Economies of
Coercion: Forced Labor and Power of the
State
King Leopold II of Belgium gained
areas in central Africa. King Leopold II
of Belgium enslaved the people of Congo for rubber trade. He killed and estimated 20 million people. Because there was neglect and no form of
organized government control, Europeans were free to adopt brutal policies of
kidnapping, mutilation, robbery, and murder in order to obtain desired labor
and resources. King Leopold’s rule not
only led to the killing and maiming of native people, but he starved and
overworked them. In 1885, Leopold announce Congo Free State under his direct
control. Congo Free State became an
economic, environmental, cultural, and human disaster for the Congo people. That
meant, all other European powers could buy and sell in the territory without much
fees and taxes. Leopold forced labor on
many villagers to collect rubber. This
force frequently attacked a village, overwhelmed it with weapons and training,
holding the women and children hostage and forcing the men to meet a rubber
quota. It was not until Edmund Morel and
Roger Casement, British men, had forced Leopold to sell the Congo to the state
of Belgium in 1908. It was because of King Leopold’s forced labor that started the
first human rights movement.
I believe that Leopold harsh
autocratic rule was unsuccessful because it led to population declined. Additionally, the rubber collection suffered
because the slaves couldn’t take care of their plot where it was most needed. Subsequently,
the inhuman amputation of hands due to failure to collect rubber led to a
senseless genocide massacre. I accredit
much of Leopold mistreatments was to exploit every human being as much as he
could through his power. Finally, Leopold’s
injustice should demonstrate to society now the importance of human rights
governed by our constitution.
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