8
QuizMultiple Choice

Post-Colonial Governments in Africa

Question 8 • HVA 26-27 IM Contemporary World Problems A

Why were the hands of many Congolese cut off during King Leopold II’s reign?

Answer
A
This is the punishment for stealing, according to Sharia law.
B
They were slaves who attempted to escape captivity.
C
Their villages failed to meet monthly rubber or ivory quotas.
D
Having one's hands cut off is a rite of passage in the Congo.

Explanation

King Leopold II’s colonial authorities used forced labor to extract rubber and ivory from the Congo. When villages failed to meet their quotas, officials and soldiers sometimes mutilated people, including cutting off hands, as punishment and intimidation. Therefore, the best answer is C: their villages failed to meet monthly rubber or ivory quotas.

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