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Imperialism in the

Congo

By: Rebeca, Mattie, Chad

Per. 3

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Motivations for Imperialism

Economic Needs

A need for raw materials that were notdomestically available and those rawmaterials were abundant in Africa.

Social Darwinism

Only the strongest nations survive and onlythe strongest nations have colonies in Africa.

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Motivations for Imperialism

Adventure

Inspired by stories of Dr.Livingstone, people wantedthe excitement of adventure.

Missionaries/ The whitemans burden

Europeans felt that theyneeded to civilize the rest of

the world. They also felt thatthey needed to converteveryone in Africa toChristianity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_Livingstone.jpg

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Imperial Power Gained Control

Henry Stanley was hired to find Dr.

Livingstone and he became famous

with his saying, Dr. Livingstone, I

presume?

This new fame encouraged King

Leopold of Belgium to hire Stanley

Stanley surveyed the basin of the

Upper Congo River and traced the

course of the Congo River

To control land in the Congo,

Leopold founded the International

Association of the Congo

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Imperial Power Gained Control Stanley began to sign treaties

with over 450 native chiefsfrom the Congo

As a result, Leopold gained

rule of these lands given up by

the chiefs In 1885, after the Berlin

Conference, Leopold was

given personal rule over the

newly declared Congo Free

State

Leopold had what he wanted

because other European

powers recognized his hold

over Congo

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Effects of Imperialism on

Congolese Ideas were forced on them and

lots of repression andassimilation molded them daily.

Africans had a restriction of

movement and had to live invillages or shantytowns.

They didnt have nearly asmuch freedom or rights as the

white people. Africans were treated brutallyeveryday.

They had very poor workingconditions

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~rhernand/slavery.gif

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Effects of Imperialism on

Congolese Continued They were forced to collect sap from rubber

plants by European Companies that KingLeopold II issued.

A near 10 million Congolese died from the

brutality of Leopolds rule. Humanitarians all around the world wanted big

changes because of the horrible acts of Leopold.

The Belgium Government took control in 1908,

away from the vicious Leopold. There was slavery throughout Africa and they

were beaten and forced to work but that wouldsoon be over because they were going to gainindependence from Belgium soon.

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Imperial Power removed in

Congo In 1908 the Congo was surrendered by

King Leopold II to Belgium.

It was renamed the Belgium Congo.

Working conditions were harsh but theBelgium rule improved them significantly.

People began to demand self rule. The Belgium government agreed to give

their political power to the people becausethey were so confident that they wouldlater regain control.

The Belgium Government was wrong, onJune 30,1960, Congo gained theirindependence.

Joseph Kasavubu and Patrick Lumumbawere the new president and prime minister

of the Belgium Congo.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/1569203464_25be3c5689.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/8087121@N08/1569203464/&usg=__479XKlgtppuVeX9KlVF6C-8hsIA=&h=500&w=334&sz=88&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=dg1vFTuYHk49zM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=87&prev=/images?q=King+Leopold&gbv=2&hl=en&safe=active&sa=X

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Current Status The full name of the former

imperialized nation is the

Democratic Republic of theCongo

A constitution in 2005 divided

the country into 26 almost self-governing provinces

After 4 years of instability

between 2 different

constitutions, they are nowsettling into a stable presidential

democratic republic

Population has increased by 6million since 1997

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_kabila.jpg

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