Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Congo - Coggle Diagram
Congo
Under Belgian Rule
Initially continued to use forced labor
Pressure from other countries specifically Britain made them realize this would have to end
Policies stated European Culture was preferable/superior
Attempted to reinstate Congolese power
Most chiefs were dead
Colonization had also destroyed familiy and economic relations
Brought medicine and education
Children were not taught about the horrors that occurred- history was ignored and altered
Many worked and still payed taxes to government while also being payed very little
Idea of race still existed
White and black establishments
January 1959 riots and protest began
Within a year Belgian granted wish for independence
The Congolese Nation Movement
Wished to free congo from Beligiam reign
End the repeated cycle of exploitation and settlement
Grab onto the rights that belong to all citizens of humanity
Everyone is free there is no discrimination
Idea that they have remained calm against this terrible treatment for years so now is the time to resist
Had no clear enemy just against domination
Assassination of Patrice Lumumba
Suspected to be orchestrated by US and Belgium
During colonial Congo period US took stake in resources
Used uranium from mines to make nuclear bombs used on Japanese cities
Western powers couldn't afford for the Soviet Union to gain aces to raw material in places like Africa
Revolutions and fights fo independence in Africa during 1950 and 60s would allow for this
Lumumba sought aid from UN but they didn't act quickly so he appealed to Soviet Union to put rest in internal issues
This move would put him in opposition of western interest
CIA, MI6 and Belgian security Operative are suspected to start planning his downfall after this decision
January 17 1961- Lumumba and two others are seized and executed by US and Belgian Operative of new military government
Questions
What type of government do they have and what were the former types?
What is their economy like?
What challenges has their economy faced
What is the primary source of their wealth?
Were they affected by slave trade if so how?
What history do they have with colonization?
Hundred of chiefs signed contracts they couldn't understand and signed over everything unknowingly
Named "The Congo Free State"
They became a Belgian colony in 1885
Interference
George Washington Willams
Vsisited Congo and realized Leopold's lies and wroye about them
Wrote on the conditions that he saw
His writing were picked up ny NY herald and caused uproar in Europe
Leopold combatted accusation with claims that the Congolese people needed to shaped and trained out of their "lazziness"
Attempted to recruit Black American to work in Congo
Edmun Dene Morel
worked for british shipping line that dealt with Congo
Discovered fraud in the shipments between Congo and Beligum
Investigative journalist who was determined to expose Leopold's actions
1904-Congo Refrom Assosiation was formed
Photos showed the horrors in ways that Leopold could not refurte or cover up
Leopold tried to rid himself of this bad publicity and sold Congo to Belgium
“I will give them my Congo. But they have no right to know what I did there"
Britain
1903- Parliament passed protest resolution that condemned Leopold's actions
Sent Roger Casement to investigate and he would report back with descriptions of the horrors
Race
Common factor used to defend the genocide
"Africans are Lazy"
Leopold claimed the people of Congo were cannibals
They were viewed as less than human
Herman Mortan Stanley
Hired by Leopold to create stations in the Congo and chart out territory
Laid foundation for destruction
Organized Force Publique
After Assassination
New military government lead by Mobutu Sese Seko
Shattered aspirations of Lumumba and Congolese people
Mobuto would rule for 3 decades of terror corruption and financial mismanagement that would plague the country for years
Political turmoil
Country was spilt into 4 separate governments
Central gov. in Leopoldville, rival central gov. in Stanleyville(Lumumba followers), 3 and 4 were lead by secessionist in
US turned focus to promoting pro-western regime
all other governments were snuffed out by 1963
Influence
Assassination fueled other African revolutionist
Contributed to radicalization of American civil rights moment in 1960s
Ideals continue to inspire many
King Leopold II
wished to keep up with advancement and sought after congo to fulfill this desire
Advertised his conquest as philanthropic and helpful to the Congolese
Military
Force Publique
Swept through nation collecting ivory by force
Congo citizens were sent off to after becoming soldiers
Met with mutiny and resistance
Orphasn were raised are devoted solider to combat any resistance
Resources
Ivory
Very valuable
Prominent in COngo
The Red Rubber Terror
Rubber could be found in abudance in congo
The rubber job was feared as it was extremely painful
Villages were forced to meet quotas with promised of torture if not meant
1890's Worldwide Rubber Boom
Central Africa