as not until 1890, however, when he became the Prime Minister of Cape Colony. For the following five years, Rhodes proved to be a successful Prime Minister in Britains eyes. The African people saw things a little differently. Rhodes passed an act in 1892 called the Ballot Act which limited the native vote by enacting financial and educational qualifications. This act was the first of many initiatives started by Rhodes to keep the South African natives pacified. The height of Rhodes achievement was in 1893 when a short war broke out when Lobengula, king of the Matabele, tried and failed to regain control of Mashonaland. Rhodes however was growing a little impatient with his goals to take over Africa because he could see that his health was failing. Rhodes career was about to take a turn for the worst. He initially had a plan to take the area that he did not control by force, but he had no support to do so. This plan was therefore called off, but one of his reckless administrators by the name of Leander Starr Jameson decided to continue with the plan. Leander proceeded to invade Transvaal on his own on his infamous raid on December 29th, 1895. The raid was a complete disaster, and as a result, Rhodes took full responsibility and was forced to resign all of his political and Charter company offices in Cape Colony. Jameson and his compatriots were later sent to prison. When Rhodes lost control of the Cape Colony region, the area became disenfranchised. The Dutch and British had more disputes than ever and Rhodesia and Bechuanaland were taken over by the imperial government. The only thing that was left was the Charter, in which Rhodes spent the rest of his life involved with. Unfortunately for Rhodes, the last years of his life were filled with personal, economical, and political disappointments. However, this view was to change after his death in 1902 after his will was read in April. His reputation immediately grew to new heights. Public ...
