British Occupation of South Africa via the Cape

British at the Cape

Britain took control of the cape during the era of mercantilism in Europe. At the end of 18th century the British became interested in seizing the cape colony from the Dutch. During 1793 France invaded the Netherlands. King William V. sought refuge in Britain and also asked for protection for Dutch colonies and trading interests. During this time, the British already controlled India and the trade between India and Europe. In 1795 the British occupied the cape twice for a short period of time. From 1806 onwards especially when the Napoleonic wars ended in 1815 the Britain made a formal purchase of the Cape from the Netherlands for six million pounds sterling. Therefore British started to settle at the Cape in 1806.

The Motives for the British Interests at the Cape

Explain the motives for the British interests at the Cape

Motives for British interests at the Cape

• To increase colonies: The British wanted to increase and expand her spheres of influence following this she decided to occupy the Cape.
• Industrial revolution in Europe, following this British wanted to increase sources of raw materials, labour, and markets for her industries since the Cape were very productive.
• Trade interests, Britain did not want another European power to control the Cape because that would interfere the smooth flow of trade between Britain and India.
• The South African Cape was strategically located. It was an appropriate place for British ships to stop during their voyages to or from India. They could get fresh supplies adwater for the reminder of their journey.

The Tactics Used by the British to Occupy the Cape

Assess the tactics used by the British to occupy the Cape

Tactics used by British to occupy the Cape

• Introduction of land legislation system: They aimed at discouraging pastoralism among Boers and to encourage sedentary farming since the policy limited the size of an individual's land. The Dutch thought that the British introduced the land law to take land from the Boers and redistribute it to the landless Khoikhoi so they opposed the land law.
• Abolition of slave trade and slavery in 1807: The British government abolished slave trade in all their colonies and offered compensation for slaves but the money was only paid inLondon as a result the majority did not get their compensation. However, freeing slavesendangered the economic survival of the Boers as they depended much on slave labour.
• Imposition of the English language as the as the language of administering the law and justice and the medium of instruction in schools in 1822. Hence English language replaced the Dutch as he official language.
• Abolition of internal trade restriction imposed by the Dutch company officials on the farmers and other settlers at the cape. This created more trade opportunities as they could now trade freely without strictly control from the administration.
• Introduction of the pass in 1809 to reduce the exploitation of African labour as the system required African workers to carry passbooks which indicated their residence and employment, and those who did not carry them were regarded as criminals. The pass prevented the Africans from moving from district to district or moving into areas occupied by Europeans.
• Introduction of contract system, through this the Boers were to sign contracts with their workers. In those contracts they were to mention the wages and other fringe benefits that they gave to their workers. Therefore the Boers regarded the contract system as British interference in the traditional Boer-Africans relationship of master-servant.
• Introduction of the Black circuit court system in 1811 in order to reduce acts of violence committed by European employers against African employees. The law angered the Boers who considered themselves a superior race and thus natural masters of the Africans.
• Introduction of English law as the basis of the legal system in South Africa.
• Provision of financial aid to the British settlers by the British government, this encouraged more of its citizens to immigrate to the Cape as a result in 1820 some 300 British settlers arrived in South Africa increasing the total white population by almost 12% within weeks.

The Boer trek/movement

The great trek( Afrikaans: Die Groot Trek) was an east ward and north ward migration away from British control in the cape colony during the 1830's and 1840's by Boers (Dutch/Afrikaans “farmer”).

The migrant were descended from settlers from western mainland Europe, most notably from the Netherlands, northwest Germany and French Huguenots. The great trek itself led to the founding of numerous Boer republics, the Natalia republic, the Orange Free State republic and the Transvaal being the most notable.

From the beginning of the 18th century the cape settlers expanded their territory towards the north and the east. These settling movements were led by the Trek Boers, white farmers who penetrated the hinterland looking for grazing land for their cattle.

The Trek Boers preferred the free and unrestricted life on their ox wagons and in tents to the more protected existence within the realms of town administration. The price they had to pay for their lifestyle was constant armed conflicts with native people. First the Khoikhoi successfully resisted the conquest of their residential and grazing land.

And from the turn of the century it was the people of the Xhosa living to the east, who stood up against the Trek Boers. Frequent skirmishes occurred, particularly in the Zuurveld in the east of the colony, to the boundary of the great fish river. In 1779, the first of the ferocious Xhosa wars broke out.

In the town communities the danger of a confrontation was also growing. Here the opposing parties were on one hand the citizens, aspiring to political autonomy, and on the other hand a weak, corrupt and almost bankrupt colonial administration.

The town's people demanded their independence from the colonial administration. In Swellendam and Graaff-Reinet, the first republics were proclaimed, although they only existed for a short time. The power struggle between citizens and administration ended with the landing of British ships at the cape and the annexing of the colony to the United Kingdom in 1795.

The Reasons for the Boer Trek

Explain the reasons for the Boer trek

British occupation of the cape allowed Boers to penetrate further into the interior.

Boers dislike laws imposed by British in the Cape Province which gave greater equality to non-Whites races.

Abolition of slavery, the British administration at the cape forced Boers to free their African slaves.

Boers dislike the system of land holding which was introduced by British i.e. Boers were to pay higher rent.

Misunderstanding between Boers stock farmers and British administration

Boers dislike the British government decision of using the English language as the language of the government and in courts.

Boers wanted to be outside of the British government authority.

The Effects of the Boer Trek

Assess the effects of the Boer trek

Creating of two Boer republics, that is the Orange Free State and South African republic.

Boers defeated black tribes on the way and took over their land and properties.

Establishment of apartheid policy.

Development of hostility between the Boers and British colonisers.

Africans were made property less labourers and squatters on Boers stock farms.

African land was alienated i.e. taken by foreigners

Intermarriage thus creation of Afrikaners.

BASIC ASSIGNMENT/ ACTIVITIES TO DO

1. Explain the meaning of industrial capitalism
2. Explain the demands of industrial capitalism
3. Explain the roles f the agents of industrial capitalism in preparing Africa for colonialism
4. Outline the major causes of the Boer Trek in South Africa.
5. Write shot notes on the effects of the Boer Trek on people of South Africa.
6. What are motives of the British at the Cape?
7. Explain why the Boers managed to defeat the Africans in the interior of South Africa.
8. Mention five tactics used by British to occupy the Cape.

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