1answer.
Ask question
Login Signup
Ask question
All categories
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Business
  • History
  • Health
  • Geography
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Computers and Technology
  • Arts
  • World Languages
  • Spanish
  • French
  • German
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • SAT
  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Engineering
sdas [7]
3 years ago
5

Which words best describe king leopold ii’s actions in central africa?

History
1 answer:
serg [7]3 years ago
5 0

Answer:

cruel, ruthless, genocidal

Explanation:

Leopold II, who reigned in Belgium between 1865 and 1909, sought to turn his small country into an imperial power for which he led efforts to develop the Congo River basin.

Arguing his desire to bring the benefits of Christianity, Western civilization and commerce to African natives, the monarch convinced the Eurasian powers to allow him to take control of that vast region through an organization he called the International African Association and that In 1885 he transformed into the Free State of Congo.

This private institution was not linked to the Belgian state but depended directly on the monarch, who presented himself as his "owner." It was the only private colony in the world.

But behind the philanthropic discourse of Leopold II there was a great interest in seizing the great wealth of the territory.

First, of ivory, which was immensely appreciated at the time.

Thus arose most of the wealth obtained by the monarch during the first years of the Free State of Congo.

Gradually, interest in ivory was displaced by rubber fever, when in the 1890s its use skyrocketed to produce bicycle and car wheels.

There are also many stories about the crudeness with which this material was exploited in the territories controlled by Leopold II.

He turned his 'Free State of the Congo' into a massive labor camp, made a fortune for himself by collecting rubber and contributed greatly to the death of perhaps 10 million innocents.

In 1998, the American historian Adam Hochschild published a book in which Leopold II was designated as responsible for a kind of African holocaust, which would exceed the number of dead Jews by Nazi Germany in number of victims.

What there is a coincidence among scholars was in the brutal methods used by the representatives of Leopold II to force the native population to exploit the rubber.

The method to force Congolese to work was as follows: they entered a village by force, took women and girls hostage and ordered men to enter the jungle to collect a certain quota of rubber.

While the men fulfilled the task imposed to save their wives and daughters, they starved or were subjected to sexual abuse.

In addition, those who were not able to complete the quota that had been imposed on them were threatened with the amputation of one of their hands or those of one of their children.

Is it enough to qualify Leopold II as a genocidal?

You might be interested in
Match the following.
blsea [12.9K]
1. Member or supporter of a German political party formed by Adolf Hitler
2.
3. A voter having the power to make or change a political constitution.
4. Substances made from wood ashes and used in soap and fertilizers.
5. A mineral used for making plaster of Paris and fertilizer
6. To treat badly to do harm to again and again.

6 0
2 years ago
Which describes the reason for hardship in the Muslim world during the time of the European Middle Ages
Evgen [1.6K]

Answer:

Muslim nobles subjected most Muslims to a miserable, difficult life of serfdom. Christians from the Byzantine Empire continually tried to convert Muslims to Christianity.

Explanation:

3 0
3 years ago
Which of the following was a reason for the entrance of the United States into World War I?
Diano4ka-milaya [45]
A. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.

This caused Germans to attack vessels that carried US citizens, bringing the US into the war.
3 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
What are TWO reasons the petition states with regards to why women should have the right to vote?
iVinArrow [24]

Answer:

explanation

Explanation:

Just like men and women supported votes for women, men and women organized against suffrage as well. Anti-suffragists argued that most women did not want the vote. Because they took care of the home and children, they said women did not have time to vote or stay updated on politics.

Instead of promoting a vision of gender equality, suffragists usually argued that the vote would enable women to be better wives and mothers. Women voters, they said, would bring their moral superiority and domestic expertise to issues of public concern.

5 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
How can nationalism can lead to political conflict ?
statuscvo [17]

Answer: Nationalism can lead to political conflict that if someone from a different country has pride in their country but someone doesn't like that country that the other person has, this can cause political conflict and wars.

Explanation: For example, in a historic time person A likes and has pride in country A. Person B disagrees and likes and has pride in country B. If person A and B doesn't agree with either country A or B, it can result in political conflict and cause war. Either person A wins or person B wins.

7 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
Other questions:
  • Economist refer to investment as
    15·1 answer
  • Louis xiv advice to his son
    11·2 answers
  • Which of these describes the experience of the first Jamestown settlers?
    9·2 answers
  • What are gardeners multiple intelligences
    11·1 answer
  • How long did the Charleston Nine last, and what was the building that burned?
    10·1 answer
  • PLEASE HELP FAST 40 POINTS
    11·1 answer
  • What problems did famous have in Massachusetts that caused them to rebel
    5·1 answer
  • Global winds over the United States blow in which direction?
    15·2 answers
  • What mainstream jazz form relied heavily on arrangement?
    11·1 answer
  • Was founded by Martin Luther King Jr. and challenged southem segregation with nonviolent civil disobedience and
    5·1 answer
Add answer
Login
Not registered? Fast signup
Signup
Login Signup
Ask question!