Timeline 2 Activity!

1. Get into a small group. Receive 8 mixed up events.

2. Put the events in the correct chronological order.

3. Summarize the events in a flow chart and be able to explain why you put them in this order.

Tutsi/Hutu identities solidified• Belgians authorities issue identity cards

labeling people firmly as Hutus or Tutsis. While it had previously been possible for particularly wealthy Hutus to become honorary Tutsis, the identity cards prevented any further movement between the classes.

Berlin Conference

• Berlin Conference awards Rwandan territory to Germans. Germans keep Tutsi King, favoring Tutsis over Hutus.

100 Days of Genocide• Interahamwe militias and extremist Hutus

massacre 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. About 20% of Rwanda’s population dies. Everybody person in Rwanda is either a murderer, victim, or witness.

Belgium takes control of Rwanda from Germany

• During WW1, Belgian forces from neighboring Congo defeat Germans and take control of Rwanda. Both colonizers, Germans and Belgians, play up ethnic differences due to European theories on race. Tutsis were seen as racially superior, based on their height, shape of nose, and facial features.

Tutsi Monarchy Controls Rwanda

• Tutsi monarchy controlled most of the power in Rwanda, but ethnic identity fluid (intermarriage, ethnicity not clearly defined).

Rwandan Independence, Hutus take power

• Rwanda becomes independent from Belgium. The majority Hutus take power and institute policies discriminating against Hutus. There are cycles of violence between Hutus and Tutsis. Some Tutsis flee to neighboring countries.

Pres. Habyarimana’s plane shot down, genocide begins

• Hutu President Habyarimina’s plane is shot down, while he is travelling to make a peace deal with the RPF. Tutsis are blamed (although many believe Hutu extremists wanted to take out the President for making peace) and the genocide begins.

RPF starts a Civil War

• The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel army dominated by Tutsi refugees, invades Rwanda from the North, with the goal of overthrowing the discriminatory Hutu dominated government.