Final answer:
George Washington Williams exposed the atrocities in King Leopold's Congo Free State through his book and contributed to the establishment of the Congo Reform Association. The reaction in Europe was mixed, with some shocked and calling for action, while others initially dismissed or downplayed the accounts.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Washington Williams was an African American historian, journalist, and politician who played a significant role in exposing the atrocities committed in King Leopold's Congo Free State. Williams visited the Congo in 1890 and published the book 'Open Letter to His Serene Majesty Leopold II, King of the Belgians and Sovereign of the Independent State of Congo' in 1891, detailing the brutal treatment of the Congolese people under Leopold's rule. He described the widespread forced labor, violence, and abuse, including the cutting off of hands as a form of punishment. Williams' account brought international attention to the situation in the Congo and contributed to the establishment of the Congo Reform Association, which aimed to end the suffering of the Congolese people.
The reaction in Europe to George Washington Williams' descriptions of King Leopold's Congo Free State was mixed. There were those who were shocked and appalled by the atrocities committed and called for action to be taken. Williams' book and the subsequent reports by other brave individuals, such as Roger Casement, led to public outcry in Europe and increased international pressure on Leopold and the Belgian government. However, there were also those who initially dismissed or downplayed the accounts, as Leopold had presented the Congo as a humanitarian project. It took time for the full extent of the atrocities to be acknowledged and for significant action to be taken.