Causes

1.     The Boers never wanted to be under any rule and thus desired independence.

2.     There existed large pieces of unoccupied land in the interior that could satisfy Boer need for more land.

3.     Their nomadic culture always required them to move in search of fresh pastures and water for            their animals.

4.     Some moved because it was fashionable since others were also moving and also because of           need for adventure.

5.     The cape with time had become infertile yet the interior had favorable climate and fertile land.

6.     The Boers suffered from racial prejudice and wanted to keep their race pure by avoiding mixing         with non- whites who were polluting them.

7.     They resented-missionary programmes of breaking racial barriers by preaching, universal brother       hood of mankind kind and equality.

8.     Missionaries were also giving an education to Africans, which was making them arrogant and             uncontrollable.

9.     Some missionaries had even married Africans e.g. Dr John Phillip and, -Kemp.

10.  Mission stations had become homes for run away slaves.

11.  The Boers hated the British Liberal policies that were favoring Africans e.g. abolition of slavery          and allowing Africans to chose their masters.

12.  Boers had been forced to free their slaves without adequate compensation.

13.  The unpopular laws especially the circuit courts and 1809 Hottentot code.

14.  The passing of the 50th ordinance which among others banned the pass laws and restored African civil rights.

15.  The British policy of Anglicanising the cape was so provocative e.g. English become the official language, English pound replaced the Dutch dollar and British laws replaced Dutch laws.

16.  The British land policies of taking over unused land and issuing land tittles were resented.

17.  The Boers also hated mapping and fencing off their land as required by law.

18.  The British education system and reduction of salaries of Dutch officials were resented.

19.  They were hurt because of the eastern frontier resolution that saw the Boers losing the province of Queen Adelaide.

20.  The British had failed to provide them with adequate protection from the Africans especially in the Eastern parts.

21.  Rumours that they were to marry with African, serve in the army forcefully, leave their church and       lose all their land made them move.

22.  Their increased population at the cape made it uncomfortable for them.

 

Course

1.     The trek was carried out in three groups- and the main leaders included Piete Relief, Portgieter           Hendrick and Pretorius.

2.     They used ox-wagons that carried all their properties moving ; in different groups under various         leaders.

3.     Most avoided the coastal crowded areas and followed the middle grassland (veld) west of the Drakensberg mountains.

4.     Trigardt and Rensberg led the first group out of the cape.

5.     They moved eastwards then northwards crossing orange and Vaal rivers.

6.     This group was ill prepared for the hazards of a long journey and most died on their way.

7.     They first settled at Zoutensberg where Africans killed most of them.

8.     By the time the Portuguese rescued them only 27 out of around 100 reached Laurenco Marques or Maputo.

9.     Portigieter and Celliers led the second group, which was joined later by Maritz from GraafReinet.

10.  They went north easterly and crossed R. Vaal establishing Orange Free State.

11.  In 1836 the Boers were attacked by the Ndebele under Mzilikazi and many of the Boers killed.

12.  The Boers later assembled at Vegkop in October 1836 and defeated the Ndebele.

13.  By November 1837 the Ndebele had been completely defeated and ran into present day        Zimbabwe.

14.  Piete Retief led the third and last group out of the cape late 1836.

15.  In 1837 they reached Zulu land and asked the Zulu king Dingane for land.            

16.  Dingane promised them land only after bringing back his cows stolen by the Tlokwa chief     Sekonyera.

17.  After Retief easily getting back the'cows Dingane killed him at a beer party while celebrating the        victory against Sekonyera.

18.  After Relief easily getting back the cows Dingane killed him at a beer party while celebrating the Victory against Sekonyera. Pretorius the new Boer leader organised a revenge battle in October .1838 called the battle of Blood River, which the Zulu lost.

19.  Dingane was forced to give up Natal and some territory across , river Tugela to the Boers.

20.  By 1843 the republic of Natal was established.

21.  After 1843 the British annexed Natal.

22.  Pretorious led the 'unhappy Boers out of Natal and reached Transvaal around 1852 ending the chapter of the trek.

 

Problems Met By The Trekkers.

1.     They were met by the fierce resistance from the local people e.g. At the battles of blood river, Vegkop etc.

2.     Some trekkers were killed by the local people e.g. Dingane killed Piete Retief.

3.     Most trekkers were not prepared for the long journey "so the majority died of starvation, diseases     and other hardships.

4.     Trigadt's group of over 100 was decimated to only 27 by the time they reached Maputo.

5.     The British went on following them e.g. in 1843 Natal was annexed by them.

6.     Even the cape punishment act of 1836 stated that British-power extended as far as latitude 25° degrees south i.e. including OFS and Transvaal.

