Explain how the European desire for profit affected the people of the Congo.
i cant figure this out! please please help me
its for english but its more of a hostory question
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/triangle.asp
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/freedom/viewTheme.cfm/theme/triangular
http://www.africanculturalcenter.org/4_5slavery.html
You should get plenty of information from these sites.
Certainly! The European desire for profit had a significant impact on the people of the Congo. To understand how, we need to consider the historical context of European colonization in Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Congo, located in Central Africa, was once under the control of Belgium's King Leopold II. King Leopold's primary motive for colonizing the Congo was to exploit its abundant natural resources and generate profit. His actions can be seen as a prime example of the scramble for Africa, where European powers sought to claim territories and amass wealth through resource extraction.
One way this desire for profit impacted the people of the Congo was through forced labor. King Leopold II established a brutal system of exploitation known as the "Congo Free State," where Congolese people were forced into labor on rubber plantations and in mines. The rubber industry, in particular, was lucrative during this time, and Congolese workers were subjected to harsh conditions, extreme violence, and abuse.
The European desire for profit also led to the devastation of local economies and communities. As European companies and traders extracted resources from the Congo, it disrupted traditional economic systems and practices. The European powers often imposed heavy taxation or forced the Congolese people to work for minimal pay, depriving them of their livelihoods and further exacerbating socio-economic inequalities.
Additionally, the search for profit in the Congo resulted in forced displacement and violence against the local population. European companies and colonizers frequently resorted to violence and coercion in their pursuit of resources, leading to the loss of land, displacement of communities, and widespread suffering among the Congolese people.
In summary, the European desire for profit in the Congo led to forced labor, economic exploitation, disruption of local economies, and violence against the Congolese people. This dark period in history, known as the "Congo Free State" era, resulted in immense suffering and long-lasting consequences for the people of the Congo. It is important to examine these historical events to better understand the impact of European colonization and the legacy it has left behind.