Democratic Republic of the Congo

30 Pages 7562 Words

attitude toward them remained the same. “The Africans were treated like children, disciplined when judged to behave disobediently or immorally, and taught to abandon traditional lifestyles in favor of laboring on colonists' farms. In addition, the Congolese were not taught modern technical or administrative skills.” (Robin Palmer)

World War II marked the first steps towards the industrialization and eventual independence of the Belgian Congo. This process was particularly marked in the uranium, copper, palm oil, and rubber industries. Uranium from the Congo was used to develop the first atomic weapons. Even after the war ended industrial productivity continued to increase under Belgium control. A limited series of reforms, designed to prepare the Congolese for eventual self-government, was initiated. Africans were allowed to own land, and a very small number of Africans, under extremely subjective criteria, were officially recognized as having the same legal status as white colonists. The first ever for the Congolese elections we...