The Congo Free
State was an area in Central Africa controlled by Leopold II who was the King
of Belgium. Leopold became the leader of the international committee on
civilization for the Congo. He also became the head of the humanitarian committee
in central Africa which had a goal of science and peace. He used this power in
these committees to convince the international committee to allow him influence
in the Congo Basin. His only goal in Africa was to make a state for commercial gain,
and he had a secret plan to make a trade route for ivory in Africa.
When Leopold II was given
influence in Africa he promised to stop the slave trade and keep free commerce.
He pledged that he had a philanthropic and scientific agenda. Once he gained
power, he did the complete opposite of his agenda. He began to limit the
natives land and trade because he wanted to make money off the mineral
resources and ivory. He developed a monopoly over the ivory in Africa. He also
encouraged the East African slave trade because he wanted more workers for
free. Plus, imposed duties on the native. Although he broke all the promised he
made when he assumed power, he began a genocide when the commercial state was
not doing well financially.
He eventually forced men to work
for him without pay so that he would make more profit. He would exploit the men
and prosecute their families if they did not make certain quotas. There were
some rebels, but Leopold’s army easily put them down. He would kill the
families of men if they did not reach their quotas in ivory or other minerals. Many
Congolese people were enslaved during this time as well. The Congolese
population dropped rapidly due to murder, starvation, and disease.
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