Hotel Rwanda An Introduction History Rwanda started as

Hotel Rwanda: An Introduction

History • Rwanda started as a Belgian colony. – The Belgians believed the Tutsi were superior to the Hutu because they had more “European features”. (Racism created by outside forces!!) – They used the Tutsi minority to enforce Belgian labor policies and taxes against the Hutu majority. • In 1959, the Hutu majority gained power and killed 150, 000 Tutsi. (revenge!!)

History Continued • 1961 – Rwandans gained their independence from Belgium. • 1990 – A Tutsi rebel group (comprised of the children of those killed and exiled in 1951) called the RPF, invades the country. • At the same time, the Hutu regime was training men for genocide. – What does genocide mean? • Mass extermination of a certain ethnicity.

The weapon of choice for these killings: the machete

History Continued • 1990 – The Hutu regime spread anti-Tutsi propaganda over the radio.

History Continued • 1990 – The Hutu regime spread anti-Tutsi propaganda over the radio. – What is propaganda?

History Continued • 1990 – The Hutu regime spread anti-Tutsi propaganda over the radio. – What is propaganda? • Messages aimed at influencing people’s opinions. • It may or may not be completely true information.

History Continued • 1994 – Nearly 1 million Tutsis were killed by the Hutu regime. (GENOCIDE). – The killings were sparked by the assassination of the Hutu president. They believed the President was killed by a Tutsi. • This could never be proven. – The Tutsi rebel group took control of the capital city and ended the war.

1996 Tutsi returning to Rwanda after the Hutus were defeated.

History Continued • As a result of the Tutsi gaining control of the capital city, the Hutus were forced to flee the country to Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo).

History Continued • As a result of the Tutsi gaining control of the capital city, the Hutus were forced to flee the country to Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). – How does the minority of the population having all the power cause problems in a country?

Movie: Hotel Rwanda • Takes place in 1994 during the civil war. • The Tutsis are hated and called cockroaches. • The Hutus are in power. • The Hutu army attacks the Tutsis. • The Interhamwe is a Hutu militia which also attacks the Tutsi. • Paul is Hutu. He is married to a Tutsi.