British+South+Africa

__//**BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA:**//__ __//**(Chloe, Jackson, Junior, Steve)**//__ = = =__//** Timeline **//__= == __//**1756-1976**//__ __//**Timeline Overview:**//__ British imperialism in Africa lasted from 1795 to 1994. During this long time the British Colonizers encountered many difficulties especially with the Boers and the African tribes (Zulu and Xhosa). Yet, they were able to control South Africa and they succeeded to exploit its natural resources. Worst of all, they humiliated and persecuted the blacks. They later took their independence in 1994.

__//**1756-1833: **//__
====In 1795 the British monarchy struck the Cape of South Africa. The Netherlands previously occupied the colony at Table Bay from 1652. The Dutch monarchy sent Jan Van Riebeeck to represent the Dutch East India Trading Company. The British monarchy was set on having a controlling interest in South Africa over the Dutch. The British monarchy had a particular interest in the Cape due to its prime location regarding trading routes. Although the Cape brought rough seas and heavy storms the British were intrigued by this opportunity. In 1803, eight years after seizing the Cape Colony from the Dutch the British returned the land to the Netherlands. In 1806 the British seized the Cape Colony, forcing the Dutch out yet again. The British government immediately implemented laws and policies similar to back in Europe. This sparked much controversy between the Bohers (Dutch) and the British, even though the British were bringing much economic benefit to the Dutch settlers. This was evident through the new exports being explored. E.g. wool, and ivory. The final straw for the Dutch came in 1833 when British parliament outlawed the ownership of slaves, throughout the empire. This decision led the Bohers to migrate into the interior of northern South Africa. ====

====This event is extremely significant as this was the starting point in “British South Africa”, and the control they had throughout the continent. The event also represents the “superior” thinking of the British over other countries that had been living in a colony for many years. Imperialism is recognized profoundly through the British monarchies capability to “take over” another settlements economic, political and social standards/ways. (Jackson) ====







1880-1881 After Transvaal formally declared independence from the United Kingdom, the war began on 16 December 1880 with shots fired by Transvaal Boers at Potchefstroom. This led to the action at Bronkhorstspruit on 20 December 1880, where the Boers ambushed and destroyed a British Army convoy. The conflict occurred against the backdrop of the Pretoria government becoming increasingly ineffective at dealing with growing claims on South African land from rival interests within the country. The three main engagements of the war were all within about sixteen miles of each other, centred on the Battles of Laing’s Nek (28/1/81), Ingogo River (8/2/81) and the rout at Majuba Hill (27/2/81). These battles were the outcome of Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley’s attempts to relieve the besieged forts. The British government of William Gladstone was conciliatory as it realised that any further action would require substantial troop reinforcements, and it was likely that the war would be costly, messy and protracted. Unwilling to get bogged down in a distant war with apparently minimal returns (the Transvaal at the time had no known mineral resources, or other significant resources, being essentially a cattle and sheep agricultural economy), the British government ordered a truce.

__//**1867 and 1886:**//__ Previously, during the 1830’s and 1840’s, Boers ( used this to describe the farmers in Dutch) were not content with the British rule, and therefore decided to move inland to find a new home, where they could dictate themselves. The journey, most commonly known as the Great Trek, had spread through word among South Africa. Having heard of diamonds and new riches being found in this new land, they left the Cape of Good Hope with the British. The new wealth found in the northern region of South Africa was concealed from the British, as the empires were competing against each other. However, when the British did discover that diamonds were further inland, and therefore they also followed the Dutch.

Diamond (1867) and gold (1886) were the desires of people worldwide, and therefore became main attractions for empires. During the 1870’s, shortly after the South African War ended, the diamond rush in Kimberly began. In 1886, a goldfield was discovered in Transvaal, triggering a gold rush. During this time, the British had taken over the new land in the northern region of South Africa, to ensure that the profits from the gold and diamonds went towards the British Empire. To establish this, the British had imposed rigid policies over African labor, and the lifestyle of the Africans. The discovery of these riches are significant to the imperial history of South Africa, because when the British used hostility to take over the new gold and diamond lands, it created additional tension among the Boers and the British, which later lead to a rebellion of the Boers, and a war. Also, due to the new laws imposed by the British, it provoked racial discrimination, which later lead to Apartheid (segregating the blacks from whites). ==== ====