7.     The Boers were weak militarily and continued suffering from African and British attacks.

8.     They were always quarreling with each other and at one time Transvaal was tone into five       separate units.

9.     Diseases especially malaria and Nagana depleted their numbers of both people and cattle.

10.  There was shortage of consumer goods on the way leading to famine.

11.  They ran short of Gunpowder and other ammunition.

12.  They could not educate their children adequately because of lack of enough time.

13.  They had to move through dangerous unknown land with complicated topography.

14.  Wild animals in the interior attacked them.

15.  Communication was difficult especially in face of the great poverty of the Boers.

 

Importance Of The Great Trek  To the Africans.

1.     Africans lost land to the Boers especially the Zulu to Pretorious, the Pedi to Potgieter etc.

2.     A lot of life was lost leading to depopulation especially among the Zulu, Pedi and Basuto.

3.     Many wars were fought against the Boers e.g. Vegkop, blood river etc.

4.     Africans were displaced from their ancestors^ grounds.

5.     Africans lost a lot of property especially cattle e.g. Dingane lost over 17,000 cattle to the Boers.

6.     Africans got divided and conflicted with each other e.g. Mpande against Dingane.

7.     African societies were weakened more so the Zulu, Ndebele and Basuto.

8.     African leaders were killed e.g. Dingane of the Zulu mainly because of the Boer trekkers.

9.     Africans were enslaved after losing their land and cattle.

10.  Africans became poor and submissive.

11.  Western technology was shown to the Africans and African technology began to vanish.

12.  African chiefs acquired guns from the trekkers.

13.  They adopted western culture e.g. dressing, religion etc.

14.  Africans became subjected to harsh treatment and hard punishments.

15.  African language was put into writing.

16.  There was decline in agricultural production leading to famine.

17.  Africans suffered from Apartheid and become second class citizens.

 

To The Whites

1.     The British attitudes towards Boers changed to discourage them from further migration.

2.     British liberal racial attitudes and policies were spread into lr    the interior.

3.     The British were drawn more into the interior-and made attempts to control the Boers.

4.     British administrative work increased and was forced to govern non-whites as the Boers moved.

5.     Anglo- Boer relationship worsened at least up to 1910.

6.     The Boers fought with the British in 1881, 1895 and in the second Anglo - Boer war.

7.     The British annexed Natal in 1843.

8.     The whites traded with the Africans.

 

The Foundation Of The Republic Of Natal.

 

(a) Describe the foundation of the republic of Natal by 1843?

1.     The Republic of Natal was founded by Piet Retiefs group after 1838

2.     In l838 they met the Zulu leader Dingane and asked for-land.

3.     Dingane told him first to bring back the Zulu cows stolen by the Tlokwa chief Sekonyela;

4.     Retief tricked Sikonyera and easily got back the cows.

5.     At a beer party organised by Dingane Retief and his party were killed by Dingane.

6.     Pretorious the New Boer leader managed to defeat the Zulu at the battle of Blood River.

7.     Dingane was later forced to give away the whole of Southern Natal to the Boers.

8.     Pretorious later armed Dinganes brother Mpande to over throw him.

9.     Mpande became the new Zulu leader and the defeated Dingane was killed by the Swazi.

10.  The Trekers formed a council (Volks Rand) of twenty-four members based at Mariztberg.

11.  The council met and elected a president whenever they wanted.

12.  Pretorious however remained a general commander-

13.  The republic after 1840 started weakening and by 1843 it was annexed by the British.

 

Why The British Annexed Natal In 1843.

Natal was founded by the migrant Boers under Retief and Pretorious,

1.     The British never liked the Boers to live as an independent organisation.

2.     The British continued to regard the Boers as their subject wherever they were.                

3.     The annexation was to discourage further Boer movement  in the interior.    

4.     The British had received reports that Boers were Africans.                               

5.     Too many wars on the eastern boarders of Cape colony between the Boers and the Africans alarmed the British.

6.     The British hoped to use Natal as a base for creating peso" ' the eastern frontier.

7.     The British wanted to destroy port Natal as a rival trading poi.':to the cape.

8.     The British never wanted the Boers to have any Sea contact, a^ they would easily ally with their enemies France and Germany

9.     The British wanted to use Natal as a base of extending r.:,-,,-^' imperialism into the interior.

10.  The British feared that the Boers would ally with powcrf,;' African leaders against them.

11.  The British claimed that the Boers were very weak and needed to be protected from the Africans.

12.  The British also claimed that Natal was very poor to sustain a government.

13.  They also claimed that the Volks Rand was ineffective in the modern times.

14.  Rumours that Natal was rich in minerals further increased the  British determination to annex the         republic.

15.  The British wanted to benefit from the fertile soils of Natal.

16.  The British wanted to prevent extension of racism into the interior.

 

