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King Leopoldo Imperialism Analysis

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During King Leopold’s rule of the Congo, many harsh and violent actions caused many Africans to suffer immensely. As a Belgium official once said, “It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones…”. As punishment, Belgium soldiers would cut of the hands and feet of Africans. The soldiers claimed they did this because they didn’t want to waste bullets on “game hunting.” The amputated body parts were usually kept as trophies, to show bravery in battle. Colonialism is generally defined as the occupation and control of one nation by another. Over the last few hundred years, various European nations have colonized many areas of the world. These …show more content…

The authors of the treaty viewed the African people as actual humans, rather then lesser animals. The authors wanted to prevent further discrimination and slavery in Africa. This is because of the moral standards that many people were trying to develop, and they started to reject the idea that Africans were lesser. King Leopold disregarded these terms and kept his vile actions a secret from these other countries. The fact that King Leopold ignored the terms that were put into place during the Berlin Conference and continued taking advantage of the Congo’s people and resources shows that he deserves to be condemned as a …show more content…

He came to the conclusion that the extreme decrease in population in the Congo was mostly because of the violent and malicious actions of the Belgium police. He explained how the soldiers were given free rein, which led to the murder of many innocent Africans. When King Leopold toke over the Congo, there were about twenty million people. When he was removed from power there was only about 10 million people. King Leopold should be held accountable for his actions in the Congo because he caused a genocide and massacred half of the population.
Some people say that Leopold II’s action in the Congo Free State cannot be viewed as crime, because they were typical of the Europeans’ actions in their colonies. But, the treaty that was made by the powerful countries during that time clearly stated that they believed Africans should be treated as people, and that they should be provided with food, shelter, education, etc. King Leopold ignored these terms and was using the Congo only to increase his wealth, rather then provide for the people of

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Without the colonization of Tanganyika, resources may have not been obtained as easily and may require more force. B. Congo Free State was a colony to Belgium, specifically King Leopold II. Leopold took control of the country and began leeching the resources from the lands, such as ivory, palm oil, and rubber. In return, handles, soap and candles, and waterproof clothes were made.

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Thousands killed in the Leopold outbreak. King Leopold should be condemned for his brutal actions, and for making the population more then half in population, like in Lukolela “The population in the villages of Lukolela in January 1891 must have been not less than 6,000 people, but when I counted the whole population in Lukolela at the end of December 1896. I found it to be only 719… but judge of my heartache when on counting them all again on Friday and Saturday last, to find only a population of 352 people.” (Document 5) In 1800-1900’s, King Leopold wanted to and planned to take control of the Congo people.

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The Congolese suffered terrible torture under the Belgian rule. In Document C, it says that if the Congolese didn’t keep up with their work, they would get punished by death. Also, they would cut off their right hand if they didn’t keep up with their work. Document D says that Belgium played mind games tricking the Congolese people. Making it seem like the Belgium were these gods.

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He makes it clear to the Congo people that his duty there to “help” them, however he is overall being

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The Poisonwood Bible , despite mainly being centered in Africa, has broad and deep messages that still apply to today's modern world. This global perspective encompasses the cultural arrogance of the West, as evidenced by the interference of colonial powers in the internal workings of a nation neither cared about nor understood by the same Western powers, the backwards, negative effect that sexism and a one-sided, limited, patriarchal view has on a society, and the backwards, negative effect that sexism and a one sided, limited patriarchal view has on a society, and the harm that can be caused by enforcing a gross misinterpretation of a religion on society. All of these themes are shown through the journey of on Christian, American family who

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While the upper class of Africa benefited from this for a short term, the rest of Africa had a domino effect falling after the slave trade began. In a Letter to the Kings of Portugal, Nzinga Mbemba wrote: “the excessive freedom given by your agents and officials to the men and merchants who are allowed to come to this Kingdom to set up shops with goods and many things which have been prohibited by us, and which they spread throughout our Kingdoms and Domains”(Doc 1). This letter was written in 1526, only a little over 20 years after the slave trade began. At first thought the slave trade seemed like it was mutually beneficial to both Europe and Africa, but was only realized later that it would cause a ripple on the rest of Africa. The Europeans first thought that Africans will “always be tending the fire, for it is the one thing you especially looked after”(Doc 7).

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When King Leopold established the Congo Free State, he destroyed the link between the Congolese people and their homeland (Kenneth). King Leopold made one single country between Belgium and Congo. He combined the ethnicities of both of these cultures, taking away the Congolese people’s heritage and culture. In addition to this, the Roman Catholic Church forced their religion and values on the Congolese people, taking away their beliefs, and using violence if necessary. The Belgians forced their values upon the Congolese people in order to assimilate their religion and gain more power.

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