Why did Belgium take over Africa?

By the turn of the century, the violence used by Free State officials against indigenous Congolese and a ruthless system of economic exploitation led to intense diplomatic pressure on Belgium to take official control of the country, which it did by creating the Belgian Congo in 1908.

Why did Belgium colonize Africa?

Belgium is a small country in northwest Europe that joined Europe’s race for colonies in the late 19th century. Many European countries wanted to colonize distant parts of the world in order to exploit the resources and “civilize” the inhabitants of these less-developed countries. Belgium gained independence in 1830.

Why did Belgium take over Congo?

Demonstrations and protests demanded that Leopold end human rights abuses in the Congo Free State. In 1908, international pressure forced the king to turn the Congo Free State over to the country of Belgium.

What resources did Belgium want from Africa?

In the interior, gold, diamonds, copper, tin, cobalt, and zinc were mined; the colony became an important source of uranium for the United States during World War II. Africans worked the mines and plantations as indentured labourers on four- to seven-year contracts, in accordance with a law passed in Belgium in 1922.

What did Belgium do in Africa?

Belgium controlled 3 colonies and 3 concessions during its history, the Belgian Congo (modern DRC) from 1908 to 1960, and Ruanda-Urundi (Rwanda and Burundi) from 1922 to 1962. It also had a small concession in China and was a co-administrator of the Tangier International Zone in Morocco.

Which countries did Belgium colonize in Africa?

Belgium created two colonies in Africa: the entities now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Republic of Zaire) and the Republic of Rwanda, previously Ruanda-Urundi, a former German African colony that was given to Belgium to administer after the defeat of Germany in World War I.

Why did they cut off hands in the Congo?

Disease, famine and violence combined to reduce the birth-rate while excess deaths rose. The severing of workers’ hands achieved particular international notoriety. These were sometimes cut off by Force Publique soldiers who were made to account for every shot they fired by bringing back the hands of their victims.

How much money did Belgium make from the Congo?

Rubber Production

Leopold used the rubber money to develop Belgium. “Leopold drew some 220 million francs (or $1.1 billion in today’s dollars) in profits from the Congo during his lifetime.

Who colonized the Congo?

Belgian colonization of DR Congo began in 1885 when King Leopold II founded and ruled the Congo Free State. However, de facto control of such a huge area took decades to achieve.

How many did Belgium kill in Congo?

Although Leopold II established Belgium as a colonial power in Africa, he is best known for the widespread atrocities that were carried out under his rule, as a result of which as many as 10 million people died in the Congo Free State.

What was Congo called before?

A constitutional referendum the year before Mobutu’s coup of 1965 resulted in the country’s official name being changed to the “Democratic Republic of the Congo.” In 1971 Mobutu changed the name again, this time to “Republic of Zaire”.

Why did colonization of Africa begin in the Congo?

Why did colonization of Africa begin in the Congo? … This upset most Africans because they felt that just because they were not as progressive in the fields of science and technology that didn’t mean that they were a lower scale of humans as far as cultural and physical development.

What was the Belgian Congo genocide?

From 1885 to 1908, loot flowed endlessly from the dark interior of the jungle, up the river Congo and into colonial Belgium. Estimates of deaths in that period range from 10 million to 15 million Africans, and the debate whether it constituted a genocide continues.

What race is Belgium?

Demographics of Belgium