Background Information for King Leopolds Soliloquy

see also on Scribd the full version and other publications about the Congo Free State
1876 1879 April 22, 1884 Nov. 1884-1885 May 29, 1885 Leopolds Geographical Conference. Establishes the International African Association. Leopold II establishes his own personal kingdom in the Congo United States became the first country to recognize Leopolds claim to the Congo. Other major European powers followed in granting recognition. Berlin Conference set guidelines for the division of Africa Leopold named his territory the Etat Indpendant du Congo (Congo Free State). Previously it had been known as the International African Association of International Association of the Congo.

Leopolds rule saw extreme brutality: - people forced to collect rubber - estimated 10 million deaths over 20-year period Leopold tried to cover up the brutality: - successful for a while - techniques used to hide information: o missionaries limited o white employees forbidden to leave the Congo o publicity campaign to discredit rumors Reform movement: - began with E.D. Morel in England - shipping clerk/part-time journalist who saw ships come in from the Congo, and he wondered why the ships that came in with rubber returned to the Congo with guns and ammunition he became full-time investigative journalist to report on what was happening - 1902 Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness based on his experience as a steamer captain in the Congo in 1890s caught public attention - 1903 Morel and other members of House of Commons passed resolution calling British government to conduct an inquiry into abuses in the Congo - 1904 Roger Casement, British Consul to the Congo, gave report of abuses - 1904 Casement and Morel founded the Congo Reform Association in Britain - 1905 Belgian Parliament forced Leopold to set up independent commission of inquiry, which confirmed Casements report - George Washington Williams and William Sheppard 2 black Americans who risked much to bring evidence of the atrocities to the outside world Mark Twain: - served as a VP for the American Congo Reform Association (est. by Morel in 1904) - went to Washington, D.C. 3 times to lobby; met with Pres. Teddy Roosevelt and secretary of state - 1905 King Leopolds Soliloquy o imaginary monologue by Leopold o royalties donated to Congo Reform Association o Hochschild, p. 242: Although it is painted with too broad a brush and is far from Twains best work, King Leopolds Soliloquy provoked the royal propaganda machine to ruse out an anonymous 47-page pamphlet, An Answer to Mark Twain.