though there was also evidence of social problems. Literature reflected both the promise and challenges of this time of rapid transition and change in English society.
Marlow recalls how as a boy he would dream of exploring the blank spaces on maps, but by adulthood those spaces had been filled in with knowledge, ceasing to be places of mystery and instead becoming places of darkness. The passage reflects on how childhood wonder and imagination give way to adult disillusionment with imperialism and colonialism.
The document summarizes the imperialization of Sub-Saharan Africa in the late 19th century. European powers scrambled to colonize Africa due to economic, political, and military motivations. Explorers like David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley helped Europeans learn about Africa's natural resources and potential for trade. King Leopold II of Belgium established a private colony in the Congo through treaties negotiated by Stanley. The Berlin Conference formally divided African territories among European nations. France and Britain competed for control of the Nile River, and Britain defeated the Boers to gain control of South African land and its resources.
The document summarizes the imperialization of Sub-Saharan Africa in the late 19th century. European powers scrambled to colonize Africa due to economic, political, and military motivations. Explorers like David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley helped Europeans learn about Africa's natural resources and potential for trade. King Leopold II of Belgium established a private colony in the Congo through treaties negotiated by Stanley. The Berlin Conference formally divided African territories among European nations. France and Britain competed for control of the Nile River, and Britain defeated the Boers to gain control of South African land and its resources.
Discussion Board 1 King Leopold II and the Belgian Congo Genocide..docxmickietanger
Discussion Board 1: “King Leopold II and the Belgian Congo Genocide.”
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an article on the topic of “
King Leopold II and the Belgian Congo Genocide
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Answer the following questions writing at least one full paragraph per question:
1. Which do you think motivated Leopold II more, racial prejudice or financial greed?
2. How does this genocide compare to Hitler and the Jewish Holocaust in your eyes?
3. If this type of genocide was taking place again in the Congo today, what role should the United States play in intervening in order to address such a human tragedy?
Reply on this student ..
King Leopold II was born April 9, 1835 in Brussels, Belgium. He was Queen Victoria of Britain's first cousin and became the Duke of Bradant in 1846. Leopold also served in the Belgium army. In 1853 Leopold married Marie-Henriette. He became King of Belgium in December 1865 after his father's death.
Leopold is " responsible for widespread atrocities committed under his rule against his colonial subjects" (
Leopold II, King of Belgium, by Adam Hochschild
) No colony more clearly demonstrates this than the Congo Free State during the rubber industry. In 1876 Leopold held a " international conference of explores and geographers at the royal palace in Brussels"(
Leopold II, King of Belgium, by Adam Hochschild
). A few years later Leopold hired Henry Morton Stanley to be his man in Africa. For the next five years, Stanley travels the immense waterways of the Congo. He built trading posts, roads, and persuaded local leaders to sign treaties. Interestingly, many of the chiefs were illiterate. With this strong hold on the Congo area, Leopold created the Congo Free State, which was the world's only private colony. From the Congo Free State Leopold began to accumulate a vast fortune through ivory and then in the early 1890's through rubber. Leopold's interest or motivation for ruling the Congo Free State seemed to be purely rooted in financial greed. His greed lead him to every so often send out men from his private army of 19,000 men, which was known as the Force Publique, to the villages in Congo. Once there, the solders would hold the woman for ransom and send the men out to find rubber. Many of the woman starved while being held hostage and many of the men died in the rainforest while searching for rubber. Along with this soldiers were allowed to shot men or woman if they tried to escape but they had to bring back a hand to prove that their bullet hadn't been wasted or could be used against Leopold in a rebellion. Many soldiers would cut off the hand of a live victim if they missed or went hunting to make sure they would not get into trouble. Leopold's wealth was accumulated by a forced labor system. this system was devastating to the people of Congo.
Leopold dies on December 17, 1909 in Laeken, Belgium. He had done many things in his life but his " most important legalcy remains the human cat.
King Leopold II of Belgium laid claim to the Congo Free State in the 1880s and treated it as his personal colony. He exploited the Congolese people for rubber and ivory, imposing a brutal regime that resulted in millions of deaths from murder, disease, and starvation. Though abuses were reported, the full extent was not widely known until later. Even after Leopold's death in 1909, the Congolese people continued to suffer under Belgian rule and later dictatorships until gaining independence in 1960.
