Final answer:
Africans in the Congo Free State were subjected to harsh exploitation and brutality. King Leopold II treated the Congo as his personal possession, allowing extreme violence and cruelty towards the African people. The Belgian government eventually intervened and took over the Congo in 1908.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Africans in the Congo Free State were subjected to harsh exploitation and brutality. King Leopold II of Belgium treated the Congo as his personal possession, allowing private companies and individuals to lease portions of it for profit. The intermediaries unleashed extreme brutality on the African people, including cutting off the hands of workers who did not meet rubber collection quotas. The Belgian government finally took over Leopold's holdings in 1908 after years of violent rule.