of 15
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
1/15
The Scramble for Africa
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
2/15
Congo Free State
King Leopold II Appealed to Belgium Govt. to secure the Congo region for
the country
No So I will own it myself
Hired Henry Stanley (American) to gain as many treaties aspossible 450 in total securing the region for his company
Simultaneously French explorer Pierre De Brazza wasscrambling for rights in the region (beginning of scramble)
Reason To open to civilization the only part of the globe it has yet to penetrateIt
is, I dare to say, a crusade worthy of this century of progressI [am] by noway motivated by selfish designs
King Leopold II
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
3/15
Berlin Conference1884-1885
Resulting from Leopold and Brazzasscramble and the fear of Europeanconflict, Otto Van Bismarck called for a
conference to divvy up the continentamong the European Nations Stanley and a few of Leopolds cronies
were there to manipulate the other
countries assuring that the Congo wouldnot be claimed.
Who was not present?
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
4/15
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
5/15
1. What percentage of Africa was colonized by 1914?
2. Which two countries claimed the most territory
1913 AfricanColonization
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
6/15
King Leopold Congo Free
State Decree of 1885
All unsettled land belongs to thestate
Only small fields next to the peopleshomes could remain theirs
Early Troubles
Little money to manage Needed money for RR and
Administration Difficult to get it from investors
Resistance from local groups. Tippu Tipp and other slave raiding
groups resented restrictions 1888 Force Publique military
formed by Leopold
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
7/15
Manipulation=Profit
Leopold, under the guise of abolition, got 17countries together to discuss the abolition ofthe slave trade He suggested that import and export duties on
slaves would help end the trafficking. What did it really do?
New decree shortly after stating any productssold by Africans must be sold to the state sinceall the unoccupied land belongs to the state.
Furthermore, the state had the ability to establishprices for these goods which, in turn, determinedthe income of the inhabitants of the Congo.
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
8/15
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
9/15
You Owe Me!!!
Taxes were placed on villages for the buildingof the RR
OhNo Money Than Labor will work Rubber was collected by agents at trading posts
Agents received commission on the rubber collected Results- A push for more rubber
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
10/15
Results of the Rubber Trade
50% decrease in Congospopulation
Executions
Deaths due to resistancebattles
Separation of Husbandsfrom Wives
Famine due to lack of landand time
Fleeing to neighboring
countries
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
11/15
Brutal Policies
If not enough rubber was brought tothe agents
Wives held hostage
Hands cut off
Executed
Flogged (sometimes to death)
Ammunition had to be accounted for so bodyparts proved execution
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
12/15
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
13/15
Eyes Open
Britain heard of some of the atrocitiesand did nothing (feared power shift ifLeopold sided with French)
Most still believed Congo was aCivilizing Mission George Washington Williams speaks out
Ex- Competition to shoot the man in the boat
Worked to expose but Leopold spread rumorsto discredit him
He dies of disease
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
14/15
Finally
Missionaries take off where Williamsended
Many were bystanders
A few spoke out and
Aborigines Protection Society created
Urged Britain to investigate
E.D. Morel
80% of supplies heading to Congo=Military=Notfor trade
7/30/2019 Scramble and Congo
15/15
Congos More Recent Problems