The document provides background information on Thomas Gray's famous poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard". It discusses Gray's life and influences, the origins of the poem in the churchyard at Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, and the poem's themes of reflecting on the lives and deaths of ordinary people. The poem was an immediate success upon publication in 1751 for its beauty and universal meditation on life and death. It contains many phrases that have become part of common English language.
This document provides a summary of a student paper analyzing Junot Díaz's novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. The paper discusses how several characters in the novel, including the protagonist Oscar Wao, try to escape their problems through reading and writing. However, the characters ultimately cannot escape their family histories and pasts. The document also discusses how the author and poet Emily Dickinson, as well as the author themselves, have used reading as a temporary escape from reality. It concludes that no matter how hard people try, they cannot truly escape their family or cultural backgrounds.
This document summarizes a paper that argues for liberating orcas from captivity at parks like SeaWorld. It discusses how the documentary Blackfish sparked debate about the treatment of orcas and safety of trainers. While SeaWorld claims orcas live as long in captivity as in the wild, evidence from organizations like NOAA and National Geographic show captive orcas have significantly shorter lifespans. The evidence suggests SeaWorld may mislead the public and employees about orca captivity.
A History of the World in a Dozen ObjectsLynda Balloni
This document provides a summary of 12 objects discussed in a paper about human manipulation throughout world history. The objects range from a 3500 BCE Egyptian clay cattle figurine representing early domestication, to a 1573-1598 Spanish coin representing the age of European imperialism. Common themes discussed are how humans have sought to elevate themselves above other humans and nature, through practices like claiming divine status for rulers, depicting gods as human, and exploiting natural resources and other humans for economic and political gain. The paper argues that since the agricultural revolution, humanity has followed a path of manipulating nature and each other through practices like slavery, colonialism, and economic exploitation, rather than cooperating for collective benefit.
The 1950 film King Solomon's Mines portrays Africa and its people in a stereotypical and ignorant way according to Western standards. It depicts Africa as exotic, wild, and dangerous, with natives shown as less developed through their clothing, dances, and lack of character development compared to white characters. While it avoids overtly racist language, it implies distinctions between white and black characters through descriptions that portray natives as fearful or subordinate. The film perpetuates the idea that Africa is an uncivilized place filled with danger, with no signs of modern civilization.
Women's rights organizations in Gulf states have struggled to make progress due to tight control by authoritarian governments. While organizations exist in all Gulf states, they are only permitted to operate with government approval and focus on traditional gender roles rather than political or economic empowerment. Public opposition to reforms and resentment of Western influence also impede change. Some improvements have occurred, such as women gaining suffrage and increasing labor participation, but true advancement requires independent women's groups, which Gulf states do not allow. Of all countries, Saudi Arabia maintains the most restrictive policies for women.
The document summarizes several theories on the emergence of the modern state. It discusses Richard Hartshorne's theory that states emerge due to centripetal forces that bind territories together, such as national identity, and centrifugal forces that divide them. Stephen B. Jones' theory views state formation as a chained process from political idea to movement to political area. Karl Deutsch argues state formation occurs cyclically as territories transition between localism and universal entities. While the theories differ, they acknowledge factors like recognized territories and national identity are important to state emergence. An unbiased historical analysis is needed to fully understand state formation rather than one overarching theory.
This document summarizes the spectrum between unitary and federal forms of government. It discusses how unitary states imply unity and centralization, while federal states suggest an alliance between regions. The document analyzes the United Kingdom and Indonesia as examples of states that have transitioned along the unitary-federal spectrum. While the UK maintains a unitary system, it has gradually granted more autonomy to Scotland and Wales. Indonesia was initially a federal state but shifted to a unitary system after independence.
