Read the following passage from a book by modern-day author Adam Hochschild describing King Leopold’s treatment of the Congo.“Talk of the lazy native accompanied the entire European land grab in Africa, just as it had been used to justify the conquest of the Americas. To an American reporter Leopold once declared, ‘In dealing with a race composed of cannibals for thousands of years it is necessary to use methods which will best shake their idleness and make them realize the sanctity of work’.” According to this passage, how did King Leopold justify his treatment of the Congolese people?
Answer
A
The Congolese were not treated harshly, compared to the American Indians.
B
The Congolese people understood the sanctity of work and needed to be punished.
C
The Congolese had too many resources and had become lazy because of their wealth.
D
The Congolese were an inferior people who needed harsh treatment for them to learn how to work.
Explanation
Leopold described the Congolese as a “race composed of cannibals” and claimed harsh methods were needed to “shake their idleness” and teach them the “sanctity of work.” This shows he justified his treatment by portraying them as inferior and supposedly needing harsh treatment to learn to work. Therefore, the correct choice is D.
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