Premium Essay

The Congo In King Leopold's Ghost

Submitted By
Words 265
Pages 2
Adam Hochschild writes a historical text, King Leopold’s Ghost. In this, Leopold is a powerful king who is currently in control of land in the Congo. Throughout the passage, his language provides contrasts between his desired dream of his kingdom and the actual realities of the Congo. Hochschild compares the plantations of the Congo to his fantasy. The author narrates the thoughts circling in Leopold’s mind: “The Congo in Leopold’s mind was not the one of starving porters, raped hostages, emaciated rubber slaves, and severed hands” (Hochschild). The description of “starving”, “raped hostages”, and “emaciated rubber slaves” all provide a pessimistic connotation. Here it is implied that the Congo is a poor country, and the country relies on

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The European Colonization of Africa

...forcefully conquered and colonized by Europe. The accounts of this horrific colonization are revealed in Adam Hochschild's "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa," which unveils the brutal nature of Belgium's conquest and colonization of the central African country Congo. This conquest began with Belgian King Leopold II, who grew up with minimal expressions of love and affection from his family. His emotional void was filled with an obsession for colonies and money. His thirst for expanding his own Belgian empire grew strong. He learned as much as one could about colonization and profit, and when he realized that no colonies were available for purchase, he knew he must use force. His eyes were set on Africa. "Only in Africa could Leopold hope to achieve his dream of seizing a colony, especially one immensely larger than Belgium" (Hochschild 61). As one of the greatest conquests in world history, along with the Jewish holocaust which killed 11 million people, the European conquest of Africa killed over 10 million people cutting the population of the Congo by at least half (Hochschild 233). In thoroughly understanding this tragic event in history, it is important to explore why Europe conquered and colonized Africa, how this conquer was accomplished, and Africa's response to it. Greed was at the center of King Leopold's European conquest and colonization of Africa. In his mid-twenties Leopold read the book "Java" about how to manage a colony...

Words: 1927 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Roger Casement's Rule Of King Leopold II Of Belgium

...recognized Africa for its material wealth and began to invade, occupy, and extract resources. Subsequently, while each colony varied in outcome, the most inhumanely prolific colony was, arguably, the Congo Free State. King Leopold II of Belgium, claimed the Congo as his own in order to become a world power and as a result, the Congo Free State suffered from casualties upwards of 10 million people. Thus, the argument is a raised that despite the accolades that rendered the Congo a “free state”, genocide existed under King Leopold’s rule. In order to explore this concept, Roger Casement’s...

Words: 534 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

19th Century American Imperialism

...Europeans had a drive to set out and help other nations, and to civilize them, and bring them to their full potential... or did they? Throughout the 19th century, Europeans had become the most powerful industrial powers, and set off to conquer and carve their piece of the globe. Europeans expanded in brutal and unfair ways hurting natives of many countries. The desire to civilize and help other people in European Imperialism was not serious because European countries had major economic expansion and the control of foreign resources, and they had harsh rule over conquered countries, such as the Congo Free State, and these are bad intentions because actions determine how serious someone is in their intentions. Europeans minimal desires to...

Words: 678 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The Congo

...THE CONGO ALL: (CHANT) Gods of the Congo, Mumbo-jumbo will hoo-doo you, Mumbo-jumbo will hoo-doo you, Mumbo-jumbo will hoo-doo you." ALL: Fat black bucks in a wine-barrel room,  Barrel-house kings, with feet unstable,  Sagged and reeled and pounded on the table, Pounded on the table, Beat an empty barrel with the handle of a broom, Hard as they were able, Boom, boom, Boom, With a silk umbrella and the handle of a broom, Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay, Boom. GIRLS: Then I had religion Asdolo,Mempin, Tioyao: Then I had a vision GIRLS: I could not turn form their revel in derision BOYS: THEN I SAW THE CONGO, CREEPING THROUGH THE BLACK,  CUTTING THROUGH THE JUNGLE WITH A GOLDEN TRACK. ALL: Then along that river-bank A thousand miles Tattoed cannibals danced in files Then I heard the boom of the blood-lust song And a thigh-bone beating on a tin-pan gong OOhhhhh3x (Creepy low voice) ALL: And "BLOOD" GIRLS: screamed the whistles and the fifes of the warriors, ALL: BLOOD! GIRLS: screamed the skull-faced, lean witch doctors NIGEL: "Whirl ye the deadly voodoo rattle, Harry the uplands, Steal all the cattle, Rattle-rattle, rattle-rattle, Bing! ALL: BOOMLAY..BOOMLAY..BOOMLAY…BOOM!! A roaring, epic rag-time tune. From the mouth of the Congo... to the mountains of the moon OOOOhhh3x (creepy low voice) HANNAH: Death is an elephant DOROTHY: Torch-eyed and horrible NICA: Foam-flanked...