This document discusses theories of voluntary international migration in the post-colonial world and provides examples of migration patterns between Africa and Europe as well as Mexico and the United States. Several economic and social theories are examined for their ability to explain voluntary migration trends, including neoclassical, new economics of labor migration, dual labor market, and world system theories. Reasons for African migration to Europe include economic difficulties in African countries and demand for labor in Europe. Proximity and shared language influence destination countries. Migration between Mexico and the US is influenced strongly by proximity, with Mexico-US migration accounting for a large percentage of total US immigration. Undocumented migration from Mexico to the US remains common.
Congolese Rumba originated in the Belgian Congo in the 1920s-1940s when workers were exposed to Afro-Cuban rhythms through phonographs. It combines Latin beats with distinct African elements and Lingala lyrics, giving it widespread appeal across Africa. The genre flourished in the 1950s-1960s led by bands like African Jazz and OK Jazz. It gained global popularity in the 1980s when bands recorded in Parisian studios, creating a more Westernized sound. Papa Wemba and Kanda Bongo Man achieved international success but criticized how African music was marketed abroad. Despite challenges in Zaire, Congolese Rumba remains an iconic African genre with global influence.
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1. 1
King Leopold’s…
“Now why should a king value the respect of the human race? It is quite unreasonable to
expect it”.1
Although King Leopold II, the monarch of Belgium from 1885-1909 and of the Congo
Free State from 1885-1908, never actually spoke the aforementioned words, his actions as an
imperialist tyrant leave no doubt that they are what he believed. Unfortunately for Leopold, he
did not come to power during an earlier age of imperialism, when conquering as much land as
possible and either slaughtering or enslaving the indigenous population was expected and
venerated by other countries. This tyrant was born instead into a world more inclined to
condemn slavery and the old form of colonialism, a parasitic relationship which benefited only
the colonizer, where imperialist countries were expected to race to obtain the most colonies.
Instead, they worked under the façade of civilizing the local population for their own benefit,
oftentimes through Christian missionary work. Leopold was fairly bored during the time leading
up to his work the acquisition of the Congo for tiny Belgium, whose people and Parliament had
no desire for a colony. He felt he had “too little to do”, and thus set his sights on opportunities
abroad.2 Years before Europe’s “Scramble for Africa” and its manifestation at the Berlin
Conference of 1884-85, King Leopold had his eyes set on a colony to support his miniscule
country, and the still relatively untouched continent of Africa provided the most promising
venture.
Leopold also understood the changing mood of the public as abolitionism and piety swept
across the Western world, so he did everything in his power to paint a mask of philanthropy,
1 Mark Twain, King Leopold’sSoliloquy, (New York: International Publishers, 1970), 34.
2 Ruth Sade, King Leopold’s Congo, (London: Oxford University press,1962), 35.
2. 2
devoutness, and anti-slavery rhetoric to gain the support of his peers.3 Once he earned
international recognition for his private ownership of a massive territory in Central Africa, to
become the Congo Free State, his exploitative intentions became increasingly more apparent and
attracted growing attention from the public as one writer or human rights activist after another
started producing accounts of his treachery over the colony he would never once set foot in.4 He
was by no means the first author to produce a critical view of King Leopold’s Congo, but in
1905 Mark Twain jumped on the new anti-imperialist bandwagon with a series of essays, most
relevantly his satirical piece called King Leopold’s Soliloquy (multi-faceted writing piece –
fictional but factual in that it still uses statistics to support the satire (difference between fiction
and satire?)) in which he steps into the role of the king himself and gives a first-person defense
of his rule over the Congo. Twain saw right through King Leopold’s use of the ideology and
rhetoric of his day to advance his agenda, and over a brief forty-page piece, he mocks Leopold’s
humanitarian claims to no end. Twain uses two different defenses for Leopold’s rule in the
Congo: the religious/philanthropist charade and the more transparent argument mentioned in the
opening of this paper - a king’s power is divinely given and thus should not be questioned by
ordinary people. As Leopold, Twain talks of “lifting up” the Congolese population with
Christianity and calls his relative enslavement of the Congolese people “God-approved”.5
Compared with nonfiction works by other authors of Twain and King Leopold’s time and
statistics from the period of Leopold’s rule, Twain’s satire gives a disturbingly accurate account
of the cruelty exerted by Leopold, the suavely deliberate language and relationships the king
used to gain control over the Congo, and the plethora of critics who challenged him.
