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The Congo Revision

The Congo Revision. Imperialism. A policy or belief in the creation of an empire by acquiring colonies B y military campaigns By economic domination By cultural domination. New Imperialism. Stanley negotiated 450 treaties during exploration of the Congo 1879-84

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The Congo Revision

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  1. The Congo Revision

  2. Imperialism • A policy or belief in the creation of an empire by acquiring colonies • By military campaigns • By economic domination • By cultural domination

  3. New Imperialism • Stanley negotiated 450 treaties during exploration of the Congo 1879-84 • Gave Leopold trading and land rights • The use of trade to win control/influence over an undeveloped region

  4. The scramble for Africa • Late 19th C - most of the world divided between European imperial powers • The only uncolonised region – unexplored Africa • 1884-85 Berlin Conference – • Great Power rivalry

  5. Berlin Act 1885 • Commerce – free trade • Christianity – missionaries protected • Civilization – end slavery • Aim – avoid conflict between European powers • Granted Leopold right to Central Africa – one million square kilometers • He created the Congo Free State

  6. So what gave Belgium power? • The Force Publique– a native army of less 16,000 natives, around 400 Belgian officers • Superior weapons • Congolese tribes disunited • Kidnapping and hostage taking • Greed – bribed some chiefs

  7. What motivated King Leopold? • Profits from rubber • Racial superiority – “white man’s burden” • 1890s – new technology – the pneumatic tyre (a Scotsman, Dunlop, invented the rubber tyre for his son’s bicycle) • Labor needed to harvest wild rubber plants in the Congo • Congolese are “taxed” – with labor

  8. What was the impact on the Congo? • Force Publiqueterrorised Congolese tribes • Rebellion – many refuse to harvest rubber vine forests • Hostages taken to force men to work • Rebels killed or mutilated

  9. Short Term Consequences • E D Morel’s campaign (CRA) damages King Leopold’s international reputation • Casement Report provides credible and damning support for Congo Reform Association claims • 1908 Leopold forced by public pressure to sell Congo to Belgian government

  10. Long term consequences • Loss of local religions and customs • Schools and churches spread Christianity and European idea • Most of the population speak French • The borders devised by the Berlin Conference paid little heed to tribal borders • Few industries – just exploitation of natural resources • Congo is a mix of tribes competing for resources – one reason for civil war in 1990s

  11. Comparison with China • Europeans had superior weaponry • Berlin Conference and Treaty of Tianjin gave protection for missionaries • Co-operation between European powers (Berlin Conference, Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion) • Economic motivation – free trade, access to new raw materials, role of opium/rubber • Cultural destruction – threats to local religion and identity

  12. Contrast with Japan • Civil war in both countries – but the Japanese were ethnically homogeneous and united under one Emperor • Congo – many tribes and chiefs. No unified army • Japanese controlled changes to their society – revolution from above • Belgians controlled change in Congo

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