King Leopold the II’s colonisation of the Congo resulted in labour forced upon the natives, blackmail, abuse and eradication of tradition. Leopold’s rule lead to the genocide of the Congolese, and restriction of the Congo’s development. Belgium before Leopold’s predecessor, his father, Leopold I was part of a larger territory; the Carolingian Empire. Belgium gained its independence, in 1930, during Leopold I’s rule (History of Belgium). “The age of imperialism” is a term which refers to activities lead by the Great European Powers of the 18th throughout mid-20th century, which includes “The Scramble of Africa” and the Belgian colonisation of the Congo, Belgium being one of its significant participants. Leopold’s crowning in 1865 permitted him to travel overseas and eventually reach his goal of creating Belgian colonies in the African continent. He was able to colonise the Congo by persuading alliances with great plans and intentions for the Congo as well as a return of local supplies. The colonisation of the Congo benefited Belgium with economic growth and allowed Belgium to become World Power, while Congo was restricted in its development. Colonisation in Africa was regulated by the rules set during the Berlin Conference but this did not refrain Leopold from taking full advantage of the Congo. The goal of this conference was to agree upon a neutral and open trade in the Congo River. The Congo basin shortly became Leopold’s personal property, with labour forced upon the