Why European countries divided Africa, and how Africans responded

Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to D. Card A, a summary in our words, written today, from a Yale University working paper on the Congo: The Congo Free State was the personal colony of King Leopold II of Belgium. Its borders were outlined at the Berlin Conference in 1885. Britain, France and Germany accepted it to avoid conflict with each other. Leopold claimed philanthropic goals, including ending the slave trade. Card B, a summary in our words, written today, from the same paper: Rubber concessions were given to private companies, and quotas were enforced by violence. The historians Adam Hochschild and Jan Vansina estimate that about 10 million people, about half the population, lost their lives between 1880 and 1920. Card C, a summary in our words, written today, from the same paper: Records were destroyed at Leopold's request. A human rights movement of the period campaigned against the abuses, and it is counted among the world's first. Belgium took over the territory as a colony in 1908. The country is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Card D, a note from the sheet: The Free State lasted from 1885 to 1908. Sources differ on the toll; the figure in card B is an estimate.

2. 1.

   Card B's estimate of about 10 million deaths covers 1880 to 1920; card D says the Free State lasted 1885 to 1908. Ari says Leopold's rule caused 10 million deaths. What is supported?

   • The estimate cannot be used, since historians' estimates for such periods are unreliable
   • The claim is right, since the estimate comes from historians who studied the Free State
   • The estimate covers a longer span than his rule, so it cannot be assigned to him alone
   • About a tenth of the population lost their lives, since 10 million is the figure given in card B
3. 2.

   Card B: about 10 million deaths, about half the population. Bo divides to guess the population in 1880. What is the best comment?

   • The population was about 5 million, since half of 10 million is the population
   • Doubling gives about 20 million, a rough result since both figures are estimates
   • No guess is possible, since a population cannot be found from one estimate
   • The population was exactly 20 million, since doubling 10 million gives the true figure
4. 3.

   Card D says sources differ on the toll. Esme must cite card B in a report. Which wording is best?

   • The toll is unknown, so no figure should be given in a report
   • Leopold's rule caused 10 million deaths, as historians have shown
   • Historians estimate that about 10 million people lost their lives between 1880 and 1920
   • Exactly half the people of the Congo were lost during the Free State, according to careful figures
5. 4.

   Card A: Leopold claimed philanthropic goals. Card B: quotas were enforced by violence. Jun asks how to treat Leopold's claim.

   • As fact, since a king's claim made at a conference of the powers is reliable
   • As worthless, since a ruler's claims carry no information about what he did
   • As proof that Britain, France and Germany shared his goals, since they accepted the colony
   • As a claim by Leopold, tested against the quotas and violence in card B, which it does not fit
6. 5.

   Card C: Leopold's records were destroyed at his request. Luz says that proves the abuses were crimes Leopold wanted hidden. Is that careful?

   • No, since destroyed records mean nothing can be known about the Free State
   • Yes, since card B already shows the abuses and card C shows the cover-up that followed
   • No: the destruction limits the evidence and fits concealment, but the card gives no reason
   • Yes, since a ruler who orders records destroyed is showing that they held something to hide
7. 6.

   Card C says a human rights movement of the period campaigned against the abuses; card B gives a later estimate. What do the two cards show Milo?

   • That the movement counted 10 million deaths, since card B's estimate came from its campaign
   • That no one knew of the abuses at the time, since the estimate came much later
   • That the campaign ended the abuses in 1908, since Belgium took over that year
   • People protested at the time, and later historians estimated the toll
8. 7.

   Card B says rubber concessions went to private companies; card A says the Free State was Leopold's personal colony. Noah says the companies ran the colony. What fits?

   • Leopold ran nothing, since concessions meant the companies owned the land
   • The companies ran the colony, since concessions give a company the right to rule
   • Companies held concessions, but the colony was Leopold's, so the two roles differed
   • The companies and Leopold were the same, since both are named in the card
9. 8.

   Card C: Belgium took over the territory as a colony in 1908. Card B's estimate runs to 1920. Pia says 1908 ended the toll. What do the cards allow?

   • The takeover made little difference, since the toll in card B is a single figure for the whole period
   • The estimate ended in 1908, since card C ends there and the Free State ended there
   • Leopold's personal rule ended in 1908, but the estimate runs to 1920, so deaths need not have stopped then
   • The takeover ended the toll, since the abuses were Leopold's and ended with his rule
10. 9.

    Ren reads card A: Britain, France and Germany accepted Leopold's colony to avoid conflict with each other. Which reading of their motives fits?

    • They were weak, since three powers would not accept a king's colony unless they feared him
    • They admired Leopold's aims, since the three accepted a colony claimed on philanthropic grounds
    • They agreed to share the profits, since the rubber concessions in card B went to private companies
    • Fear of conflict among themselves shaped their choice, not a judgment about Leopold's aims
11. 10.

    Card D: the Free State lasted from 1885 to 1908. Zee says the Congo was a colony for 23 years. What is accurate?

    • Colonial rule lasted 23 years, since 1908 minus 1885 is 23 and Belgium ended it in 1908
    • The Free State was not a colony, since it was Leopold's personal property
    • Colonial rule lasted 33 years, since the Free State began in 1885 and the estimate runs to 1920
    • The Free State lasted 23 years, but Belgian rule after 1908 made colonial rule longer