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The Belgian Congo was a colony of Belgium that started in 1908 and was independent from Belgium in 1960 from the changes of colonization after WW2. Today, it is known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Between 1890 and 1990, many European countries started coloni
In 1876, King Leopald set up conferences to set up a Belgian colony in the Congo. He hired Henry M. Stanley, and English explorer to do it for him. He wanted to control the ivory and rubber trade there. With the support of many European nations, he hired explorers to set one up. Under the Berlin Conference General Act, he had to stop East African slave trade; promote humanitarian policies; guarantee free trade; and encourage missions.
This pattern of the colonization of Africa continued on until after WW2 (when most nations got their independence).The Europeans were more technologically advanced than the Africans and used their guns to help keep order in their colonies. The European powers were colonizing Africa because they saw an oppurtunity to make a large amount of money, but not have to pay the workers. They enslaved many of the indiginous people. Products they exported out of Africa include gold, copper, diamonds, many chemicals, and diseases.
Leopald's rule was very harsh in the Congo. There was a lot of violence used against the natives and some were forced to work. This caused Belgium to take control of the Belgian Congo away from Leopald. But unfair treatment still continued.
The main exports of the Belgian Congo were Latex (from rubber trees) and ivory (elephant tusk). Before the Belgians were in the Congo, they only exported 250 tons of rubber, when they were there, the Congo exported 1500 tons of it. Leopald used a lot of the money on public displays to impress the public. After 1908, the Congo also had a lot copper and diamond deposits all over the land. By 1928, the Congo produced 7% of the world's copper. And was second in the world at exporting diamonds (behind South Africa).
The effects of colonialism were not too great. It caused alot of confusion and violence for the next couple decades after the Europeans left. Many genocides and civil wars have occured. But some countries have been able to set up governments are functioning quite well. But influence of the Europeans can still be seen today in language, dress style, and infrastructure.
The End.