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| 1878, Nov. 25 |
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| The Belgian committee of the International Association became the Comité d'Études du Haut-Congo. Henry Stanley was engaged to establish stations in the Congo area (1879–84). | 1 |
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| 1880 |
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| The French, alarmed by Stanley's activities, sent Savargnan de Brazza, who made treaties with chiefs on the north side of the Congo River. He founded Brazzaville and organized a protectorate. | 2 |
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| 1881–85 |
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| Belgian Comité d'Études du Haut-Congo became the International Association of the Congo, with the object of establishing claims on territory and expanding trade. | 3 |
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| 1884, April 22 |
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| United States recognized the International Association of the Congo as a territorial power. | 4 |
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| 1884–87 |
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| Tippu Tip, acting under the loose authority of the sultan of Zanzibar, claimed the Eastern Congo. In 1887, Tippu Tip was named governor of Stanley Falls District in the Congo Free State. | 5 |
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| 1885, April |
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| King Leopold of Belgium established the Congo Independent State, operating it as a personal fief and private enterprise. Calling himself “proprietor” of the Congo, he willed it to the Belgian people (Aug. 9, 1890). It remained Leopold's personal fief until 1908. | 6 |
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| Dec. 16 |
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| Britain recognized the International Association of the Congo. Recognition by Russia and France followed. | 7 |
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