Imperialism In The Belgian Congo

Currently, the unemployment rate is 53% (“Democratic Republic of Congo Profile”). Over half of the population is not working. This is because the working generation was not educated as they were kept hostage in the time of imperialization. Additionally, the literacy rate is 69.8% (Democratic Republic of Congo Profile”). The lack of education results from the issues in colonial times. Without education, the Congolese were unable to advance in technology and medicine. Diarrhea and malaria diseases account for half of the death toll. During Leopold’s rule, the life expectancy rate was uncountable as ½ the population was murdered. Currently, the life expectancy is 50 years old; the second lowest throughout the world (“The World Factbook”). The low life expectancy rate directly corresponds to the lack of education during the colonial era as the society was unable grow and have modern medications. The Congo currently suffers as they are unable to make advancements in the

Without the Belgians, the Congo became financially unstable and lost whatever instruction and guidance the Belgians thought to give-- whether it be any degree of education, which was then thrust onto the Africans to teach themselves, or political stability. While the political stability was not in the Congo’s favor, it was still more beneficial than the leader the Congo had after Lumumba. The loss of stability led to the Congo being considered lesser than other countries and led to other countries, the United States of America, for example, shunning the Congolese. The financial instability also led to the Congo being unable to communicate effectively with other countries-- the sister countries of Africa or the countries abroad-- because the people of the Congo (or Zaire, as it was called under Mobutu, the outsider that took the place of Lumumba) could not afford to use what little finances they had for anything apart from basic survival necessities. This was alienating in nature, but exile also proved to be enriching as well. The exile brought about the election of Lumumba which in turn proved to produce ideas that would benefit the Congo. Lumumba’s election also resulted in higher morale. When he was killed, the Congolese were still loyal and remembered what could have been under Lumumba. The Congolese passion and loyalty for Lumumba,

The rule of King Leopold II instilled disturbing methods of ruling. He enslaved the people of The democratic republic of Congo (Congolese) to gather him resources that would only benefit him. He was willing to do whatever it took to gain resources, even if it meant enslaving the people. “ King Leopold II nearly enslaved many of the Congolese people in order to gain wealth, and to bring power” (Citation) imperialism had a negative impact on the country, it had a long lasting impacts on the country because he depleted them of their resources which means they don't have much to export as a country now. King Leopold II used the people as slaves to gather their resources due to the danger of the work, which resulted in many casualties and injuries. He wanted to rule the country as he wanted rather than what was right for the people. He lied to the Belgian government in order to gain power of the country, by saying that his

Before European countries began to compete for Africa and its land, before there was a struggle against imperialism, there was the demand of more material goods for the European lifestyle. Since the demand increased, the rate of which countries had to produce the goods increased. Africa was the top supplier for cotton, rubber, and petroleum. Since European countries needed these items they needed to take control of africa, which means they would also get more power. Militaries were crucial to have power, if a country has a powerful military and a lot of land then they have more power.

The technical advances in the early and middle part of the 19th century enabled Western European powers to exploit imperial objectives in Africa. Among these advances were the steam engine, extraction of quinine, invention of the telegraph, steal processing and improved weaponry. The steam engine was important in increasing the speed and reliability of transportation. Extracting quinine from the bark of the cinchona tree helped treat malaria; a mosquito borne disease that killed thousands; it was now possible to survive in the interior of Africa. The telegraph was invented in 1837 and allowed fast communication over long

So in taking over the once free state of Congo the King not only gained the natural resources, but in his demented mind he also gained the people or work force to harvest these resources. Some of the long lasting effects of the imperialism on the now Democratic Republic of Congo still linger even today. During the imperialism of Congo the people and Congo itself never really gained financially or culturally anything

Everyone looks different from each other . Some are considered more attractive than others . This has caused many problems in our human race . This is because of the judgment of people based on their outward appearance . This actions caused many problems and are shown by the characters in the stories read this semester . Those characters were victims of been judged because of their outward appearance . This result in different types of effects such as being Stereotyped as a criminal , Also not been accepted because of who they want to be . Another effect is that some have lost their self-confidence .

