Question

A political cartoon titled the Rhodes Colossus. A large man stands over a continent to the south of Europe and a small island off the coast. Use the drop-down menu to complete each statement. This political cartoon shows Cecil Rhodes standing over the continent of ________. Rhodes, shown as a colossus, demonstrates the European feelings of ________. Rhodes believed that Europeans were responsible for civilizing ________ by teaching them about Western culture.

a. Asia
b. Africa
c. North America
d. South America

Answer 1

The cartoon of Cecil Rhodes, known as 'The Rhodes Colossus,' illustrates imperialism by depicting Rhodes over Africa, signifying European dominance and the controversial 'Civilizing Mission'. Option b. is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The political cartoon titled The Rhodes Colossus shows Cecil Rhodes standing over the continent of Africa. Depicted as a giant figure, Rhodes embodies the European sentiment of imperialism and the belief in the Civilizing Mission, associated with the problematic concept of the 'White Man's Burden'. Rhodes, who was a staunch imperialist, considered Europeans responsible for 'civilizing' indigenous populations by imparting Western culture and considered this an imperial duty, reflecting a racist ideology that propagated European superiority over other races. His vision included the ambitious 'Cape to Cairo' railway to connect British territories from South Africa to Egypt, signifying a physical and symbolic domination of the African continent by European powers.