Imperialism: The Belgian Congo

For those who don't know what imperialism means it's a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. The Scramble for Africa is the invasion, occupation, division, colonized, and annexation of African territory by European powers during the period of New Imperialism, between 1876 and 1914. The Belgian Congo was a belgian colony in central africa between 1908 and 1960 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In early 1876, the greedy King Leopold II of Belgium had heard about the great money making opportunities in the Congo Basin. The king great plan was to make the International African Association, with Cecil Rhodes and the king himself being the organizers of the movement. Congo's main
Some people had gotten fed up and tried to revolt by not working but rebellions were put down swiftly and violently, killing all those who refused to work.This group was the major player in resisting Belgium's rule. The effects the Europeans left in Africa were very negative, leaving feelings of lost independence, slavery, exploitation of resources, and deterioration of the African culture. What the positive impacts were was the introduction to new trade, education, new religions and a new administrative system. Europe's goal of this was to show their true power and gain their resources by “Scrambling to Africa”. So basically at that time Africa was an easy place to access resources that the Europeans couldn't for example, palm oil, cotton, rubber, groundnuts, diamonds precious metals and other types of medicines. Which is what later led the Europeans to colonize Africa for it’s raw natural resources and the fact that the dominance Europe was able to display with their military by forcing it’s way through multiple villages and eventually securing its
The empire they once had was taken and the strife and anger from that drove them to rebel against the imperialists of Belgium. The 2 key players in resisting the imperial action were Shaku Zulu, and Samori Ture. 3 major events: The Berlin conference November 1884. The imperial Chancellor organised a conference of 14 states. The Berlin conference marked the climax of the European competition for territory in Africa. Exploitation of the Congo and abuse of its natives 1885-1908. King Leopold and his other wealthy companions are responsible for the death of 50% of the Congo population, while exploiting their riches. From 1885-1908 the Congolese population decreased by 10 million people. Lastly, the transferring of power 1908. Giving in to international pressure, in 1908 Belgian Parliament annexed the Congo free state as the Belgian Congo, the Republic of Congo was established in 1960 and Belgium lost all power over that region. At the end of the 18th century colonialism seemed to have become the thing of the past. Britain had lost its Thirteen Colonies in America, Spain, and Portugal had lost most of South America. Because of the Scramble for Africa historians still debate the reasons for this “New Imperialism” and find it difficult to agree on any single