Congo Free State

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/congo-free-state

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Congo Free State?Central Africa
2. How big is Congo Free State?Approximately 2.3 million square kilometers (900,000 square miles)
3. What is the capital of Congo Free State?Boma (established 1886), later Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) became the administrative center
4. What language do people speak in Congo Free State?Dutch (administrative), French (legal and administrative)
5. What money is used in Congo Free State?Belgian Franc (initially), later Congo Franc
6. Which continent is Congo Free State in?Africa

Berlin Conference (1884-1885): A meeting where European powers divided Africa among themselves without African representation.
Concession Companies: Private companies granted large areas of land and extensive rights by Leopold II to exploit resources.
Demographic Collapse: A significant and rapid decrease in the population of a region due to disease, violence, or famine.