(a) How did the economic changes in South Africa affect the Angle - Boer relationship?

(b) How were the following affected by the discovery and exploitation of minerals in South Africa?

(a) Africans 

(b) Whites (Boers to the British)

 

(a) Describe the economic development (activities) in South Africa between l861 - 1918

Before the minerals were discovered in South Africa, it mainly depended on Agriculture.

The cape depended 6n wine and pastoral farming. Orange Free State on cereals and sheep rearing and Transvaal on sheep and cattle rearing.

The economy was controlled by the Europeans mainly the British and Africans provided labour.

Generally the economy was weak i.e. South Africa Had poor communication and low standards of living.

Later in 1867; diamond was discovered at Kimberly and in 1885, Gold was discovered at Witwatersrand or at the Rand.

Other minerals like manganese were discovered in various places in South Africa.

By 1892, diamond export fetched more them 4 million pounds a year hence South Africa was experiencing a mineral revolution.

The minerals encouraged the development of the cash crop farming on a large scale especial around the mines.

Later the economy changed from an agricultural to an industrial one and local markets were enlarged.

Communication was improved quickly and greatly i.e. in 1887 the Transvaal railway was constructed in 1891 the Natal railway was constructed.

In 1892, the Delgoa pretoria railway was completed and the cape railway was also finished.

Telephones, telegrames, roads were built & improved.

Boer states rapidly came out of poverty into an economic boom.

Rich-mining companies e.g. De-Beers and the British African Co were set up and heavily taxed by the Boers.

There was growth of agricultural processing industries and urbanisation took place e.g. in Transvaal, Johannesburg, Vereniging etc.

The white population in the interior increased and the migrant system labour developed.

Banks were constructed e.g. The standard orient bank. Modern steamers were introduced on orange and Vaal River.

The price of land in areas around the mines rose and many Africans sold much the their land.

Africans massively started searching for cash jobs leading to rural-urban migration.

 

Effects of the Discovery on the African.

1.     Some Africans got chances for new jobs in the mines.

2.     They got market for their agricultural produces especially near the mines.

3.     It led to rural - urban migration as Africans went to town searching for cash jobs.

4.     African stopped respecting their local leaders since they were powerless.

5.     There was social disintegration as husbands separated from their wives.

6.     Africans were discriminated in employment centers as they were given lowly jobs.

7.     Africans who migrated to the cities lived in camps reserves and shanty towns e.g. Soweto.

8.     Africans lost their independence.

9.     Africans lost their land where the minerals were located e.g. Griqualand.

10.  There was break down of African culture and traditional practices.

11.  There was emergency of new African behavior e.g. money not wives and cows became the new symbols of success and status.

12.  Also marriage was postponed and tended to be monogamous.

13.  New elite class emerged and included men e.g. Luthuli Albert and Walter Sisulu.

14.  A cash economy was introduced though Africans were paid low wages.

15.  Africans were forced to work on contract.

16.  Africans acquired the bad European habits e.g. prostitution crime and alcoholism.

17.  They lost their lives in mine accidents and got European diseases.

18.  British influence over Africans increased and they annexed Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana.

19.  Tribalism was reduced among the mineworkers leading to rise of African nationalism.

20.  African chiefs acquired guns though they were of the poor quality.

21.  A.N.C was formed in 1912.

 

Effects of the minerals on the Whites (Boers And British).

1.     They were put into an industrial revolution as gold and diamonds became the lifeblood to many industries.

2.     It increased their wealth and their capital investment.

3.     Bad practices e.g. prostitution, theft and crimes increased.

4.     They became more rich especially in the infrastructures e.g. Dologoa Transvaal railway and Natal-Transvaal railway were constructed by 1891.

5.     Steam ships linked South Africa plus telephones, telegraph, and bridges.

6.     Social infrastructure e.g. Banks Schools Hospitals came into existence.

7.     It led to growth of towns e.g. Pretoria, Johannesburg.

8.     The whites conquered some Africans states as their military strength increased.

9.     There was an influx of British settles called Uitilanders into Transvaal.

10.  Britain encircled the Boer states so as to occupy them.

11.  Britain imperialism increased and they fronted the idea of a federation, which the Boers rejected.

12.  It led to the Anglo-Boer wars of 1880-1881, 1895 and 1899-1902.

13.  It led to loss or destruction of property between the Boers the British.

14.  It strengthened Boer nationalism and unity. -

15.  It led to rise of new strong men e.g. Paul Kruger and Cecil Rhodes.

 

How the Minerals Affected The Boer-British Relationship

1.       The relation ship was hostile i.e. the Boers and the British became bitter enemies.

2.       The 1871 kaete award, which took the minerals and land away from the Boers, was hated by the Boers.

3.       Later the British annexed Griqualand and threatened to annex Boer areas e.g. Transval and Orange Free State.

4.       As British imperialism grew the Boer states were encircled by the British.

5.       Paul Kruger started mistreating the Uitilanders.

6.       The Uitilanders were denied political rights and civil rights.

7.       Kruger treated the uitilanders harshly because he feared their increasing population.

8.       Cecil Rhodes and his British South African Company as a result increased colonial scheme against the Boers.

9.       The British proposed a federation of white South Africa which Boers refused.

10.     The British also united with the uitilanders so as to destroy the Boer power.

11.     The British also got Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe to encircle the Boers.

12.     The Boers and the British fought each other in the first Anglo Boer war, Jameson's raid and the second Anglo - Boer war.

13.     After 1910, the Boers and the British united to persecute Africans after the act of union.