Cecil Rhodes Flashcards
1
Q
Who was Cecil Rhodes?
A
- By 1891, monopoly over Kimberly diamond fields for his de Beers Co.
- Extensive investments in the rand
- Private fortune enabled him to fulfil his dreams
2
Q
What were his morals?
A
- Believed it was the destiny of Anglo-Saxon race to civilise the world
- Social-Darwinist i.e. British are superior
3
Q
Why was he so important for expansion in South Africa?
A
- Rich: ultimate beneficiary from acquisition of Bechuanaland (little economic value) which cost Britain £500k/year in 1890s
- He took Mashonaland, Matabeleland and Nyasaland in 1890s
4
Q
What was the Jameson Raid?
A
- Rhodes thought due to unrest among Uitlanders (foreign mining community) on the Rand, a rebellion would break out
- Talks of armed rebellion on land from 1894
- If the rebellion came, Rhodes’ involvement would be to British advantage because they could time the invasion of the Transvaal from Bechuanaland at the same time
- Uitlanders never rebelled but on 29th December 1895, Dr Jameson rode into Transvaal with 500 mounted troops to aid a rebellion that never happened
- Jameson was forced to surrender on 2 January 1896
5
Q
Why were the British getting more confident about taking action in South Africa by 1895?
A
- Chamberlain appointed Colonial Secretary
- Joined forces with Rhodes to try develop and promote British Empire in South Africa
6
Q
What were the consequences of the failure of the Jameson Raid?
A
- Kruger became a people’s hero
- Justified South African Republic’s suspicions
- Made Second Boer War inevitable
- Discredited the British government
- Worsened tension between Boers/Afrikaans and English speaker
- Boers still living in Cape Colony formed an anti-British ‘Afrikaner Bond’ to show solidarity with fellow Boers in the Transvaal
- Rhodes forced to resign as premier of the Cape
