Read this passage written by british imperialist cecil rhodes. “i contend that we are the first race in the world, and the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race… if there be a god, i think that what he would like me to do is to paint as much of the map of africa british red as possible.” according to this passage, which of the following best describes rhodes’s view of british imperialism? it is britain’s duty to send manufactured goods to africa. god is opposed to the colonization of africa. it is britain’s duty to spread european ways and customs around the world. the british should be embarrassed by their dreams of a colonial empire.

The correct answer is “It is Britain’s duty to spread European ways and customs around the world.” Rhodes believed in the civilizing mission of the British Empire and its superiority to all other civilizations, including other European Empires. His beliefs were shared by a large majority of the people of his time. “White man’s burden” by Rudyard Kipling and “Manifest Destiny” by John O’Sullivan are perfect examples of this philosophy: that European civilization, having achieved the most advanced technology of its time, had a moral obligation to bring such societal, political and technological progress to all non-white peoples who lived in the “darkness” of their “primitive” ways.