What were the consequences of Leopold II's actions in Africa?

 Leopold II was the second King of the Belgians from 1865 to 1909, and the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908

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.  The Congo Free State was a private possession owned by King Leopold II of Belgium which now comprises the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo

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.  Leopold II led the first European efforts to develop the Congo River basin, making possible the formation in 1885 of the Congo Free State, annexed in 1908 as the Belgian Congo and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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What were the consequences of Leopold II's actions in Africa?  Leopold II's actions in Africa had devastating consequences for the Congolese people. During his reign, the Congo Free State was established as his personal possession, and he exploited the country's natural resources, particularly rubber, through a system of forced labor that resulted in widespread atrocities

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.  The labor policies used to collect natural rubber for export were particularly associated with many of the atrocities perpetrated in the Congo Free State

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.  These atrocities contributed to a sharp decline in the Congolese population, with modern estimates ranging from 1.5 million to 13 million people dying between 1885 and 1908

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.  The magnitude of the population fall over the period is disputed, but it is clear that the Congolese population suffered greatly under Leopold II's rule. The Belgian state took over the Congo in 1908, and it became the Belgian Congo

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.  The legacy of Leopold II's actions in Africa is still felt today, with the country experiencing serious human rights violations, including mass killings in the context of armed conflict and inter-communal violence

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How did Leopold II justify his actions in Africa? Leopold II justified his actions in Africa by claiming that he was bringing civilization and Christianity to the Congolese people

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. He also claimed that he was ending the slave trade in the region and that his actions were humanitarian in nature

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. However, these justifications were largely propaganda, and Leopold II's true motivations were economic gain and personal enrichment

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Leopold II used a philanthropic organization as a cover to exploit Africa's resources and people for his own economic gain

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. He also hired Stanley to explore and map the Congo, signing treaties that gave him control over the land and resources, ultimately establishing a colony in 1885

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. Despite his claims of ending the slave trade, Leopold II's labor policies used to collect natural rubber for export were particularly associated with many of the atrocities perpetrated in the Congo Free State

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