Very brief history of the Congo 1885 King

Very brief history of the Congo

1885 - King Leopold II establishes The Congo Free State (with some resistance from the native inhabitants). 1890 s – King Leopold II uses slave labor to profit from the rubber and ivory produced in the Congo. 1908 – Leopold sells his control of the Congo to the Belgian state.

1908 – 1940 – Belgian government forces laborers to work in copper and diamond mines in brutal conditions for the profit of Belgium. 1941 – First labor strike 1942 – Belgian government increases hours required for laborers 1948 – Workers’ rights are recognized and the minimum wage is introduced.

1959 Anti-colonialist sentiment grows and riots break out in major cities. June 1960 The Congo gains independence and elects Patrice Lumumba president January 1961 Lumumba is shot by a firing squad. His body was never recovered and the crime was covered up.

Life in The Congo

The Okapi

Malaria Mosquito-borne parasite that causes flu-like symptoms and even death

The Green Mamba A tree-dwelling HIGHLY venomous snake

The Poisonwood Tree In the poison sumac family Produces an irritant that causes a painful rash.

Catholicism • • Headed by the Pope followed by cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and • Priests. Confession of sins must go • through clergy. Salvation achieved through baptism can be lost through sin and regained through penance. Protestantism Each church led by independent pastors, elders, and deacons. Confession of sins directly to God. Salvation is achieved though faith alone.