The Congo Background Information for Heart of Darkness

Quick Overview What you should know: 1. Geography- Including location, natural resources and natural features of the area 2. Pre-Colonial History- Life before Europe’s takeover 3. The Congo Free State- What King Leopold and his agents did to make his personal colony profitable

Continental Context Congo River

1. Geography n n The main geographic feature is the Congo River Fifth longest river in the world

Geography n The river was of vital interest to European powers because it and its tributaries represented a 7, 000 mile series of connected waterways, a highway to the African interior

Geography Congo River Village

2. Pre-Colonial Congo The Kingdom of the Congo (Kongo) • According to Portuguese explorers the kingdom was a sophisticated and well run state, an imperial federation • Known for advanced working in copper and iron • Rich in ivory and rubber Ne Vunda, Kongolese ambassador to the Vatican, 1608

3. The Congo Free State Leopold II (1835 -1909), King of Belgium from 1865 to 1909, infamous founder of the Congo Free State

The Congo Free State n n The ability to use the river to gain access to the ivory and rubber rich interior made the Congo a coveted area for colonization. As European nations negotiated and agreed to respect each others’ claims to African territory, Leopold made his claim for the Congo. The Berlin Conference, 1884 -1885

The Congo Free State n n Leopold sent the famous explorer of Africa, Henry Morton Stanley, to negotiate treaties with the Congolese chiefs were offered trinkets or cloth if they would place an X on a document in foreign tongue.

The Congo Free State n n These treaties, along with Leopold’s assurances that his goal was to end the practice of slavery, and a promise that the Congo would remain a free trade area, led the European countries to recognize Leopold’s claim to the territory in 1885. The colony “belonged” not to Belgium, but to Leopold personally, making him the only individual to ever colonize a country.

The Congo Free State : “The Profit Imperative” n n n For the first few years of Leopold’s rule his colony did not turn a profit. Soon the idea of free trade was abandoned and the natives could only trade with Leopold’s representatives, with 50% of the profits going to Leopold himself. In order to up the profits it became necessary to make use of cheap labor (gathering rubber is very labor intensive).

The Congo Free State : “The Profit Imperative” n n n Leopold drove the slave traders out of the country, which he portrayed as a great humanitarian act. In reality, however, he did it to gain control of the region. He then paid his ‘agents’ in the country a percentage of the profits, encouraging them to make the trade more and more profitable. He also authorized the use of as much force as was deemed necessary.

The Congo Free State n n n Agents ‘encouraged’ young men to work by holding their wives and children captive until each man’s quota was met. Many who resisted were killed on the spot. Others were beaten with cruel whips called chicotte, made from dried hippo hide with sharp edges.

The Congo Free State n n n Soon a revolt broke out due to the cruel conditions and slave labor Leopold sent his troops into the villages to exterminate the young men To make sure bullets weren’t wasted the soldiers were expected to return with the severed right hands of those they killed.

The Congo Free State n n Often, however, the soldiers could not meet quotas, or had to justify bullets spent on hunting, and so would cut the hands off of living women and children. During the years from 1895 -1908 it is estimated that 8 -10 million people died due to murder, mistreatment and starvation.

The Human Rights Movement n n n Public pressure eventually forced Leopold to sell the Congo Free State to the Belgian government. It became The Belgian Congo in 1908 The Belgian Government ended the worst of the atrocities, but still controlled the fate of the Congolese “For their own good. ” The Congolese were never consulted about their future

Imperialism n n Imperialism: The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony (the predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others) over other nations. Includes the system, policies, or practices of such a government. “Robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale. ” Heart of Darkness, page 70

n n Published originally in 1899 Based on Conrad’s experiences as a steamship captain on the Congo

Joseph Conrad n n At age 32 in 1890 served on a Belgian trading company steamer up the Congo River. This was when it was the Congo Free State

Joseph Conrad n The captain fell ill and died, and Conrad commanded the ship to the innermost station on the river.

Joseph Conrad n Heart of Darkness is taken from this experience.

Leon Rom n n A Belgian soldier and colonial official who was commander of the Stanley Falls Station in the Congo Free State Known for his extraordinary brutality.

Leon Rom n May have been the inspiration for Kurtz.