British South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
Sofia Goodman
COLONIAL SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa has a long history of European presence, beginning in 1652 when the Dutch arrived at the Cape of Good Hope to establish a resting stop along the eastern trade route to Asia. However, shortly after their initial arrival they began settling the area and importing slaves. By the turn of the 18th century, there was a small colony of white Dutch settlers, known as Afrikaners. During the 18th century, these Afrikaners were constantly pushing the borders of their territory north and east. These excursions brought the settlers into clashes with the Xhosa, Khoisan, and other ethnic groups. This theme of Dutch settler expansion from the periphery into the interior of South Africa is an overriding theme of South African history.
By the time other European powers became interested in colonizing Africa, there was already a well-established Dutch settlement in South Africa. These colonizers no longer saw themselves as Dutch, instead they had become a unique group of white South Africans, who self-identified as Boers. At the turn of the 19th century, control of the Cape switched hands twice between the British and the Dutch, with the British ultimately gaining control by 1806. The British emancipated the slaves in 1834. The Boers resented British colonial rule so, continuing the trend of Boer territorial expansion, about 12,000 Boers migrated north in a resettlement known as The Great Trek.
In 1880, the First Boer war was fought between the British and the Boers for control of the Cape Colony. The conflict resulted in the formation of two Dutch states: the Orange Free State and Transvaal. These were separate from the British-owned Cape Colony, which was granted self-governance in 1872. By the time Cecil Rhodes became Prime Minister in 1890, there were many ethnic groups with competing claims to the land.
CECIL RHODES
British businessman and imperialist who was Prime Minister of Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. Also founded the southern african territory of Rhodesia
NELSON MANDELA
South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was sentence to life in prison 1964 as ANC leader but released under the de Klerk presidency. His revolutionary efforts, both as a leader in the ANC and as the president, were crucial in dismantling apartheid.
F.W. de KLERK
Leader of the National Party and president of South Africa from 1989 to 1994. He negotiated the end of apartheid with ANC leaders during his historic presidency
In the midst of these power struggles, incredibly rich gold and diamond mines were discovered in South Africa. This discovery was the catalyst for the Second Boer War, which was much more deadly and violent than the first. Both the British and the Boers claimed control of these lucrative natural resources, which exacerbated centuries-long claims to land and control. The British won this war, which was fought from 1898 to 1902. Shortly after their victory, the British established the Union of South Africa as an independent nation with dominion status in the British Commonwealth. Louis Botha became the first prime minister of this newly-minted state. Because existing racist franchise laws that barred black South Africans from voting remained in effect, the new country was under white control.
Racist policies continued to expand until 1948 when the National Party won control and legally established a policy of apartheid. This system completely South African society along racial lines and institutionalized the systematic subjugation of black South Africans. Although South Africa was technically independent at this point, the racial politics continued to oppress about 90% of the population.
INDEPENDENCE
RESISTING APARTHEID
From the outset, resistance to apartheid was strong. The African National Congress (ANC) was the first group to form organized opposition to apartheid. This group was sometimes violent in their anti-racist actions however the majority of their protests were non-violent. In 1960, police brutality transformed a non-violent protest into a turning point in the anti-apartheid movement. This protest, now infamously known as the Sharpville Massacre, was a peaceful protest against the Pass Laws Act, which required black South Africans to carry identification in order to leave their designated areas. Police shot into the crowd, killing 69 people. As a result of this tragic incident, the racist government blamed the ANC and outlawed their activities.
In the continuing crackdown against protestors, Nelson Mandela was sentenced by the South African Government to life in prison in 1964. Despite these efforts, the government was unable to quell the rising tide of protest. The Civil Rights movement in the US also helped turn international attention to the abject injustice of apartheid. The international community responded with harsh economic sanctions and criticism, which ultimately crippled South Africa and eroded justification for apartheid.
In 1989, FW de Klerk was elected president. Although for most of his career de Klerk favored apartheid, he saw it as increasingly untenable and impossible to maintain. Many were surprised when de Klerk suddenly legalized the ANC and released Mandela from prison in 1990. This seemingly-sudden shift continued as de Klerk brokered negotiations between the ANC and National Party government to end apartheid for most of his presidency. Apartheid was officially ended in 1994 when South Africa held its first open elections. Mandela was elected president and all South Africans were independent for the first time.