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Where and When: Central Africa, late 19th century.

Why: European countries wanted to expand their land a and control valuable resources in Africa.

How: King Leopold II of Belgium made the International African Association where he said he was going to help Africa but he actually wanted to control a part of Africa.

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Where and When: Europe, in the years 1884 and 1885.

Why: European leaders met to decide who could take control of which parts of Africa so they wouldn't fight over it.

How: King Leopold II of Belgium talked other European leaders into letting him have control of Congo by promising he would do good things there. This allowed Belgium to officially own and control Congo, making it okay for them to take resources and make rules there.

Belgium takes over Congo:

1908: When Congo was in a very bad condition, the Belgium government decided to take over Congo and they named it Belgian Congo.

Where: Brussels,Belgium

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Imperialist methods to control, oppress and exploit country:

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Imperialist methods to control, oppress and exploit country:

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Where and When: Congo, a long time ago, from the late 1800s to the middle of the 1900s.

Why: Belgium wanted to become rich by taking the valuable things in Congo, like rubber and minerals.

How: The Belgian leaders made Congolese people work very hard for no pay. They were often treated very badly and punished if they didn't work hard enough. Belgian soldiers used force and threats to make sure Congo stayed under their control and to make as much money as possible.

World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945):

The Belgian Congo becomes strategically important during World War I and World War II, because they provided resources for the people fighting in the war.

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Where and When: Congo, a long time ago, from the late 1800s to the middle of the 1900s.

Why: Congolese people didn't like being treated badly by the Belgians. They wanted to be free and have control over their own lives.

How: They did different things to fight back. Sometimes they protested peacefully, other times they refused to work, and there were even times when they fought against the Belgian soldiers. They had leaders like Patrice Lumumba who spoke up for them and wanted Congo to be independent.

1950: In Africa, people started to feel more proud of their own countries. This inspired the people of Congo to be in charge of their own country. They wanted to make their own rules and decisions. They didn't want to be told what to do by other countries anymore.

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Congo gets their Independence:

On June 30th, 1960 Congo gets their independence from Belgium. they called their country The Republic of Congo. Patrice Lumumba becomes the country's first Prime Minister.

Where: Kinshasa (then Léopoldville), Belgian Congo.

Trouble after Congo's independence:

1960s:After Congo had become independent Congo had a very hard time. People were fighting over who should be in charge, and there were problems between different groups of people. some areas of Congo wanted to separate and be their own country. Patrice Lumumba was killed which made it even more chaotic.

A long dictatorship:

1971: Mobutu took over Congo during a military takeover. this made Congo suffer doe several years because he ruled as a dictator.

Congo finally free from everyone:

1997: Laurent-Désiré Kabila finally removed Mobutu from power.

this ended Mobutu's regime and started a new fresh chapter for the people of Congo.