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Democratic Republic of the Congo (view source)
Revision as of 21:51, January 16, 2018
, 21:51, January 16, 2018Added some more info on Leopold II's propaganda campaign and the bipartisan backlash against his atrocities.
The area known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo was populated as early as 10,000 years ago and settled in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. by Bantus from present-day [[Nigeria]]. Discovered in 1482 by Portuguese navigator Diego Cao it was explored in the late 19th century by English journalist Henry Morton Stanley.
The area known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo was populated as early as 10,000 years ago and settled in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. by Bantus from present-day [[Nigeria]]. Discovered in 1482 by Portuguese navigator Diego Cao it was explored in the late 19th century by English journalist Henry Morton Stanley.
The Congo was officially colonized in 1885 as a personal possession of Belgian [[King Leopold II]] as the Congo Free State. The maltreatment of native rubber workers created an international scandal and in 1907, full control was given to the Belgian Government. It renamed the country the Belgian Congo.
The Congo was officially colonized in 1885 as a personal possession of Belgian [[King Leopold II]] as the Congo Free State. Waging a successful propaganda campaign to bill Leopold as a champion of human rights, Leopold garnered the support of Liberals and Conservatives alike. However, word surfaced that the Congolese were being treated terribly by Leopold, his mercenaries, and the Force Publique, a military organization made up mostly of Africans run by Leopold. The maltreatment of native rubber workers created an international scandal that has often been called the first global human rights movement, and in 1907, full control was given to the Belgian Government. It renamed the country the Belgian Congo.
Following a series of riots and unrest, the Belgian Congo was granted its independence on June 30, 1960. Parliamentary elections in 1960 produced Patrice Lumumba as prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu as president of the renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Following a series of riots and unrest, the Belgian Congo was granted its independence on June 30, 1960. Parliamentary elections in 1960 produced Patrice Lumumba as prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu as president of the renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo.