revolution revolution known social revolution wind destruction period ethnic violence ethnic groups revolution saw country transition belgian colony monarchy independent dominated republic ruled monarchy 18th century entrenched policies germany belgium controlled early 20th century european nations ruling kings pro policy counter elite developed leading deterioration relations groups leadership agitated independence cement power elite called transfer power stance increasingly supported roman_catholic_church colonial government revolution began november series riots arson attacks homes following false reports murder sub chief activists violence quickly spread country king politicians attempted counterattack seize power thwarted belgian colonel brought colonial governor law order beginning programme promote protect elite replaced chiefs sub chiefs king status later fled country despite continued violence belgium organised local elections parties gained control nearly effectively ending revolution leader declared autonomous republic country independent revolution caused flee neighbouring countries lived refugees agitated immediate return split seeking negotiation wishing overthrow new regime formed armed groups called government launched attacks largest occurred late surprise attack approached government fought defeating killing thousands remaining threat posed refugees 1990s civil war initiated refugee forced government negotiations led rise genocide hundreds thousands killed took control background earliest inhabitants group hunter settled area remain country today number groups migrated began clearing forests agriculture losing habitat forest dwelling moved mountains historians theories according settlers migrated later formed distinct racial group possibly origin alternative theory migration slow steady incoming groups integrating conquering existing society theory distinction arose later class distinction racial population clans kingdoms country fertile densely populated kingdoms strictly controlled socially ruled clan increasingly dominant beginning century origins small near lake kingdom expanded conquest reaching king expanded kingdom west north implementing administrative reforms included patrons ceded cattle privileged status clients exchange economic personal service system forced work chiefs reforms developed rift populations berlin conference assigned territory germany boundaries explored country years later discovered included fertile region east germany wanted region claimed free state annexed belgium form justify claim germany began policy ruling monarchy supporting chiefs system allowed european troops emerged king succession crisis following death father struggle belgian troops welcomed germans consolidate power territory western border german german rule allowed policy continue rift deepened belgian forces took control world war country came belgian control mandate named belgium initially continued german method government monarchy began policy direct colonial rule line norm reforms included complex system chief usually instead typically split ruled local area belgian reforms extended forced labour chiefs individuals communities regions previously covered system chiefs began process land reform belgian support grazing areas traditionally controlled seized minimal compensation beginning late 1920s role catholic_church grew encouraged belgian government priests knew country facilitated administration including elite converted catholicism increasing social advancement refused convert deposed belgian administration eldest son succeeded eventually christian king 1930s introduced large scale projects education health public works agricultural supervision including new crops agricultural techniques improve food supply remained power leaving subject large scale forced labour belgium introduced identity cards individual wealthy previously able honorary identity cards ended social mobility prelude counter elite belgium continued rule trust territory world war mandate oversee eventual independence economic landscape changed considerably war cash economy grew demand labourers mines coffee sugar plantations simultaneous shift catholic_church prominent figures early church wealthy conservative background replaced younger clergy working class origin greater proportion flemish plight economic conditions seminary education provided church gave social mobility previously possible allowing development elite group leaders intellectuals group consisting joined prominent citizens kingdoms acquired including best known figure movement like counter elite trained seminary ordained completing education primary school teacher succeeded editor catholic magazine late 1950s food cooperative board member edited magazine founded second major figure elite based south country left church establish small founded party religious historians described passionate erratic unlike called forceful action oppression monarchy early rhetoric divide emancipation poor deterioration relations monarchy prominent assumed power transferred independence growing influence began immediate independence king dominated proposed new finance education public works interior run independent belgium counter elite fearing new cement post independence began work manifesto published manifesto criticised indirect belgian rule calling abolition development middle class document referring separate races called transfer power based statistical law visited king palace considerable respect monarchy treated point grabbed throat calling followers humiliation prompted pro catholic publications stance monarchy published detailed report treatment semi divine image accusing pro racism magazine published stories citing origin myths calling king policies inconsistent articles immediately challenge king authority peasants exposure led permanent counter elite belgian authorities belgian colonial ministry tried strip power reducing popularity regional chiefs feared growing movement sparked series strikes protests death formation early belgium convened parliamentary commission examine options eventual independence scheduling elections end year clergy began campaign targeting royal drum monarchy potent symbols increasingly fearful smuggling drum country drinking heavily died cerebral july seeking medical treatment believed injected autopsy performed objections queen mother evaluation independent doctors confirmed original diagnosis elite believing murdered church help immediately