Results of the British annexation

1.     The Boer republic came to an end and the Boers IOSL independence.

2.     Natal became part of British cape colony.

3.     Many Boers left Natal and settled in other areas.

4.     The British were forced to extend their rule to O.F.S and ^ Transvaal.               

5.     It led to clashes between the migrating Boers and Africans.

6.     It led to depopulation of Africans and Boers during wars between them.

7.     Africans lost land to the Boers.

8.     Boers also lost their land to the British.

9.     Property was lost of both the Africans and the Boers leading to poverty.

10.  Wars between the British and the Boers became inevitable.

11.  The enmity between the Boers and the British was intensified.

12.  Africans were displaced.

13.  The annexation led to the establishment of Natal sugar plantations.

14.  Signing of treaties of sand river and Bloemfontein between the British and the Boers took place.

15.  These treaties gave the Boer republics of orange free state and Transvaal their independence.

16.  The British gave up further annexation because of the financial and administrative consequences       involved.

17.  Boer racial segregation was spread into the interior.

18.  Africans lost cattle to the Boers.

 

Problems faced by the Boers in their new republics.

1.     Loss of lives during conflicts with Africans.

2.     Loss of property especially cows lost to the Ndebele and Basuto.

3.     Loss of independence after the annexation by the British.

4.     There was depopulation of Boers.

5.     Faced a number of wars with Africans especially over land e.g. Blood River war (etc).

6.     Disunity especially in Natal and Transvaal.

7.     There was land shortage as Africans were still very strong.

8.     They had weak and inexperienced governments.

9.     They were poor and constantly faced financial problems.

10.  Insecurity created by the African attacks.

11.  Poor communication system.

 

THE BOER REPUBLIC OF ORANGE FREE STATE

 (a) Describe the foundation of Boer republic of Transvaal and

Orange  Free State.

1.        The republic was founded by the Boer Trekers who were under Portegieter's group.

2.        It was established between rivers Vaal and orange.

3.        It was at first referred to as Orange River colony.

4.        It was founded after the defeat of the Ndebele under Mzilikazi.

5.        The defeated Ndebere were chased beyond Limpopo River.

6.        More Trekers Joined them after 1843 especially from Natal.

7.        In 1843, Napier met with Moshesh and fixed the Southern boundary of Orange River colony.

8.        In 1844, a constitution was drawn up and a parliament put in place.

9.        Portegieter played a very big role in the constitution making and remained the commander.

10.     Unfortunately later, the colony was annexed by Sir Harry Smith the British governor.

11.     In 1849, the warden line was drawn by the British separating \ Boer land from the Basutos.                           

12.     Moshesh of the Basuto, continued attacking the British and the Boers in the Orange River colony.

13.     In 1852, the Boers approached the new British officer sir George Cathcart and requested for            independence.

14.     In 1854, the Bloemfontein convention was signed and gave the Boers independence.

15.     The Orange River colony after 1858 now became known as the Orange Free State.

16.     Josious Hoffman became the first president in 1855. He was replaced by Jacob Boshoff.

 

The Boer Republic Of Transvaal

1.     The republic was formed by the Boer Trekers who had been under various leaders.

2.     At first the republic was erected near the banks of Limpopo River but later established across River Vaal.

3.     The founders of Transvaal were militant hardline trekkers.

4.     The Boers in this area regarded themselves as political refugees.

5.     Celliers party acquired land between the Vet and Vaal Rivers.

6.     This land was stolen from chief Makwena.

7.     More land was stolen from the Ndebele after serious fighting.

8.     The Boers continued fighting for leadership among Pretorious, Celliers and Maritz.

9.     Four commanders were later elected to act as supreme leaders and included Pretorious and William Joubert-

10.  Later Celliers and Maritz drew up a constitution to govern the Boers.

11.  Later towns were built which included: Potschefstroom, Ohrigstad and Lydenberg.

12.  The Boers later also elected a parliamentary council with judicial powers.

13.  In November 1851, a special British officer Owen came to sort out the administrative problems of  Transvaal.

14.  This was after the British had also annexed Transvaal and made it   part of its colony.

15.  In 1852 the sand river convention was signed.

16.  The sand rivet- convention created the Transvaal republic free and independent from the British.  

17.  Pretorious, became the first president until war like Paul Kruger took over.

 

Relationship Between Trekers And Other People

A.   With the British.

1.     The relationship was hostile and never friendly up to 1854.

2.     The Boers decided to leave British controlled cape establishing new republics e.g. Natal and Transvaal.

3.     The British however went on following the Boer-s leading to Natal annexation in 1843.

4.     This British interference led to further Boer migration.

5.     The British insisted that the Boers were still their subjects.

6.     In 1836, the cape punishment act stated that British extended as far as latitude 25° Southwards and both Transvaal and Orange Free State were both within the latitude. Therefore the British annexed Orange Free State and Transval.

