Imperialism in Central Africa
By Trevor Arteaga, Tyler Ramberg, and Kyran Jamison
Vocabulary Terms
Unequal Treaty: A treaty forced upon a country being dominated by another during Imperialism. These treaties often gave the imperialistic nation the ability to do whatever they needed to do in pursuit of profit.
ABAKO: a rebel group who promoted the Congo’s independence
Monopoly: the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service.
King Leopold ll: the second king of Belgium who founded the Congo free state in Central
Africa.
Colonialism- The policy of maintaining colonies as a source of raw materials and new markets. Practiced during old and new imperialism.
Berlin Conference in 1884
Leopold's Monopoly
King Leopold's II main motives were gaining economic success as the Congo region had a large supply of raw materials such as rubber and a labor force that could be easily exploited. By 1892 the Congo Free State, under control of Leopold II, claimed a monopoly on rubber production for the whole colony, which caused even more problems for the natives of the region. This allowed the Belgians to pay the native farmers even less money and they even used military force to make villages meet high quotas for resources like rubber.
Leopold's Departure
Torture
Heart of Africa
Henry Stanley
Henry Stanley's Treaties
Henry Morton Stanley (an explorer), as a representative of the International Africa Association (a front organization for King Leopold II), and the king and chiefs of Ngombi and Mafela- Stanley traveled through the Congo in the early 1880s in King Leopold’s employ to gain territory for him. All treaties made by Stanley had the same demands, basically saying that the Belgium's may firmly establish their country, use and trade most all of their resources, and that the Belgians may use them as "workers". Stanley came back to Leopold with over 450 signed treaties.