Question

document 2
source: excerpt from \confession of faith\ – a memoir by the cecil rhodes in 1877, a british imperialist and founder of the british colony of rhodesia in south africa. rhodes also owned the south african debeers diamond mining company. (adapted)
i contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens of human beings what an alteration there would be if they were brought under anglo - saxon british influence, look again at the extra employment a new country added to our dominions gives. i contend that every acre added to our territory means in the future birth to some more of the english race who otherwise would not be brought into existence. added to this the absorption of the greater portion of the world under our rule simply means the end of all wars....
question 2a – source analysis (2 points)
using document 2, identify and explain the cecil rhode’s point - of - view concerning british colonialism.

question 2b – source analysis (2 points)
explain the extent to which cecil rhodes’ point - of - view affects his reliability as a source of evidence for understanding the resurgence of european colonialism during the late 1800s. in your response, be sure to include your evaluation of the source’s reliability and your reasoning for that evaluation.

Explanation:

Question 2a

To answer this, we analyze the source:

1. Identify the POV: Cecil Rhodes believes British colonialism (expansion of British rule) is highly beneficial.
2. Explain with evidence:

• He claims the British are the "finest race" and occupying more of the world is better for humanity.
• He argues colonizing areas with "despicable specimens" (other peoples) under Anglo - Saxon influence would improve them.
• Colonial expansion provides extra employment (e.g., new countries added to dominions).
• It would increase the English race's population (more births).
• Global British rule would end all wars.

1. Bias in POV: Rhodes is a British imperialist and a colonizer (owner of DeBeers, founder of Rhodesia). His point - of - view is highly pro - British colonialism, filled with racial superiority (e.g., demeaning other peoples, exalting the British race).
2. Effect on reliability:

• Limitations: His reliability is reduced because his views are extremely biased. He overstates the benefits of British colonialism (like claiming it will end all wars, ignoring the violence and exploitation of colonialism) and uses racist rhetoric.
• Value: However, it is still valuable as a primary source to show the mindset of a key British imperialist during the late 1800s, helping us understand the ideological motivations behind European colonialism’s resurgence.

Answer:

Cecil Rhodes’ point - of - view concerning British colonialism is that it is extremely beneficial. He asserts the British are the “finest race” and that the more of the world they inhabit, the better it is for humanity. He believes colonizing regions with non - British peoples (whom he demeans as “despicable specimens”) under British influence would improve those areas. Also, colonial expansion would create extra employment, increase the English race’s population (as more English people would be born), and that British rule over most of the world would end all wars.

Question 2b