Jose Gerardo Hernandez

HIST 51
Prof. Karnes
November 30, 2015
Response Paper 3
From Confessions of Faith

From Confessions of Faith is a text sent by Cecil Rhodes to a British journalist William
Thomas Stead. In the text, Rhodes was expressing his thoughts on race and British Empire. Sent
as a child from England to South Africa, Rhodes made a fortune controlling the diamond
production in the Cape Colony. Using his wealth and political power, Rhodes expanded the
territorial colonial control of South Africa. Rhodes starts his argument by questioning the
purpose in ones life, some considered it be marriage and others considered it to be wealth;
however, Rhodes considers it to be to serve his country the best way possible. He argues that the
reason for a low birth of Englishmen is due to a lack of land. His solution to this issue is to bring
more land under Anglo-Saxon rule. He laments on the loss of America as a colony because it was
a great opportunity for expanding what he considers the finest race.1 He considers AngloSaxon race to be the finest race in the world, and that the more they inhabit the world, the
better is for human race. Bringing more land under British control means the births Englishman,
spreading the English race. And if they are able to rule in great extent, it means an end to all
wars. Rhodes is a great example of European pride and global ambitions that were taking place
in late nineteenth century. This paper will address how race is a part of Rhodes justification for
an empire? What does British society possess that he most admires? And what is the purpose of
the secret society that Rhodes proposes?

1 Walter D. Ward and Denis Gianty, Sources of World Society, (Boston: Bedford/St.
Martins, 2012), 207.

Race is part of Rhodes justification for an empire because he believes that the more
territory British control the more children they will have. It is our duty to seize every
opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes
that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race of the best the most human, most
honourable race the world possess.2 He believes that the Anglo-Saxon race is the finest race in
the world and that the more of the world they have, the better it is for the human race. For this
same reasons he admires the British society. By acquiring more land, the Anglo-Saxon race will
be able to expand, diffuse, and prosper. Expanding the ideal race can also mean the end of all
wars. He believes that only good things can come out British expansion.
Furthermore, Rhodes proposes a secret society that will ensure the growth of the British
Empire. Rhodes secret society objective is to furtherance the British Empire, bring the whole
uncivilized world under British control, recover the United States, and make the Anglo-Saxon
race one Empire.3 Rhodes knows that it is a difficult but possible dream that will benefit human
race. He expresses his idea through a notion of pride. He writes poverty is better under our own
flag than wealth under a foreign one, suggesting that its on their best interest to continue to
expand British territory because if they do not do it, other countries will. He is very passionate of
his ideas of expansion and race superiority. In conclusion, From Confession of Fait by Cecil
Rhodes presents a great example of European pride and global ambitions that encouraged
European imperialism in the late 19th century.

2 Ibid, 208.
3 Ibid, 207.

Bibliography
Walter D. Ward and Denis Gainty, 2nd ed., Sources of World Societies, vol. 2: Since 1450
(Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012), 206-8.