Words: 385 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

King Leopold's Ghost Summary

...In his book, King Leopold’s Ghost, Adam Hochschild brings many discussions to why massive carnage has remained unknown in the United States and Europe as well as questioning your view on human nature. Hochschild opens up with the early life of Henry Morton Stanely and how that name came about. King Leopold II brings in Stanley to help claim his kingdom and build a stronger kingdom such as England’s. Immediately into the story the author makes Stanley’s story clear and the reader could tell Stanley had a troubled background but respected those who helped him, enough to change his name to his boss’ name and “experimented with the middle names, using Morley, Morelake, and Moreland before finally settling on Morton.” Between the 1880 and 1920, there were many...

Words: 963 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Henry Ford

...AP World History Summer Assignment Dear Students – Welcome to your 2014-2015 sophomore AP World History course! In preparation for our busy year, you are expected to complete the following FOUR assignments over the summer! Please review the descriptions of the activities listed below and the anticipated due dates and assessments for each assignment. We will begin our course of study in the year 8,000 B.C.E. and finish the school year looking at modern day issues. The majority of your summer assignments will require you to read, reflect and analyze the one book selected from the list provided. You will also have to complete three basic world religions charts, answer questions about the Neolithic Revolution and complete a geography assignment. You may find links to the documents required for these assignments on my teacher Website http://teacherweb.com/WA/LakesHighSchool/Dunnavant/h0.aspx Please feel free to email me over the summer if you have questions. Sincerely, Ms. Dunnavant adunnava@cloverpark.k12.wa.us Assignment One – WORLD RELIGIONS The influence of major religions and semi-religious philosophies on societies will provide a reoccurring theme throughout the course. It is important for you to be familiar with each religion as we proceed. Please follow the directions below: 1. Visit the following sources: • BBC Religion & Ethics Website http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/ • Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0113529.html ...

Words: 1449 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Factors That Affects the Study Habits of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Students of Neust

...IGOROTS * Home * IGOROT SONGS * IGOROT DANCE * IGOROT TRADITIONS * MONEY ON THE MOUNTAIN IGOROT TRADITIONS IGOROT TRADITIONS When we talk about Igorot identity and culture, we also have to consider the time. My point is that: what I am going to share in this article concerning the Igorot culture might not be the same practiced by the Igorots of today. It has made variations by the passing of time, which is also normally happening to many other cultures, but the main core of respect and reverence to ancestors and to those who had just passed is still there. The Igorot culture that I like to share is about our practices and beliefs during the "time of Death". Death is part of the cycle of life. Igorots practice this part of life cycle with a great meaning and importance. Before the advent of Christianity in the Igorotlandia, the Igorots or the people of the Cordilleran region in the Philippines were animist or pagans. Our reverence or the importance of giving honor to our ancestors is a part of our daily activities. We consider our ancestors still to be with us, only that they exist in another world or dimension. Whenever we have some special feasts (e.g., occasions during death, wedding, family gathering, etc.), when we undertake something special (like going somewhere to look for a job or during thanksgiving), we perform some special offer. We call this "Menpalti/ Menkanyaw", an act of butchering and offering animals. During these times we call them...