7.     The Boers completely became dissatisfied with the British administration.

8.     Later however British attitude towards the Boers changed as the Boers continued to trek Northwards.

9.     The British relaxed because they feared to be attacked by the Boers from the North.

10.  Even the British settlers at Durban or Natal felt insecure and threatened.

11.  Therefore the British abandoned the migrant Boers to avoid financial and administrative problems.

12.  Some Boers however were forced to accept the British rule.

13.  In 1852 the Sand River Treaty gave the Boers North of Vaal River independence.

14.  In 1854 the Bloemfontein Treaty gave independence to Orange Free State.

 

B.   With The Blacks :-

1.     The relationship was hostile.

2.     The Boers were determined to continue regarding Africans as a doomed race.

3.     The Boers stole African land i.e. From the Basuto, Ndebele and Zulu.

4.     The Boers stole African animals e.g. the Ndebele lost over 70,000 heads of cattle.

5.     The Boers conflicted with African e.g. at Blood River.

6.     The Boers enslaved Africans.

7.     Africans were forced to works on Boers farms.    ,

8.     Africans had their independent existence threatened.

9.     Boers killed the Africans.

10.  African leaders e.g. Dingane lost their powers.

11.  Later however some Africans acquire guns e.g. Mpande.

12.  Some Africans also learnt new methods of agriculture.

13.  The majority of the Africans however suffered because of the racial policies of the Trekers.

NB: From the establishment of the Boer Republic up to 1880, Boer nationalism went on growing and it     was not surprising when they even faced the British in three wars between 1880 to 1902.

 

Why Was There A Rise In Boer (Afrikaners) Nationalism after 1850?

1.     Nationalism is a strong love for one's nationality or country. Actually one is willing even to fight and die in defence of the nation.

2.     The Boers after along stay in Africa started calling themselves the Afrikaners.

3.     But until 1870's most Dutch speaking people referred to themselves as Boers.

4.     Their language after drifting from the original Dutch to form a distinctive South Africa dialect came    to be referred to as the Afrikaans language.

5.     The rise of nationalism was because their language, pastoral culture and religion were in        danger of being erased by the English culture.

6.     They had to strongly detest British dominance and policies on land, education language and law.

7.     The development of the new Afrikans language made them proud.

8.     The Boers superiority feelings in relation to the Africans and Asians led to nationalism.

9.     The granting of equal rights to non whites by the British encouraged nationalism.

10.  The sand river convention of 1852 and the Bloemfontein convention which recognized Boers rights to self-rule strengthened their nationalism.

11.  The drawing closer of Orange Free State with Transvaal to protect the Afrikaners rights.

12.  British annexation of Griqualand west to steal Orange Free State diamonds brought the Boers           closer.

13.  The Boer fears about the war like Africans in the interior e.g. the Zulu and the Pedi made them           united and realize the British danger hence the unity.

14.  The mineral revolution made the Boers get jealousy and determined to protect their new wealth.

REF. QNS

(a) How did the Boers promote their nationalism? Or What steps were taken by the Afrikaners to promote Boer nationalism?

The Boer church ministers and teachers started cultural  movements promoting the Afrikans             language and religion.

In 1880 a political party the Afrikaner bond was formed at the cape by S. J Dutoit.

The Afrikaner bond aimed at uniting all Afrikaners in South  Africa and strengthening their    nationalism.

The Afrikaner bond was later to be headed by Jan H. Hofmyer.

Hofmyer developed the Afrikaner bond into a powerful cape parliamentary group.

The founding of an Afrikaner Newspaper "De Zuid Afrikaans" edited by Jan H. Hofmyer promoted   Boer Nationalism.

Rev. J. S Dutoit of De Paarl worked hard for the recognition of the Afrikaners in South Africa.

Rev. Dutoit and others in 1875 formed the "De-Genoolskap van Regte" i.e. the association of true   Afrikaners.

The association was to promote one. language, one nation and Boer unity,

The association later published a newspaper De-Afrikaanase  patriot in 1876 which strongly            condemned Griqualand annexation.