At the turn of the 20th century, Belgium was under the rule of King Leopold II. There was growing international concern for the extreme and savage treatment of the Congolese population. The Industrial Revolution brought prosperity in the late 19th century, but also opened a political dichotomy between liberal businessmen and socialist workers. The iron, coal, textile, cotton and several other industries were established. By the early 1900s, Belgium was a major exporter of trams and other rail components, exporting vast quantities of railway materials. In 1909 the army recruitment system was reformed.
When the World War I started, Belgium was neutral but its strategic location as a pathway to France made it an invasion target for Germany in 1914. When the war was over, the economy was ruined, factories were destroyed and 80% of the workers were unemployed.
