Why Is Cecil Rhodes Important To South Africa?

Cecil Rhodes acted in his own self-interest and claimed he was doing it for Britain's gain. During the 19th century, South Africa was having great success and profiting greatly. The first diamond was discovered by the Europeans in southern Africa and it was known as the Eureka Diamond. It was found near Hopetown on the Orange River. People soon began to see the real wealth in owning a mine in that region during the time. It became a diamond rush and people from all around the world came to find the luscious, remarkable, and
Cecil Rhodes highly valuable resource known to man. By the 1870’s http://www.historycentral.com/WH1400-1900/Biographies/Rhodes.jpg several hundred people made their down to the Vaal River in search of diamonds. Among
The laws he passed limited the vote of Africans by education and property qualifications in 1892 and established a new system of native administration in 1894. This was known as the Glen Grey Act of 1894 and this led to limited rights for native Africans and restricted them from access to land which forced them to work in the labor market and reduced the voting strength. In the picture above are several Native Africans who did hard labor for little or any money at all. They were used as animals by the whites. While foreigners profited greatly the ones who were doing the dangerous work were not. As they risked their lives in the mines that were nearly about to collapse, others sat back and watched the diamonds and gold come in. White immigrant skilled miners were paid relatively high wages, in contrast, African migrants were unskilled and low-paid, earning about one-ninth the wage of white miners. In 1895, Rhodes was pushing towards his goal and his deteriorating health created someone crucial mistakes. He organized a conspiracy with others to remove the Boer government in the South African Republic so that a more British imperialist and mining-friendly one could be set in its place. This was most crucial because you can see that he was going out of his way to form a British imperialist government would come and replace the South African Republic so he would be able to pass more laws that benefitted him and his industry of mining diamonds and gold. In late 1895, an armed force led by British South Africa Company agent who was aiding Rhodes named Leander Jameson launched an invasion from the north into the area and failed. Rhodes having deceived many people was “compelled” to resign as prime minister and as well from the board of British South Africa Company in 1896. Above is a letter that was written to Cecil and