Culture
and Language
Positive:
-Brought
formal education systems to the Congo
-Many
indigenous languages were taught in the schools that the government
sponsored
-Had
greatly improved healthcare once the Congo became Belgian Congo-
healthcare improve steadily throughout the time of Belgian Congo
Negative:
Negative:
-Congolese
peoples were discriminated against, had curfews and were banned from
local “white” establishments
-Segregated
the Congolese people because of their colour and culture
-Culture
was being destroyed by the devastation and lack of personal rights
-Roman
Catholic Church and some Protestant Church's forced their religion
and values upon the indigenous people
-Once
they were granted independence they were not left with enough
education to cultivate and develop a country
Population
Positive:
-After
the Congo was granted independence from Belgium the population began
to grow again somewhat
-Due
to the devastation of resources and lack of farming, a small
population was important at first for the Congo to support itself
Negative:
-Leopold
originally ruled approximately 30 million people in the Congo
-Scholars
estimate that Leopold's brutal treatment of the Congolese reduced
population anywhere from 10-50%
-Main
causes of death were war, starvation, forced labor, largely reduced
birthrate and disease, some of which continued to be present after
his rule ended
Land
and resources
Positive:
-Railroads, ports and mines were built
as a result of the Belgian rule and exploitation of resources
-Made some jobs and opportunities for
the Congolese
Negative
-Over-exploited rubber from Congo
region and rubber gradually diminished throughout the Congo.
-The Belgians used the resources of the
Congo to make money for itself
-Belgium had complete control over all
the minerals in the country
-Due to the forced labor, Congolese
people were unable to continue their common jobs of farming and
hunting which resulted in starvation across the country
Economic Well-Being
Economic Well-Being
Positive:
-Palm
oil production in the Congo increased from 2500 tons to 23000 tons in
just 43 years
-Cotton
production increased from 23000 in 1932 to 127000 in 1939
Negative:
-Profits
from mining in the Congo was given to Europe, Congolese people never
saw the rewards of their labour
-Crops
were grown to be sold in Europe leaving the Congolese to starve
-During
the depression, because the Congo was a mainly export based economy,
70% of people lost their jobs
Political Autonomy
Political Autonomy
Positive:
-The Congo was given independence from
Belgium in 1960 and gained control over their own government, education and
resources
Negative:
-Belgians destroyed the existing
political structure of the country, when the Congo was given
independence from Belgium the indigenous people did not have any
political structure
-Lots of civil war in the country
because of the lack of unifying institutions
-After independence Belgians held many
high positions in military and government in the Congo
-Many of the villages in the Congo are
divided and wars are frequent due to the poor rule of the Belgians