Leighton Tempel Suspect Board by Leighton

Henry Morton Stanley

858083 — 2025-04-22 17:45:39 UTC

Henry Morton Stanley was hired by King Leopld II in June 1878 to claim the Congo Free State. Stanley brought the Force Publique and soldiers with him to claim the land and the resources, mainly rubber. Stanley was a soldier and a journalist. He is also known for his exploration of Central Africa.

Argument

858083 — 2025-04-22 21:04:10 UTC

Henry Morton Stanley killed 10 million Congolese people during his time in Africa. Stanley is charged with these accusations due to the inhumane way that he treated the Congolese people. Stanley tricked Congolese chiefs into signing treaties they didn't understand so that he could use their people to collect rubber. While Stanley was hired by King Leopold II, Stanley cared most about fame and glory. Stanley also killed the Congolese when they didn't like his mistreatment of them and tried to stand up for themselves. Stanley then tried to cover up everything he did by taking pictures of him pretending to work with the Congolese and saying he was doing it for science and charity.

Evidence #1

858083 — 2025-04-22 21:08:43 UTC

Henry Morton Stanley's charecter card says "When they refused to take your mistreatment, you beat them, worked them to death, or outright killed them."

Reasoning #1

858083 — 2025-04-22 21:16:36 UTC

Because of the fact that the Congolese were trying to stand up for themselves Stanley would kill them or beat them. While Leopold ordered Stanley to kill people if they didn't work, Leopold didn't ever step foot in the Congo so he didn't know the depth of what Stanley was doing to the Congolese, causing Stanley to be at fault.

Evidence #2

858083 — 2025-04-22 23:12:01 UTC

The text says "The historical record shows that you knew from the beginning that what you were doing was wrong." The text also says that "You stood by and allowed European soldiers and leaders to abuse and treat Congolese workers with extreme cruelty."

Reasoning #2

858083 — 2025-04-23 15:45:30 UTC

Stanley sat there and watched Europeans hurt and abuse the Congloses people without saying anything. This puts Stanley at fault because instead of standing up for the Congolese and telling the Europeans to stop he just stood there, and later treated the Congolese the same way. While the Europeans did start the mistreatment, Stanley didn't say anything and continued the treatment putting him in the blame.

Counter Claim

858083 — 2025-04-23 17:27:43 UTC

Many people will try to blame the Congolese murders on the idea of capitalism, which means that the individual people own a property and business in order to earn profit. However, capitalism couldn't have cut the hands off of Congolese people to show power. Capitalism also couldn't have taken away people's families until they met quotas. Some people might also try to blame the consumers who were buying the rubber. While the consumers did know what Stanley was doing to the Congolese they didn't go to the Congo and kill the people neither were they ever in the Congo.

Evidence #3

858083 — 2025-04-23 17:44:54 UTC

The text says "...but your journals and letters show that what you cared most about was glory and fame." It also says "...you wanted to look good for the pictures that would be published in the newspaper."

Reasoning #3

858083 — 2025-04-23 21:04:50 UTC

Through this mission, whether Leopold hired him or someone else, Stanley still could have been well known. Stanley would also try to make himself look better by posing for photos to make him seem like he was helping the Congolese. He did this because he realized his fame and glory would be taken away if people knew the truth of what he was really doing. Stanley is to blame because he knew that if he accomplished this mission he would have lots of fame and glory and also seem like a good person.

858083 — 2025-04-24 03:06:43 UTC

Evidence #4

858083 — 2025-04-24 03:24:32 UTC

Henry Morton Stanleys charecter card says "...you were the one who made the maps for the traders who stole the resources..."

Reasoning #4

858083 — 2025-04-24 03:42:27 UTC

Stanley made maps of the Congo Free State to give to traders. He did this so that he could form alliances but also show Leopold he had more power. Stanley had all the resources and wealth he needed so he showed Leopold that he could take away his wealth. Leopold wouldn't have wanted his resources to be stolen and wouldn't have made maps for people he knew would steal. This shows how Stanley must have been responsible for the murders of the Congolese people.