White King Rubber Black Death

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King Leopold II of Belgium established control over the Congo Free State (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) through diplomatic maneuvering, exploitation of the local population, and brutal force. He gained control at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, convincing major European powers that he was establishing a free trade zone in Central Africa for humanitarian and civilizing purposes. Leopold implemented a system of forced labor to extract resources, particularly rubber, from the region, subjecting the local population to harsh quotas and severe punishments. His private army, the Force Publique, was used to enforce his policies. Leopold claimed his intention was to civilize the local population and end the Arab slave trade, but his contemporaries were divided. The documentary "White King, Red Rubber, Black Death" highlights the brutal exploitation and violence that characterized his reign, questioning the validity of his stated intentions. …show more content…
He discovered that ships carrying military equipment and firearms returned with vast amounts of rubber and ivory, but no commercial goods, suggesting forced labor was used to extract these resources. Morel launched a campaign to expose the atrocities, writing numerous articles and books, and founding the Congo Reform Association (CRA) in 1904. The CRA, supported by Sir Roger Casement and Mark Twain, formed the first humanitarian movement of the 20th century. The CRA's efforts led to international pressure on Belgium, forcing King Leopold II to relinquish his control over the Congo in 1908. The territory became the Belgian Congo, a colony of

Congo: White King, Red Rubber, Black Death

cultures. The globalization project is about market integration, legitimacy management, and resistance.). Congo: White King, Red Rubber, Black Death describes how King Leopold II of Belgium turned Congo into its private colony between 1885 and 1908. Under King Leopold II control, Congo became a gulag labor camp of shocking brutality. Leopold posed as the protector of Africans fleeing…

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King Leopold Essay

The leadership of King Leopold II of Belgium over Belgium Congo was dissatisfying towards the Congolese during his reign. The Congolese were brutalized during the colonization; it was the worst out of all of Africa’s colonization. He didn’t directly look into how the local officers were treating his colonists. He had his colony in a forced labor regime. Leopold also exploited Belgium Congo’s futile resources of rubber trees for Belgium’s own selfish profit. He destroyed the economic system in the…

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