Question

ivory and slaves had been the congos main exports, but leopold focused on rubber. the mass marketing of bicycles and automobiles in the 1890s greatly increased the demand for rubber and sent prices soaring. when a rubber producing vine was discovered in the rainforests of congo in 1890, leopold forced out the competition and acquired a monopoly on the scarce commodity. by one estimate, the congo was producing 20,000 tons of crude rubber a year at a 900 percent profit. the high return was due largely to cheap labor… source: michael parker, mission crossroads, spring 2017 15 the information in this passage would be most useful to an economist researching (1) motivations for european imperialism in africa (2) employment strategies used in europe (3) reasons for european interest in ivory (4) importation of european raw materials to africa 16 which event contributed to the situation described in this passage? (1) passage of the british abolition act (2) creation of the sadler report (3) meeting of the berlin conference (4) establishment of the napoleonic code

Explanation:

1. The passage discusses Leopold's focus on rubber in Congo, the demand for rubber due to marketing of bicycles and automobiles, and the monopoly. This relates to European imperialism in Africa as it shows economic motives (like profit from rubber) behind imperialist actions.
2. The Berlin Conference (1884 - 1885) regulated European colonization and trade in Africa. Leopold's control over Congo (as described in the passage) was part of the scramble for Africa which was influenced by the Berlin Conference.

Answer:

1. (1) motivations for European imperialism in Africa
2. (3) meeting of the Berlin Conference