week 7 - attitudes to empire

Question 1

cecil rhodes:

politics in south africa

Answer 1

1892 - rhodes’s franchise and ballot act raised the property requirements from a relatively low £25 to a significantly higher £75 which had a disproportionate effect on the previously growing number of enfranchised black people in the cape under the cape qualified franchise that had been in force since 1853

early architect of the natives land act, 1913, which would limit the areas of the country where black africans were allowed to settle to less than 10%

believed transvaal policies were unsupportive of mine owner’s interests

Question 2

cecil rhodes:

expansion

Answer 2

did not want the bureaucrats of the colonial office in london to interfere in the empire in africa. he wanted british settlers and local politicians and governors to run it. this put him on a collision course with many in britain, as well as with british missionaries, who favoured what they saw as the more ethical direct rule from london

committed to an idea of an african union of south african states which would further his business interests - kruger quickly shut this plan down

since he believed whites were superior, ethnic minorities were segregated in schools, prisons, hospitals, theatres and public transport. they were disqualified from the jury service and thousands were removed from electoral roles

expanded empire by 450,000 miles, 70,000 in africa alone

Question 3

cecil rhodes:

diamond mines and wealth

Answer 3

de beers company controlled 90% of the world’s diamonds

chair of gold fields consolidated which earnt £2.1 million in 1895