Cecil Rhodes Flashcards
When was Rhodes born?
1853
Cape Colony
Went in 1870
Cape colony - South part of Africa that was controlled by Britain. He worked in gold and diamond mines and made a fortune
When was Rhodes elected to the Cape Colony parliament?
1881
De Beers
Formed De Beers company which owned most the gold and diamond fields in South Africa.
When gold and diamonds discovered in Transvaal (which was controlled by the Boers), they attempted to remove the Boer leader Paul Kruger
When did Rhodes become Prime Minister of Cape Colony?
1890
When did Rhodes die?
1902
Definition for “imperialist”:
Someone who practices or supports imperialism which is a set of ideas and beliefs about Empire and conquest
Definition for “Social Darwinist”:
Someone who believes that society would gradually be improved as weaker individuals and nations were destroyed by fitter ones.
Darwin’s theory was applied to people.
What was a Boer?
A Dutch farmer
Short term impacts of Cecil Rhodes:
- An example of everything good about the Empire
- Successful in extending British control (eg. Cape Colony and Rhodesia)
- Belief in social Darwinism became justification for further control
- Actions triggered war in Boer controlled areas
- Government was set up in Rhodesia which kept black people inferior
Boer War:
When?
What?
1899-1902
6000 British soldiers died in battle, more died through illness
The Boers lost 7000 soldiers and 28000 civilians
Longer term impact of Cecil Rhodes:
- Seen as racist
- An example of everything bad -about the Empire and his Statue was taken down in 2015
- Empire seen as having exploited people
- Formed the beginning of discrimination laws -that led to Apartheid in South Africa
- Apartheid laws lasted from 1948 to the 1990s these set up years of segregation or discrimination.
- He made it difficult for Black people to vote, and taxes were increased
