Congo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4TPwGfnpc4
1884 - 1885: Congo is formed as a colony during the berlin conference
1971 - 1997: Congo is referred to as the Republic of Zaire
June 1960: Congo gained independence
July 1960: Katanga secedes from the new republic
January 1961: Patrice Lumumba is tortured and murdered
1965: Joseph Desire Mobutu seizes power
Colonisation: Congo was colonised in the 1800s by King Leopold II of Belgium
The colonisation of The Congo
When did the Congo become a colony of Belgium?
⭒ Congo was given to King Leopold the II during the 1884 berlin conference
, Why did it become a colony?
⭒ The interior of The Congo was rich in natural resources such as ivory and rubber. The long Congo
river made it easier to access the interior where the resources are which made it a desirable colony.
What were the Congo horrors?
⭒ The period of time under King Leopold II’s rule where the Congolese people experienced brutal
oppression
Brutality under King Leopold II
- Profits from rubber plantations were maximized by finding cheap labour
- Wives and Children were held captive to force men to work
- Those who refused the forced labour were killed on the spot
- Chicotte (made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges) were used to beat the men
- There were revolts but many of them were brutally squashed
- 8 - 10 million people died due to starvation, murder, and mistreatment
- Many missionaries who established schools and clinics in the congo, objected to the way in
which King Leopold II ruled over Congo
- As a result of the exposes on King Leopold’s brutal rule, Congo came under the Belgian
State. This happened from 1908 till Congo gained independence. During that time, it was
known as the Belgian Congo
- Congo improved significantly under the Belgian State
- The arrogant and condescending attitude of the Belgian state towards the Congolese people
caused resentment
- Congo produced a lot of wealth by 1959. They did this by producing 10% of the world’s
copper, 50% of the world’s cobalt, and 70% of the world’s diamonds
- Unfortunately, none of the wealth was invested in the Congo economy
Independence in Congo
⭒ During the 1950s, many Congolese parties emerged. Most of them relied on the support of
different ethnicities and regions
⭒ The political parties included:
- Alliance des Bakongo: Got their support from the Bakongo people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4TPwGfnpc4
1884 - 1885: Congo is formed as a colony during the berlin conference
1971 - 1997: Congo is referred to as the Republic of Zaire
June 1960: Congo gained independence
July 1960: Katanga secedes from the new republic
January 1961: Patrice Lumumba is tortured and murdered
1965: Joseph Desire Mobutu seizes power
Colonisation: Congo was colonised in the 1800s by King Leopold II of Belgium
The colonisation of The Congo
When did the Congo become a colony of Belgium?
⭒ Congo was given to King Leopold the II during the 1884 berlin conference
, Why did it become a colony?
⭒ The interior of The Congo was rich in natural resources such as ivory and rubber. The long Congo
river made it easier to access the interior where the resources are which made it a desirable colony.
What were the Congo horrors?
⭒ The period of time under King Leopold II’s rule where the Congolese people experienced brutal
oppression
Brutality under King Leopold II
- Profits from rubber plantations were maximized by finding cheap labour
- Wives and Children were held captive to force men to work
- Those who refused the forced labour were killed on the spot
- Chicotte (made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges) were used to beat the men
- There were revolts but many of them were brutally squashed
- 8 - 10 million people died due to starvation, murder, and mistreatment
- Many missionaries who established schools and clinics in the congo, objected to the way in
which King Leopold II ruled over Congo
- As a result of the exposes on King Leopold’s brutal rule, Congo came under the Belgian
State. This happened from 1908 till Congo gained independence. During that time, it was
known as the Belgian Congo
- Congo improved significantly under the Belgian State
- The arrogant and condescending attitude of the Belgian state towards the Congolese people
caused resentment
- Congo produced a lot of wealth by 1959. They did this by producing 10% of the world’s
copper, 50% of the world’s cobalt, and 70% of the world’s diamonds
- Unfortunately, none of the wealth was invested in the Congo economy
Independence in Congo
⭒ During the 1950s, many Congolese parties emerged. Most of them relied on the support of
different ethnicities and regions
⭒ The political parties included:
- Alliance des Bakongo: Got their support from the Bakongo people
