The creation of the Congo Free State was one part cheap hustle and one part
military occupation. King Leopold II managed to convince Europe he was a noble
humanitarian while he was secretly building one of the most exploitative
colonial states in Africa. With the help of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley
and a well placed endorsement from the President of the United States the
Congo Free State came into being. Sadly for the natives of the Congo river
basin, this new regime would prove to be uniquely sadistic. Tune in and find
out how red toilet paper, fake names, and the Goodyear tire guy all play a
role in the story.
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