Additionally, other fictional and firsthand accounts from the late nineteenth – early twentieth
3 Adam Hochschild, King Leopold’sGhost, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998), 1.
4 Hochschild, 189.
5 Twain, 4-6.
3. 3
centuries of the Congo focus on the atrocities faced by the Congolese people and the mystery and
intrigue affiliated with Central Africa, but King Leopold’s Soliloquy gives a more truthful
account of King Leopold’s rule over the Congo Free State and the perseverance and skill
he used to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a colonial power than any other text of the
era (my working thesis).
Before jumping into the particular literary techniques Twain used to bring out the
horrendousness of Leopold’s rule, it is important to understand that when Leopold first set his
sights on making the Congo his own personal investment, it was still completely uncharted
territory, the majority of which had never experienced the presence of a White man. Even the
source of the colossal Congo River was unknown to the entire Western World in the years
leading up to the Berlin Conference and Leopold’s triumph. The abuse and destruction of the
Congo and its people began before Leopold succesfully acquired the area with his enlistment of
an explorer to find a rough idea of what the interior of the African continent even looked like.
Leopold sought after perhaps the most prominent explorer of his age, Henry Morton Stanley,
who already had experience embarking on an expedition through Central Africa when he was
assigned the task of locating his fellow explorer Dr. David Livingston, who had been missing for
some years but turned out to be content living amongst the locals. Stanley was still revered
around the world but was also notorious for his utter disrespect for the land and his superiority
complex. He traveled with boats, guns, and hundreds of escorts making up his posse, most of
whom ended up abandoning the expedition, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by escaping
into the wilderness or perishing along the way.6 In the hopes of expanding his territory even
farther and under the façade of rescuing the missing Emin Pasha, ruler of Southern Sudan,
Leopold would enlist Stanley’s help again, paying no regard to the death and destruction that
6 Hochschild, 63.
4. 4
occurred throughout his previous expedition.7 Leopold’s lust for wealth and land far out-
shadowed his concern for the preservation of the people and territory he coveted. His actions
speak to his intelligence and drive to achieve his ultimate goal, but also the ruthlessness that
Leopold and his fellow ambitious but twisted white colonizers applied to their newly acquired
territories. Leopold and his peers in the Second Age of Imperialism used the now outdated
discipline of phrenology (in Lehman’s terms, the White Man’s Burden) along with religion to
justify the same patterns of brutal colonization they had already been practicing for centuries
(find citation?).
Prior to the Berlin Conference and Stanley’s exploration, Belgium hosted the 1876
Brussels Geographic Conference, during which Leopold made it very clear that he wanted to
acquire a colony for Belgium. The conference would result in the creation of the International
African Association, an organization that would back expeditions through the east coast of
Africa towards the African Great Lakes.8 The Association switched to funding Stanley’s
expedition in 1877. While Stanley was scoping out the territory Leopold increasingly viewed to
be his own, the King continued to focus on the flaming hoop he would have to jump through
before he could acquire the Congo: diplomacy. The two countries Leopold felt could put up
significant competition for control of the Congo were France and Great Britain. Stanley actually
exacerbated Leopold’s fears about Great Britain possibly obtaining the Congo, because although
Leopold gave Stanley the job of scoping out the territory, Stanley was notorious for publicly
speaking of his work towards a British Congo. In order to curb Stanley’s public faux pas,
Leopold actually convinced Stanley to return to his expedition (and out of the public eye) after
7 Hochschild, 96.
8 Slade, 37.
5. 5
he had fallen ill and his doctors advised that he remain away from Africa to recover.9 Once
again, Leopold’s determination and greed drove him to achieve his ultimate goal of procuring the
Congo for himself, even if it meant risking the lives of those people who enlisted to help him.
Leopold was not the only person who feared the possibility of a British Congo; France
had also sent an explorer into Central Africa and was aware of King Leopold’s intentions but felt
tiny Belgian would never be able to obtain or sustain control over a colony as large as the Congo.