Words: 53758 - Pages: 216

Free Essay

Juriprudence

...Edited by Kristen Walker Painemilla, Anthony B. Rylands, Alisa Woofter and Cassie Hughes Edited by Kristen Walker Painemilla, Anthony B. Rylands, Alisa Woofter and Cassie Hughes Conservation International 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 USA Tel: +1 703-341-2400 www.conservation.org Editors : Kristen Walker Painemilla, Anthony B. Rylands, Alisa Woofter and Cassie Hughes Cover design  Paula K. Rylands, Conservation International : Layout: Kim Meek, Washington, DC Maps [except where noted otherwise]  Kellee Koenig, Conservation International : Conservation International is a private, non-profit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. ISBN 978-1-934151-39-6 © 2010 by Conservation International All rights reserved. The designations of geographical entities in this publication, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Conservation International or its supporting organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect those of Conservation International (CI). Suggested citation: Walker Painemilla, K., Rylands, A. B., Woofter, A. and Hughes, C. (eds.). 2010. Indigenous Peoples and Conservation: From  Rights to Resource Management. Conservation...

Words: 170022 - Pages: 681

Premium Essay

Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy by Robert D. Woodberry

...American Political Science Review Vol. 106, No. 2 May 2012 doi:10.1017/S0003055412000093 The Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy ROBERT D. WOODBERRY National University of Singapore T his article demonstrates historically and statistically that conversionary Protestants (CPs) heavily influenced the rise and spread of stable democracy around the world. It argues that CPs were a crucial catalyst initiating the development and spread of religious liberty, mass education, mass printing, newspapers, voluntary organizations, and colonial reforms, thereby creating the conditions that made stable democracy more likely. Statistically, the historic prevalence of Protestant missionaries explains about half the variation in democracy in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania and removes the impact of most variables that dominate current statistical research about democracy. The association between Protestant missions and democracy is consistent in different continents and subsamples, and it is robust to more than 50 controls and to instrumental variable analyses. ocial scientists tend to ignore religion in the processes of post-Enlightenment modernization. In individual cases and events, the role of religious actors is clear—especially in the primary documents. Yet in broad histories and comparative analyses, religious groups are pushed to the periphery, only to pop out like a jack-in-the-box from time to time to surprise and scare people and then shrink...

Words: 26573 - Pages: 107

Free Essay

Thesis

...[pic] Frank G. Madsen Queens’ College University of Cambridge International Monetary Flows of Non-Declared Origin This dissertation is submitted to the University of Cambridge to Fulfil the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy April 2008 Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Effetti del Buon Governo Siena, Palazzo Pubblico Sala dei Nove 1337-1340 Declaration This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing, which is the outcome of work done in collaboration. Chapter 3, “Complexity, TOC and Terrorism”, was presented in an embryonic form at the ISA conference in Chicago, USA, March 2007. Chapter 4, “Organised Crime”, is the further elaboration of a chapter of the same title published in 2007 in the Oxford Handbook on the United Nations Statement of Length The dissertation does not exceed the word limit of 80,000 words Fieldwork Thailand (money laundering); Indonesia and Burma (deforestation); New York (US money supply); Washington DC and Fort Worth, Texas (Organised Crime linked to terrorist funding); Australia (Sydney, (APG) and Canberra (money laundering, South Pacific); and Rome, Italy (Chinese organised crime). Contact Frank.Madsen@cantab.net Abstract Through an analysis of the presence and nature of international monetary flows of non-declared origin and their relation to deviant knowledge, the thesis...

Words: 99119 - Pages: 397

Free Essay

One Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.

...E SSAYS ON TWENTIETH-C ENTURY H ISTORY In the series Critical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar, Striking Steel: Solidarity Remembered Janis Appier, Policing Women: The Sexual Politics of Law Enforcement and the LAPD Allen Hunter, ed., Rethinking the Cold War Eric Foner, ed., The New American History. Revised and Expanded Edition E SSAYS ON _ T WENTIETH- C ENTURY H ISTORY Edited by ...

Words: 163893 - Pages: 656