Congo Flashcards
David Livingstone
Missionary in south africa in 1840s and traveller
50s and 60s: zambezi river
1865+: search for the source of the Nile, got sick in 68
Found by Stanley in 71, death in 73
Henry Stanley
American journalist
1871: ‘In search of Lvingstone’
1874-77: Trans-Africa exploration - from the congo river to the sea
1879: returns to the Congo under king leopold
Belgian disinterest in colonialism
More focussed on industry than trade
No navy
Failed settlement of guatemala
Leopold II
Jealous of Dutch colonies
Obsession w the colonies: personally funded attempts of colonialism in Philippines and Borneo
Technically undertook these projects as a private person, but w the support of the government
Supposed motivation: philnthropy and development
Savorgnan de Brazza
1875-78: exploration of Ouge and Alima
1879: upper congo for the french, treaties w locals in 1880
1882: treaties ratified by Paris - Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville
Not just science anymore, scramble for africa begins…
Leopold’s strategy
AIC and Stanley
1879-1884
Inspired by de Brazza, but much larger in scale
Worked under International Association of the Congo (AIC)
Stanley: would create treaties to transfer power from tribal chiefs to AIC
Leopold and europe
Needed their approval to have legitimate power over the area
Leopold and Britain
Didn’t want the French to occupy the area, so gave Portugal rights to the Congo
Leopold proposes the idea of the Congo Free State: intentions to fight slavery and develop economy
Leopold and France
Agreed to pass control to France if AIC failed
Leopold and Germany
Weary of British and Portuguese alliance: didnt recognise the Anglo-portuguese treaty
Settled their own colonies and invited diplomats to berlin
Treaty of Berlin
1884
Not drawing of borders, but the creation of universal principles
Free trade along the congo river
Possession of land requires common agreement
Only coastal areas would be up for grabs
Also recognition of Congo Free State