France dreaded that when Leopold (inevitably) ran out of money attempting to build a railway
through the Congo, Britain would be able to swoop in and purchase or take over the land.10 As
the Congo’s natural resources became increasingly apparent but Leopold continued to spend the
earnings on developing the colony and his own country on top of personal purchases, the king
would go through a roller coaster ride with his financial situation, but never go fully bankrupt as
France predicted. To finally secure and maintain his colony, Leopold would have to continue to
build upon a philanthropic image for himself and his relationships with countries that could
approve of his claim and were not competing for the territory as well. In 1878, he would form
the Comite d’Etudes du Haut-Congo (Committee for the Study of the Upper Congo), to be
replaced by the International Association of the Congo in 1882. Leopold’s intentions behind the
new association were well hidden; he played it off as a small, non-political, philanthropic
organization, which in fact had very political and economic aims. The association existed so
men including Stanley would trick local Congolese rulers into signing treaties that would give
Leopold sovereignty and a commercial monopoly over their land. Luckily for Belgium, or at
9 Hochschild, 69.
10 Hochschild, 82.
6. 6
least Leopold, Britain had little interest in the Congo but wanted to keep France away from the
territory, so their lack of enthusiasm for the colony aided the King’s aspirations.11
One country that was pivotal to Leopold’s success in acquiring the Congo territory
acknowledged the Congo’s existence amid the struggle for power in Europe: the United States.
Through the help of General Henry Shelton Sanford, a former plantation owner who helped
Leopold recruit Stanley for the mission and also ran a lobbying campaign in favor of a Belgian
Congo, on April 22, 1884, Secretary of State James G. Blaine declared the United States to be
the first country to recognize King Leopold’s Congo.12 American recognition of the Congo
under Charles Arthur’s presidency was the last step Leopold needed before the Conference of
Berlin to cement his rule over the Congo. Although he did not even attend the Conference,
which lasted form 1884-1885, Leopold was perhaps the most successful player in the settlement
of conflicting claims in Africa. He was able to obtain the seaport of Matadi which sat on the
lower stretch of the Congo River (the area he desired the most) while France and Portugal
received some land they wanted near the river delta. He also managed to win official British
support for his rule of the Congo by insinuating that he would leave Africa completely if he
failed to get the land he coveted, meaning he would likely sell the territory to France, Britain’s
greatest fear. By the time all the necessary signatures had been scribbled and the Conference
came to a close in February 1885, King Leopold’s sharp diplomatic and deceptive abilities had
been proven to be proficient, but his web of fraud would soon be unraveled by Twain and his
contemporaries within and outside the literary field.13
11 Slade, 38-39.
12 Hochschild, 80-81.
13 Hochschild, 86.
7. 7
Conclusion: Talk about how satire at times reveals more truth than fiction (credit to Dr.
Gray in his American Politics class after showing a clip from the Colbert Report)
8. 8
Bibliography
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Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1964.
Bate, Peter. White King, Red Rubber, Black Death. 2003. Belgium: Periscope Production and
British Broadcasting Company.
Casement, Roger. “Casement Report.” 1904.
Conrad, Joseph. The Heart of Darkness. United Kingdom: Blackwood Magazine, 1899.
Daniels, John. “The Congo Question and the ‘Belgian Solution’”. The North American Review,
188, no. 637 (1980): 891-902.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Crime of the Congo. London: Hutchinson & Co., 1908.
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2004.
Fletcher, Yaël Simpson. “History Will One Day Have Its Say: New Perspectives on Colonial and
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Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial
Africa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
MacDonnell, John de Courcy. King Leopold II, His Rule in Belgium and the Congo. New York:
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Morel, Edmund Dean and Roger Casement. Red rubber : the story of the rubber slave trade
which flourished on the Congo for twenty years, 1890-1910. November 1906.
9. 9
Slade, Ruth M. King Leopold’s Congo: Aspects of the Development of Race Relations in the
Congo Independent State. London: Oxford University Press, 1962.
Standard, Matthew G. Selling the Congo: A History of European Pro-Empire Propaganda and
the Making of Belgian Imperialism. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2011.
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Vanthemsche, Guy. Belgium and the Congo, 1885-1980. Cambridge: Cambridge University
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Republic of the United States of America. Angola, 1890.
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