What did King Leopold do to the Congo?
On February 5, 1885, Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State by brutally seizing the African landmass as his personal possession. The people of the Congo were forced to labor for valued resources, including rubber and ivory, to personally enrich Leopold.
Why did King Leopold want rubber?
To satisfy the industrial growth European powers looked outward to produce rubber. Belgium’s leader King Leopold turned his attention to Central Africa where a rubber vine from the genus Landolphia grows.
Why do they cut off hands in Africa?
To make up for the low production, troops began to use hands as currency – chopping them was a way of punishing workers who did not fulfill their quotas, and, at the same time, served to show that soldiers were doing their part in exerting pressure over the local population to ensure the fulfillment of these quotas.
Why was King Leopold so evil?
LEOPOLD II of Belgium was one of the most evil men to have walked the planet. By his greed, avarice and wickedness, Leopold was responsible for the deaths of 10 million people in the Congo in the 20 years from 1888, while sucking out in exploited surpluses the equivalent of pounds 1.76bn in today’s money.
Why was rubber so valuable?
Rubber is one of the most important products to come out of the rainforest. Vulcanization, a refined version of this process, transformed the white sap from the bark of the Hevea tree into an essential product for the industrial age. With the invention of the automobile in the late 19th century, the rubber boom began.
Why did Leopold chop off hands?
In some instances a soldier could shorten his service term by bringing more hands than the other soldiers, which led to widespread mutilations and dismemberment. Leopold II reportedly disapproved of dismemberment because it harmed his economic interests. He was quoted as saying “Cut off hands—that’s idiotic.
Who was the first colonizer of Central Africa?
The pioneer colonizer in Central Africa was Leopold II, king of the Belgians.
What was the rubber regime in Central Africa?
The rubber regime in the western Congo basin was no more benign than the ivory regime that Leopold adopted from the Swahili in the east. Map of Central Africa from the 10th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, published in 1902.
Who was the founder of the Bangassou Kingdom?
Bangassou was a Bandia-Nzakara kingdom in the Central African Republic. It was founded by Ndounga at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when he created the kingdom of Nzakara after the defeat of the Voukpata, the clan which ruled over the Nzakara people. (All information on central Africa by Richard A Bradshaw and Juan Fandos-Rius.)
Who was the ruler of the Central African Republic?
The various sections of the Central African Republic fall under the control of a military ruler. This was a Voungara-Zande kingdom in the Central African Republic. It was founded by Nounga, a member of a Zande clan belonging to the Angoura branch of the Anounga.