Life Under Imperialist Power
(Sources for Social Pyramid:"Democratic Republic of Congo Profile." BBC News.
BBC, 26 Feb. 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2013.;"Democratic Republic of Congo - Profile Part 2." Democratic Republic of Congo - Profile Part 2. Society of Africa Missions, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.;"Imperialism: The Belgian Congo." Welcome to the Congo. Edublogs.org, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.; News, CBC. "The Democratic Republic of Congo: A Brief
History." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 21 Nov. 2008. Web. 13
Mar. 2013.)
Economic Activity
Rwandan workers at the Kisanga-mine, Katanga, c.1920
Under rule of King Leopold II, economic activity relied mostly on the export of rubber, due to the vast amount of rubber and other natural resources available in the Congo. There was a very high demand for rubber at the time, due to the recent invention of the rubber bicycle and automobile wheel. King Leopold II nearly enslaved many of the Congolese people in order to gain wealth, and to bring power. Once King Leopold II had been removed from power and the Belgian Government had gained control of the Congo in 1908, there was a change in the economic activity. The importance of rubber in the economy began to decrease as a shift towards mineral extraction and mining became more apparent. In 1901, the export of rubber accounted for approximately 87% of the economy, whereas in 1928, it only merely accounted for 1% of the economy. At this time,the economy of the Congo was controlled by several trading companies. Some examples being UMHK or Union Miniere du Haut Katanga, BCK or Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Bas- Congo au Katanga, and Forminiere or Societe Internationale Forestiere et Miniere du Congo. Later in 1928, two large companies, Banque d'Outremer joined Societe Generale and they added to the economic activity of the Congo, taking up nearly 70% of economic activity in the Congo at the time. When World War I broke out in 1914, the Belgian Congo was profoundly affected due to the fact that one of the trading companies that they were involved with, Force Publique was involved in the war. Later on, when World War II occurred the Belgian Congo was again involved, but this time with Germany (due to the fact that Belgium was under German rule at the time). During the war, the Belgian Congo was a major source of income for Belgium. When the war ended, many Belgian's left their homeland of Belgium, and immigrated to the Congo. This increase in immigration allowed the Congo to achieve greater things, as well as succeed more. Many plantations were set up such as plantations for cotton and palm oil production. From 1914 to 1957, both palm oil and cotton production increased in the Congo. Many developed European Countries demanded increased farming from the Congo, and the Belgian Congo had to cater to their requests. As time went on, the number of paying jobs for native Congolese people increased, allowing it to reach 1.1 million Congolese people with jobs by 1955. Although many native Congolese people were given jobs, they were often given the unfavorable jobs and living standards. Generally, jobs of high influence and power and high living standards were given first to white immigrants, and then to the Congolese people. In the end, their was much economic activity occurring during imperialist rule of the Congo. There was much slavery and mistreatment during the rule of King Leopold II, and even though the amount of mistreatment improved once the Belgian Government gained control, slavery and even cheap labor for mining was still in existence.
(Source for Economic Activity:"Democratic Republic of Congo - Profile Part 2." Democratic Republic of Congo - Profile Part 2. Society of Africa Missions, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.)
(Source for Economic Activity:"Democratic Republic of Congo - Profile Part 2." Democratic Republic of Congo - Profile Part 2. Society of Africa Missions, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.)
Primary Sources That Show What Life was Like
King Leopold's Soliloquy
This is on page 45 of King Leopold's Soliloquy
One primary source that showed what life was like was King Leopold's Soliloquy. This work was written by Mark Twain in 1905 and was an anti- imperialist Soliloquy that was very biased against King Leopold II and showed his brutal rule in the Congo. It talked about the severe mistreatment that King Leopold created and the horrid slavery that he was forcing his people to live under. It had a great affect and it showed many people the torturous working conditions and the death that was occurring in the Congo. In his work, Twain made an effort to keep the US from following the harsh ways of the other European powers at the time. It caused many people to question and pressure their government, even the Belgian Government. In the end, this work was one of the reasons why the Belgian Government took the Congo away from King Leopold and brought it into their rule.
(Sources:"Imperialism In The Congo - 3) Primary Sources." Imperialism In The Congo - 3) Primary Sources. WikiSpaces, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.;Twain, Mark. King Leopold's Soliloquy by Mark Twain. Digital image. AMNH Congo Expedition Readings: King Leopold's Soliloquy. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.)
(Sources:"Imperialism In The Congo - 3) Primary Sources." Imperialism In The Congo - 3) Primary Sources. WikiSpaces, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.;Twain, Mark. King Leopold's Soliloquy by Mark Twain. Digital image. AMNH Congo Expedition Readings: King Leopold's Soliloquy. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.)
king_leopolds_soliloquy.pdf | |
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Mistreated Children
Another primary source that shows what life was like is this photograph of children tha have been mistreated under the rule of King Leopold. Taken in 1912, this photograph shows two children who have had their hands severed off due to their "unsatisfactory" work in the rubber fields, that did not meet to the requirements of King Leopold's standards. This type of punishment was very common in the Congo during the rule of King Leopold, and it shows his inhumane treatment of the Congolese people. Not only were they forced to work in the fields and treated as slaves, but if they acted "lazy" or did not do as told, they would receive extreme punishment, such as the punishment shown in this primary source.
(Source for Picture:Imperialism & War. Digital image. Imperialism & War. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.)
(Source for Picture:Imperialism & War. Digital image. Imperialism & War. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.)
In the Rubber Fields
This primary source shows kids working in the rubber fields to meet the demands of King Leopold and the amount of rubber he expected them to harvest from the rubber trees in the Congo. They had to work in the fields daily and tap the rubber trees to meet the demands that they were required to meet. Since rubber was a big export in the Congo during King Leopold's rule, harvesting rubber/tapping rubber trees was a significant part of life for young workers.
(Source for Picture:Congo Free State, 1885-1908. Digital image. Belgian Congo. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.)
(Source for Picture:Congo Free State, 1885-1908. Digital image. Belgian Congo. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.)
Man Getting Whipped For Being Lazy In the Rubber Field
This last primary source shows a man getting whipped by his master in the field due to low productivity or being lazy in the rubber fields. This act of whipping for low productivity is almost slave- like, and this happened often as there were usually very high expectations for the amount of rubber to be harvested. The workers were treated almost as slaves, and their masters or overseers were often unhappy with their performances, and resorted to violence, such as this.
(Source for Picture:We Do It for The Children. Digital image. Deliriumliberty. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.)
(Source for Picture:We Do It for The Children. Digital image. Deliriumliberty. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.)