began campaign brother installed belgian involvement wishes described succession minor coup coronation chiefs palace officials rapid independence formed party pro monarchy controlled king party anti belgian attracted support communist immediately began campaign promoting nationalism replace european history schools study conquests calling removal whites missionaries rhetoric prompted catholic_church students credited church raising poverty anti catholic turn church anti stance falsely claim support colonial government moved limit power attempting chiefs prominent party opening fire protesters rally registered official party renaming emancipation began cells supporters country calling independent state constitutional monarchy described situation late late october parliamentary report elections approaching tensions reached breaking point revolution attack uprising november sub chiefs activist attacked mass members youth wing near home refused join condemning belgian removal chiefs fought attackers survived rumours began spread killed according american theology professor started rumours day protest occurred district headquarters november large group killed forced local chief hiding protests quickly turned riots violence stage consisting primarily arson killing tried fight country burned homes ground ignited widely available use lamps recruited local peasants ranks ensuring rapid spread revolt believed king claimed carried attacks behalf november violence spread country home province far southwest east rioting heaviest northwest home destroyed fire king mount counterattack belgian refusal permission form army thousands loyal militia ordered arrest killing number prominent leaders hope peasant revolt brother prominent member dead arrested brought king palace tortured officials hiding belgian protection captured remained powerful better equipped parties knew strongly supported given time gain upper hand sought belgium power gain independence soon possible arrival guy revolution began governor asked friend belgian army colonel working come evaluate belgium military options colony november outbreak violence arrived number soldiers began establishing civil order retaliation troops protection leaders including november declaration state emergency appointed mandate establish order immediately began installing senior administrative positions support ostensibly counter threat independence posed leadership saw options dominated independent kingdom republic decided encourage favouring believing best peasants decision took series actions ensured revolution begun uprisings replaced half country chiefs sub chiefs party members tried convicted crimes committed counter revolution guilty arson escaped charge december appointed new post special civil resident replacing conservative colonial resident belgian government empowered king veto decisions making facto constitutional monarch rise power november violence belgium postponed communal elections scheduled january june partly response request despite large scale installation leaders country claimed needed time people sufficiently defend rights effectively march united_nations delegation visited assess country progress independence major political parties encouraged street demonstrations deteriorated fresh violence visit homes burnt view delegation leading declare april belgian plans june elections instead proposed discussion involving political parties end violence despite suggestion postpone elections belgian authorities pressed ahead held june july result overwhelming victory took seats parties controlled communal authorities immediately took local power traditional chiefs implemented feudal policies similar elite favouring elections announced revolution tensions remained high local continued king living virtual arrest southern fled country july lived decades locations settling united_states independence settled new reality dominance elections belgium supported influence dominated countries allied communist ones favouring anti belgian party lobbied independently monitored elections commission sponsored general_assembly resolutions calling elections referendum monarchy dismissed efforts perfectly useless little effort implement national reconciliation conference held belgium january ended failure convened meeting country local leaders sovereign democratic proclaimed interim president published report oppressive system replaced ability influence events ended won control legislature september assumed presidency fully independent july aftermath refugees attacks revolution progressed left escape exodus began november arson attacks continued steadily revolution official total settled primarily neighbouring countries later unlike ethnic migrated pre colonial colonial eras seen refugees host countries began immediately return aims differed sought reconciliation new regime affiliated exiled king wished new regime power establish socialist republic beginning late armed groups called government launched attacks neighbouring countries mixed success supported country newly installed independent republic caused disruption southern refugees able organise military operations local conditions treated local authorities settled permanently giving aspirations return attacks propelled refugees borders government responded attacks living december launched large scale surprise attack seizing advancing positions near ill equipped poorly organised invaders easily defeated government response attack largest killing date estimated december january including politicians country international community little response president domestic power reinforced defeat end threat post revolution massacre defeat ruled decade overseeing justified demographic majority democracy regime tolerate dissent ruling manner similar pre revolution feudal monarchy promoting deeply catholic early 1970s policy isolated rest world rebellion began elite senior army commander organised coup killing assuming presidency rebel group composed primarily refugees invaded northern began civil war gained decisive advantage war authority weakened mass demonstrations forced coalition domestic opposition sign cease fire ended april plane shot near airport killed death catalyst genocide began hours later days politically moderate killed planned attacks ordered interim government restarted offensive regained controlling country mid july remain control restoring growth economy number tourists country human development index
Rwandan Revolution