King Leopold II reigned on the Belgian Throne from 1865-1909. During this time, he oversaw the colonization of the Congo in Africa which lasted from 1880-1920. The Congolese people were forced to harvest rubber and other raw materials in horrible and inhumane conditions. It is estimated over 50%, or roughly 10 million people, were murdered during this time. It remains one of the most notorious and deadly genocides in recorded human history. King Leopold’s colonial model was copied by the French, German, and Portuguese officials, leading to the historical legacy of European Colonialism and terror in the African Continent.
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