According Nnamidi Azikiwe, a Nigerian leader, imperialism is a crime against humanity (Document 8). Europeans committed certain actions to the African race like forcing Africans into labor. When someone with dominance commands a weaker person, they become frightened, like the Africans. King Leopold II colonized the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over seventy-five years. The economy was based on the forced labor of the Congolese (Congo Case Study). Africans needed to collect a certain amount of rubber and ivory, but when they didn’t meet the European’s expectations, they would be punished which consisted of being raped or abused, brutally. Leopold’s actions of continuously demanding the Congolese to work for little wages was not just because they worked long hours, yet got paid off as little as a few cents. The prime minister, Jules Ferry, gave a speech in 1884 called “On French Colonial Expansion” that contradicts, and he exclaims that superior races has a right over lower races (Document 7). Ferry believes that Europe will help Africa become civil, but this created inequality. White people used their control over people of color to work for them. Africans never got the same opportunities as whites; therefore, making them less important. Africans were obligated to be servants for Europeans, but they did not wish to, making this harder on African

One of the many major destructive economic effects of imperialism would be the loss of natural resources. The Congo Free State lost many trees because the trees produced something that was needed to create rubber. Countries have also been banned from trading things they produced because of Imperialism. An example being how India was not allowed to export the woven cotton it produced while it was under British rule. Economic Imperialism has led to the death of many people. A substantial quantity people who lived in the Congo Free State died as a result of starvation and overworking so that Belgium could benefit economically. Imperialism has had a hand in the diminishment of natural resources, the prevention of trade and has taken millions of lives

Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, people around the world lived with awful conditions, as they lacked more modern innovations. Such innovations included indoor plumbing, roads, and faster means of transportations (Hobson 103). With the Europeans introducing the native people to these types of inventions, it’s clear that positive development ensued, as only good can come from many things that the Europeans had brought with them. Especially in Africa, which came almost completely under European control in 1884 following the Berlin Conference, the territories developed for the better. Indoor plumbing, among many other things brought better sanitations, ultimately leading to less disease (Lynn). Developed roads and faster means of transportation, including steam boats to move goods from continent to continent, meant it was considerably easier to maintain international trade. With faster transportation, Africans were introduced to a number of products that had previously been unavailable, because of the length of time needed to ship them. They were also able to export goods, typically through the European nation that was controlling them, which brought in a new source of income (Said 114). Imperialism often did good for the people living in in areas that were significantly

Imperialism had several diverse impacts on Asia, Africa, and Europe. The pros about imperialism, was that new roads and railroads that were built connected many parts of India. The introduction of the telegraph and postal systems united many people. Discovering new agricultural methods improved farming in the west and in Africa and Asia. Schools that were built by the British educated many people. Human rights were recognized, by ending customs that threatened many humans.

A similar phenomenon occurred in Africa as well: railroads, dams, and telegraph lines were built by Europeans like the Belgians, British, and Dutch, making it easier for people to communicate both within a colony and with other nations. Improved technology like the steamboat introduced by the Belgians to the Congo, for example, allowed the trading hub that was the Kisangani River to flourish. The building of this infrastructure was, of course, useless if no one was alive to use it, and so the Europeans also brought Western medicine and health practices to their colonies. Armed with medicines like quinine, they reduced the number of people who contracted illnesses like malaria. Health clinics in the Congo set up by missionaries determined to improve lives in what they saw as the barbaric world of the native people were available to treat wounds that previously would have been fatally infected, and in India, the British put an end to the killing of female babies. With better healthcare systems and the enforcement of Western values, the

The first positive impact European Imperialism had on the world is education. Before European colonization and the introduction of Western education, traditional educational systems still existed in Africa The average African child was taught basic survival skills necessary to survive in the traditional society. They were taught how to fish, trade and crafts, etc. (Education Western Africa.) Although already knew

Over the course of human history, many believe that the “Congo Free State”, which lasted from the 1880s to the early 1900s, was one of the worst colonial states in the age of Imperialism and was one of the worst humanitarian disasters over time. Brutal methods of collecting rubber, which led to the deaths of countless Africans along with Europeans, as well as a lack of concern from the Belgian government aside from the King, combined to create the most potent example of the evils of colonialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s. The Congo colonial experience, first as the Congo Free State then later as Belgian Congo, was harmful to that region of Africa both then and now because of the lack of Belgian and International

Beginning in 1880, there was a growing desire for European countries to expand and control their rule. The only continent at that time that was left uncontrolled and, in the European's eyes uncivilized, was Africa. This was the start of Western Imperialism. All European countries wanted their piece of Africa and to get it, they would let nothing stand in their way. They would change the entire government, religion, market, and behavior of most of the African nation and affect almost every person living there. An account of the impact of Imperialism is given in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. This book shows the changes that occurred in Africa during Imperialism and its affect on the community and the people