1
Name of student
Institution name
Professor name
Course
Date.
King Leopold’s Ghost
The young King Leopold II had a vision of colonization. As a kid, he was obsessed with
maps, and as an adult, he wanted to expand his tiny Belgian empire to the Congo. Some
Congolese looked up to him, and he was largely shielded from guilt for the vast exploitation.
Leopold's intentions to profit himself on the backs and bodies of innocent men, women, and
children of the Congo were carried out with full force (MacDonald & Mairi, 57-74). While
secretly wealthy himself beyond his wildest dreams, Leopold assured other leaders that his only
motivation was to impart civilization to the needy, uncivilized Africans.
Reason Leopold Wanted a Colony
The King of Belgium, Leopold II, saw the opportunity to expand his country's
infrastructure by establishing a colony. Some people objected to the concept of establishing a
colony on ethical grounds. But Leopold saw this as a means to boost his country's economy and
education. He explored the globe searching for a colony but needed more suitable land and
, 2
inhabitants. Leopold thought that gaining an African empire would boost Belgium's international
standing because it was small and powerless (Pereira &Jairzinho, 673-706).
In 1865, Leopold II became king of Belgium, and his reign was marked by the type of
gentleness that had come to be anticipated by the country's monarchs. He exerted pressure on the
senate to have Belgium join the other major countries in establishing an overseas empire. He
hoped Belgium would amass as much wealth as possible before competing nations arrived. He
began sending representatives to the Congo to establish treaties with the local natives.
Things He Needed to Accomplish
Several causes helped King Leopold II of Belgium expand his African dominion into the
Congo. For starters, Leopold was a highly ambitious guy who was set on establishing Belgium as
a major colonial power. He was keen to set up a colony in Africa because he believed the
continent might provide Belgium with tremendous wealth and influence. Hiding reality with
propaganda helped Europeans appear superior. Because African leaders made it so simple for
their people to be enslaved, resistance was minimal. The African chiefs were bound once slavery
was abolished because they could no longer maintain their lavish lifestyles on the same salary
(Rochat & Matthew, 7).
King Leopold II of Belgium had no legal or legitimate claim to the Congo, yet Belgium
gave him absolute power. The Belgian government provided Leopold II with the money for this
humanitarian initiative to acquire the country of Congo under the pretense of aiding the people of
Africa. Due to its lack of exploration and claim by any European power, the Congo area was an
accessible target for colonization. Leopold was able to use the native Congolese and their
resources to his advantage and create a powerful and affluent colony. The creation of the Congo
Name of student
Institution name
Professor name
Course
Date.
King Leopold’s Ghost
The young King Leopold II had a vision of colonization. As a kid, he was obsessed with
maps, and as an adult, he wanted to expand his tiny Belgian empire to the Congo. Some
Congolese looked up to him, and he was largely shielded from guilt for the vast exploitation.
Leopold's intentions to profit himself on the backs and bodies of innocent men, women, and
children of the Congo were carried out with full force (MacDonald & Mairi, 57-74). While
secretly wealthy himself beyond his wildest dreams, Leopold assured other leaders that his only
motivation was to impart civilization to the needy, uncivilized Africans.
Reason Leopold Wanted a Colony
The King of Belgium, Leopold II, saw the opportunity to expand his country's
infrastructure by establishing a colony. Some people objected to the concept of establishing a
colony on ethical grounds. But Leopold saw this as a means to boost his country's economy and
education. He explored the globe searching for a colony but needed more suitable land and
, 2
inhabitants. Leopold thought that gaining an African empire would boost Belgium's international
standing because it was small and powerless (Pereira &Jairzinho, 673-706).
In 1865, Leopold II became king of Belgium, and his reign was marked by the type of
gentleness that had come to be anticipated by the country's monarchs. He exerted pressure on the
senate to have Belgium join the other major countries in establishing an overseas empire. He
hoped Belgium would amass as much wealth as possible before competing nations arrived. He
began sending representatives to the Congo to establish treaties with the local natives.
Things He Needed to Accomplish
Several causes helped King Leopold II of Belgium expand his African dominion into the
Congo. For starters, Leopold was a highly ambitious guy who was set on establishing Belgium as
a major colonial power. He was keen to set up a colony in Africa because he believed the
continent might provide Belgium with tremendous wealth and influence. Hiding reality with
propaganda helped Europeans appear superior. Because African leaders made it so simple for
their people to be enslaved, resistance was minimal. The African chiefs were bound once slavery
was abolished because they could no longer maintain their lavish lifestyles on the same salary
(Rochat & Matthew, 7).
King Leopold II of Belgium had no legal or legitimate claim to the Congo, yet Belgium
gave him absolute power. The Belgian government provided Leopold II with the money for this
humanitarian initiative to acquire the country of Congo under the pretense of aiding the people of
Africa. Due to its lack of exploration and claim by any European power, the Congo area was an
accessible target for colonization. Leopold was able to use the native Congolese and their
resources to his advantage and create a powerful and affluent colony. The creation of the Congo
