Final answer:
The shift of ownership of the Congo Free State from King Leopold II to the Belgian government resulted in humanitarian atrocities, characterized by brutal exploitation for resources such as rubber.
Step-by-step explanation:
During King Leopold II's rule, the shift of private ownership in Congo to the Belgian government resulted in humanitarian atrocities. The Congo Free State, initially considered King Leopold's personal property, saw horrendous abuse and exploitation under his rule. Practices in the Congo included forced labor and brutal methods to extract resources such as rubber, which inflicted immense suffering on the local population. The cruel system in place demonstrated a stark contrast to the supposed 'civilizing mission' and instead was characterized by harsh exploitation and maltreatment of indigenous peoples.
Leopold's colonial enterprise was driven by an intense desire for wealth and power, masked behind the facade of humanitarian and civilizing efforts. The reality, however, was a legacy of plunder economies, with European colonialism in the Congo reflecting the ruthless extraction of resources and exploitation of native labor, resulting in far-reaching and persistent impacts on the region's development. Even after the Congo's formal transfer to Belgian state control, the colonial legacy contributed to a tumultuous history, including conflicts and challenges post-independence.