Cecil Rhodes... Dead of natural causes on 2 January, 1934

WilyBadger · Jun 25, 2006

So what if that had been the case? What if, rather than dying young in 1902, Rhodes had gone on and lived until 1934? How would WWI have been different? What would Africa be like today? How would things change for WWII? What would've become of the various anti-colonial movements throughout the British Empire?

Max Sinister · Jun 26, 2006

Shortly before the Boers War he had to resign as PM of SA. Could he make a comeback? Would he go on to build up the African colonies, with more railroads and better infrastructure?

WilyBadger · Jun 26, 2006

I'm inclined to think that at the very least he'd provide a somewhat better infrastructure for Africa. Perhaps his own version of the Rural Electrification Board?
Or maybe he'd go and found his own colony called Drakia, and... naw, nevermind...

stevep · Jun 27, 2006

WilyBadger said:
I'm inclined to think that at the very least he'd provide a somewhat better infrastructure for Africa. Perhaps his own version of the Rural Electrification Board?
Or maybe he'd go and found his own colony called Drakia, and... naw, nevermind...

From what I've read of him he might have tried an earlier UDI when London started increasing pressure for reforms and more rights for the locals. Hopefully early enough that it got stomped on pretty quickly by the government.

Steve

WilyBadger · Jun 27, 2006

Er... what's a UDI?

KJM · Jun 27, 2006

WilyBadger said:
Er... what's a UDI?

"Unilateral declaration of independence" - at least that's my assumption.

stevep · Jun 28, 2006

KJM said:
"Unilateral declaration of independence" - at least that's my assumption.

Correct. Sorry I didn't make it clear. From some things I've read, while playing the British nationalist Rhodes also often mocked London and the government when it sought to protect rights of local natives. Might have seen him try and break away all of Rhodesia, not just the southern bit that form Ian Smith's state in the 60's.

Steve

WilyBadger · Jun 30, 2006

So if he'd died in 1934 rather than in 1902, when might he have declared his UDI? Perhaps during the Depression, thinking England wouldn't have the resources to deal with the problem?