congo+for+kristen

· What was the imperial power there for? Resources? If so, why were they needed? · How did the imperial powers view and treat the indigenous people?
 * 1. Information to collect from the imperial power’s perspective? **

media type="custom" key="4859129"

King Leopold II wanted Ivory, Rubber, land and workers. He sent Henry M. Stanley to explore Congo and Henry said that he found hundreds of naked people, living like savages. King Leopold quickely took control of this country and tried persuading the impression to other white rulers and exploreres that he was the leader of the savage land. At the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 the country was placed under Leopold's personal sovereignty and given the name of the Congo Free States (Lands and People 272-4).

Above is King Leopold II. Above is Henry M. Stanley, the man who discovered Congo for King Leopold.

King Leopold's rule of the Congo Free State was incredibly harsh. In the region, the indigenous people or the Africans were tortured or worked to death, collecting ivory and rubber for Leopold. He also secured control many of the mineral-rich areas. The forced labor on the indigenous people was horrible and the death toll range was estimated between 2 and 15 million.

Finally, in 1908, Leopold was forced to surrender control of the region to Belgium parliament.

The Belgium parliament was in control of the Congo from Leopold's surrender in 1908 until 1960. While under the Belgium rule, the goverment improved work and living conditions for the Africans, somewhat better over the condtions under the rule of King Leopold II. Schools and hospitals were built as well as the construction of railways, ports, roads and mines. But, the Belgian goverment restricted many rights for the Congolese. The Congo people were restricted to living in certain areas of town and had strict curfews. The schooling was dominated by Western churches and the Congo people were taught Western ways, cultures, religion and values.