Imperialism is the policy of extending the domination or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and hold colonies and dependencies. In 1870, European powers captured the African Congo and reduced the natives to slavery. Additionally, they were forced to work the land, so Europeans could obtain the products they needed using cheap labor to sell them at a profit. These included products such as rubber, diamonds, and coffee (A New World Order: Imperialism and the First World War). Unfortunately, the Congolese people were beaten, overworked, raped and even killed by European powers if they did not do their job properly or refused to do it entirely. Eventually, the slaves grew tired of fighting for survival and fought back with all the power they could find within their community. At first, the motives of European imperialism seemed pure, but in reality the era was a reign of terror. The horrors of imperialism were finally revealed and the world reacted with outrage. The Belgian Congo, located in the interior of the African continent, became extremely attractive to Europeans. “Starting in the 1870s, Europeans brought much of the world under their influence and control. The new imperialisms exploded from a combination of causes.” (Esler 564) Following the Industrial Revolution in Europe, some of the most powerful nations in the world experienced economic change. The economy shifted from agriculture to mass production, which followed an economic depression. "Africa provided a source of cheap raw materials for factories while providing customers with products made in Europe" (http://project...... middle of paper ...... and the a out of the area Although this worked quite well for the Africans, the Mashona began to fight against the Ndebele, which caused the immune crippling disease, smallpox, to spread within the tribe and put them to death. in an extremely disadvantageous situation The use of violence was not always used to To resist the European powers, sometimes the women of the tribe participated in these protest movements against the British (African Resistance to Colonial Rule). simply their words instead of violence to fight the British men gave in to the European powers, women had no choice but to stand up and use the power they had. Sometimes the protests ended. by deaths due to rumors spread by the local colonial administration which pushed the participating women to tell others. which led to their death.