Suspect Board by 835379

Henry Morton Stanley

835379 — 2025-04-22 14:53:13 UTC

Henry Morton Stanley is on trial for the murder of over 10 million Congolese people. He is a British man however was hired by Leopold following his expedition in the Congo. From that point Stanley not only negotiated the treaties to take over Congolese land he also killed many Africans firsthand, as a result of this he is found primarily responsible. While he was under the instruction of King Leopold he voluntarily came to the Congo, took over, and exploited many African and Congolese leading to their deaths.

Evidence 1

835379 — 2025-04-22 15:07:14 UTC

"You were the one who negotiated the treaties"

Reasoning 1

835379 — 2025-04-22 15:08:41 UTC

Stanley was the one who took the land from the Congolese, he tricked them into signing it over using trinkets and the language barrier. As a result of this he began Leopold's rule over the Congo. This proves that Stanley should be held responsible as his actions/negotiations were the reason that so many Congolese peoples were exploited and killed after there land was unfairly taken.

Evidence 2

835379 — 2025-04-23 14:26:50 UTC

"From the very beginning of your time in Africa you kidnapped and abused African tribesmen"

Reasoning 2

835379 — 2025-04-23 14:32:54 UTC

This shows Stanley's actions/intentions from the start. He was cruel and killed many Congolese himself as well as ordering others to kill them. He did this because he thought he was better than them, as a result of this mindset that he brought to Africa many Congolese lost their life and freedom, due to Henry Morton Stanley.

Evidence 3

835379 — 2025-04-23 14:41:37 UTC

"you cared most about the glory and fame"

Reasoning 3

835379 — 2025-04-23 14:46:01 UTC

While Stanley may blame Leopold for his actions, he is equally if not more responsible for what happened to millions of Congolese. Due to the fact that Stanley voluntarily worked for Leopold and had his own reasons for doing so. Not only did he carry out Leopold's order harshly, without him much of this would have not happened as he was the one in the Congo enforcing orders and killing Congolese the whole time, proving that he is to blame.

835379 — 2025-04-23 14:54:25 UTC

This further proves Henry Morton Stanley responsible due to the fact that these are maps he made. This shows his expedition throughout the Congo, and his journey of taking over. While Leopold never stepped foot in the Congo so Stanley was the only one who could have killed the Congolese.

835379 — 2025-04-23 15:02:30 UTC

This shows the harsh effect that Stanley had on the Congo he enforced these rules and killed many Congolese or took their limbs as a part of punishment. The amount of exploitation that the Congo and its people had faced as a result of Stanley, only further proves his fault in the event.