1899-1902 The Second Boer War Fought between the British empire and the Boer republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, this war made British subjects of most southern Africans for 60 years and enshrined two white tribes as South Africa's rulers for 80. That one of those tribes, the Afrikaners, included the defeated Boers was testament to the latter's hard struggle during the war and to the ideals of British imperialism in the 20th century. The 31 May 1902 peace agreement at Vereeniging led to a federated British South Africa in which Boers and Britons shared power over non-white peoples who outnumbered them four to one. It had taken nearly 500, 000 white soldiers from around the British empire, aided by the labour of 100, 000 non-whites, to make British subjects of the Boers. Eight thousand blockhouses had been built and 3, 728 miles (6, 000 km) of barbed wire laid. Eight thousand British soldiers and 4, 000 Boers had been killed. Another 13, 000 Britons, 15, 000 non-whites, and 30, 000 Boers had died from disease or malnutrition. Thirty thousand farms had been destroyed. Also destroyed were the hopes of non-whites who had expected land and citizenship after a British victory. The war furthered military reforms throughout the British empire, allowing a rapid, united response to the German challenge in 1914 __//**1910-1912:**//__ Eight years after the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging, the Union of South Africa was formed under British dominion on May 31, 1910. It brought the end of Second Anglo-Boer War and four colonies states of South Africa (Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and the Orange Free State) had become unity. Each of four states was also allowed to keep its existing franchise qualifications but Cape was the only one state which permitted voting only by non-whites people. In 1912, ANC (African National Congress) was formed after the defeat of Bambata`s rebellion (Zulu people who against British rule and taxation in Natal in 1906). This made a new way for Africans to fight for their own land and their freedom from the British. The ANC made its goal to bring all Africans together as one community to defend their own rights and freedoms.

= Positive and Negative Impacts of Imperialism on British South Africa : =

__**//The Population://**__ A positive impact of imperialism in South Africa was that the British helped to "modernize" South Africa, to an extent. For example: colonies were introduced new technologies and approaches for gold and diamond mining, to help the process of collection speed up slightly. Other technologies, such as more advanced farming tools were also introduced to create a better yield in crops, as the British often exported many of these goods to sell elsewhere. Also, schools were set up, providing education to the children (even when it wasn't the desired material that the Africans wanted their children to learn).

A negative impact of imperialism is that the Africans lost most of their freedom, and had to remain under British control and follow strict laws that segregated and discriminated against the people. They were taken advantage of, as a labor force, and did not get to choose their lifestyle, as they had to follow along with the British, even when they didn't desire to adapt to the European lifestyle. They also lost many of their people in the Boer wars, and other rebellions for their fight for freedom, and many Boers also got killed by the introduction of viruses that were not present in South Africa before the British arrived, therefore the Boers' bodies were susceptible to many diseases and illnesses.

__//**Culture and Language:**//__ A positive impact of imperialism in South Africa was that the British gave South Africans a new perspective and included western education in South Africa education. Also, they need to know English in order to get good jobs or positions.

A negative impact was the South Africans lose their culture and the British taught them the way of Christianity which changed their life style to British’s way. Also Apartheid in South Africa became a big problem for South Africans.

//__**Land and Resources:**__//

A positive impact was that the coming of the British gave the South Africa nation new technologies and medicines that South Africans never used before. It helped to stop their illnesses and they used the British’s technologies to do their works such as farming, educating, and transporting.

The negative impact was the British owned their lands and took the supplies back to Europe, For example, woods and diamonds.

//__**Economics:**__//

Many economic benefits came from the British landing in South Africa. British control increased the opportunity for low-income citizens to obtain more money. Examples of this would be farmers seeking export opportunities. Sheep wool was a large portion of what farmers would export. Hunters would export ivory obtained in the interior and ship it back to the Cape Colony for export. This created a busy trading route from the Cape Colony (modern day Cape Town) to numerous countries around the world, also colonized by the British.

Negative impacts relating to this event would be that the producers of the exports would only receive a small portion of the profit made.

Continuing in the economic sector, slavery was a huge part of making profit for white slave "owners". Slavery allowed white men to make great profit while providing there black slaves with little to nothing in return for their work.

The British abolished slavery in 1807, angering the Boers. This created a negative alternative as the slaves "owners" no longer made nearly as much profit. They were now required to have a contract with there employees and grant them some rights in concern to pay-scale and working conditions. The abolishment of slavery was brought to the parliaments attention in South Africa, from England. The "mother country" (England) had the power to make the ultimate decision.

**//__Political autonomy:__//** After the end of the second Boer war, independence was finally claimed and South Africa was united. The positive impacts of imperialism on South Africa was that the fight really pushed the Africans to fight for their independence and freedom, making it a great part of history. After gaining their earned independence, it allowed for the Africans to use "cultural borrowing", to incorporate the lifestyles of both the British and their own traditions into their new life. The story of South African's fight for independence also helps shape the South African people into who they are today.

Some negative impacts of imperialism on their independence is that having contact with the British drastically changed South Africa. Many of them are now Christian, opposed to their own unique religion, and they may also have some of the modern day technologies that go against the Boer lifestyle. This assimilation factor that seemed as if it was almost forced upon the Boers is a sad part in history as it contributes to the shrinking factor of cultural diversity and a collective identity, that relates to Globalization. Also, in this fight for independence, many of the Boers had died in war, and also from cultural contact, where diseases spread.

= References: = - BBC News - Timeline: South Africa. (n.d.). //BBC News - Home//. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1069402.stm - [] - century, n., & Afrikaners, t. B. (n.d.). Imperialism in South Africa. //World Map, Map of the World//. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from http://www.mapsofworld.com/south-africa/history/imperialism.html

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