A Picture is Worth 1000 Words!
Teacher Guide
Overview:
The goal of this activity is to give students an understanding of the
different types of Imperial Rule employed by the imperial powers from
1800-1914. Students will compare the British in India, the French in
Southeast Asia, the British and Afrikaners in Southern Africa, and the
rule of King Leopold in the Congo Free State.
Objectives:
Students will
 Describe the differences between Direct and Indirect Colonial
Rule in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and India, respectively,
using pictorial information and text from the PowerPoint slides
provided in this lesson.
 Analyze the conditions of the Congo Free State under King
Leopold II and determine the form of Imperial Rule imposed
there.
Strategies:
1. A picture is worth 1000 words! Use the slides from the section
on European Interest in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and
Southern Africa to help students analyze the differences
between forms of colonial rule.
2. Students use the slides from the PowerPoint to gather
information on each area. This information is recorded on the
worksheet provided.
3. Students will compare these situations with the situation in the
Congo Free State.
4. Students will compare their interpretation of conditions in the
Congo Free State to those of Mark Twain by reading Twain’s
essay and answering questions on the essay.
Exploring Mark Twain’s King Leopold’s Soliloquy
Either obtain a hardcopy or do a Google Search (www.google.com ) for
Mark Twain’s essay, King Leopold’s Soliloquy. This short, biting satire
is available from many different sources.
Read the essay and then respond to the following questions:
Why is the King troubled?
He believes he is being slandered.
How has conformed to the Berlin Conference (called the Berlin-made
Congo charter in the essay)?
He has trampled it under foot and disregarded its stipulations.
Who does he blame for telling on him?
Meddlesome American missionaries, frank British consuls, and
blabbing Belgian-born traitor officials.
What are some of the ways he claims to have needed to force men,
women, and little children to work?
Punishment by lash (whip) and bullet, fire, starvation, and mutilation
and taxes.
Why does the American missionary Rev. W. M. Morrison blame King
Leopold II for the conditions in Congo Free State?
King Leopold was the absolute sovereign of the country and he
organized the plunder and mistreatment going on.
List the atrocities described by the British missionary, Rev. A. E.
Scrivener.
The native peoples were shot and starved.
According to Scrivener, what did the soldiers want from the native
people?
They wanted the native to build them houses, to feed them, and to
bring in rubber.
How did Consul Casement describe the treatment of women and
children?
They were often expected to provide food and to get rubber. If they
did not, they could be put into prison or slaughtered (shot, knifed, or
crucified!).
What does one of Leopold’s critics say that Leopold gives to his “stolen
nation”?
Nothing but hunger, terror, grief, captivity, mutilation, and massacre.
Why did Leopold hate “the Kodak”?
Pictures could show the atrocities in ways words could not!
Comparing Forms of Rule Worksheet
Student Name: _________________________________
(TEACHER GUIDE—with some examples of possible answers)
South Asia
European Country in Power: Britain
Status of the “locals”: Locals were not included in British society, but
were given positions of power in government and military. However,
many locals were kept in poverty working on tea plantations. Many
others were just overlooked by the British who did not see a need to
relate to “untouchables,” etc.
Relationship between the “locals” and the European imperialists:
Answers may vary, but should include the fact that socially British kept
themselves apart. British made sure Indians saw them as the rulers.
Causes for good or bad relations:
Openness to include some Indians in the system was a cause for good
relations.
(The complex Indian social structure kept many Indians from being
included.)
The British East India company’s dependence on workers for tea, etc,
gave them some power (but it was very limited).
Form of Imperial Rule imposed here: (Explain)
Direct Rule
Southeast Asia
European Country in Power: France (in Indochina)
Status of the “locals”:
Those in the southern areas who were willing to work to support the
French had good lives. Many, especially those from Vietnam, were put
into virtual slavery on rubber plantations.
Relationship between the “locals” and the European imperialists:
Tense!
Causes for good or bad relations:
French use of tiger cages and the decapitation of “insurgents” made
relations interesting. Many were stopped from challenging French rule
because of their harsh punishments.
Form of Imperial Rule imposed here: (Explain)
Direct Rule Colony
------------------------------------------------------------------------Southern Africa
European Country in Power: Britain and Holland (at least in early
years.)
Status of the “locals”:
Zulu were admired for their fighting prowess. Average “Bantu” not
given much respect.
Relationship between the “locals” and the European imperialists:
In many ways, the Afrikaner saw themselves as the “locals.” They
wanted to care out a place for themselves away from British rule.
The Zulu fought the Europeans and proved to be quite powerful. They
were respected by the British forces!
Afrikaners saw themselves as TOTALLY different from Zulu and Bantu.
They developed segregated living and working spaces—and laid the
foundation for modern Apartheid.
Causes for good or bad relations:
Idea of “natural” need for segregation.
Afrikaner need to have a homeland.
British determination to get to wealth of southern Africa.
Form of Imperial Rule imposed here: (Explain)
Answers will vary depending on position students take with the
Afrikaner situation.
Congo Free State
European Person in Power: Leopold II
Status of the “locals”:
HORRID. (Many descriptions from text and in pictures illustrate this.)
Relationship between the “locals” and the European imperialists:
Europeans were hated (with just cause) by the Africans who lived in
the Congo Free State.
Belgians treated the Blacks as sub-human (a type of Social
Darwinism).
Causes for good or bad relations:
Leopold was given free reign over the territory and had no one holding
him accountable for his actions.
Photos that came out of Africa showing the conditions turned many
people from the “developed” world against Leopold.
How would you define his form of imperial rule? Explain
Direct colony
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