The British became the second Europeans to occupy South Africa. They came into the region twice.

The first British occupation took place in 1795 and left in 1802 without doing much.

In 1806 Britain re-occupied the cape until the twentieth century.

(a) Why were the British interested in the Cape?

The British interests in South Africa included the following;

1. Britain feared that the European wars/ Napoleonic wars would spill over into South Africa and destroy her interests.

2. Britain wanted to protect the sea route to India to preserve her commercial Asian Empire.

3. In 1793 France invaded and occupied Holland and King William V. requested the British to protect the cape from being taken by British enemies especially the French.

4. The British were also encouraged by the good relationship that existed between her and the Dutch Crown government.

5. British trade in Europe had been interrupted at Antwerp and the English Coasts risked invasion from France and Holland.

6. The collapse of the Dutch East Indian Company cleared the way for the British invasion.

7. The cape was strategically located half way between India and Europe.

8. The cape was also good for defence and protection of British ships.

9. Britain wanted to protect the many English Farmers settled at the cape.

10. Britain wanted to protect the many English farmers settled at the cape.

11. Britain also sought for prestige.

12. The British also wanted to market their goods at the cape.

13. The cape being half way between Europe and India would act as a calling station for British ships.

14. They wanted to establish a defence post to challenge enemies ships.

15. The 1814 French defeat led to rewarding of the British by giving her the cape.

16. Therefore in 1795 and 1806 Britain twice occupied the cape as a result.

(b) Describe how the British occupied the cape by 1806.

1. The British occupied the cape twice i.e. between 1795 - 1803and 1806-1912.

2. The British occupation of South Africa was through conquest or force.

3. The conquest arose from the French invasion of Holland in1793.

4. Britain panicked because the French now appeared set to dominate her treasured sea route to India.

5. The Dutch monarch who had fled to England then requested the British to safe guard Dutch possessions including the cape.

6. A midst all this confusion DEICO collapsed, making the cape fall vacant. The British thus occupied the cape in 1795 launching sea and land attacks on the cape.

7. The British occupation between 1795-1802 lacked serious activities since they were restricted to the coast and implemented no reform.

8. In 1802 France and Britain signed a peace treaty of Amiens that restored peace between the two enemies.

9. From 1803-1805 thus the cape was under the Botavian rule/ Botavian republic.

10. In 1806 Europe again faced wars caused by France.

11. In these wars France again occupied Holland with the help of the Botavian rulers.

12. Once again this threatened British interests in South Africa.

13. In 1806 Britain once again therefore occupied the cape.

14. General Baird led a fleet of 61 ships to capture the cape.

15. In 1814 the Vienna settlement officially recognised British occupation of South Africa.

(d) How Were the Africans / slaves affected by the British reforms?

(e) How did the Boers respond to the British reforms / Presence?

(f) How was the cape administered between 1803-1806 or during the Botavian Rule?

(c) Describe the reforms made by the British at the cape.

The Cape Administration Between 1803 - 1805

As seen already the British left the cape after the 1802 Peace Treaty with the French. The new administration was known as the Botavian Republic whose leadership now controlled Holland.

1. The cape in this period was under Botavian rulers.

2. The Botavians were liberals having been influenced by the French.

3. For the three years they ruled the cape reforms in law, freedom of worship and education development occurred.

4. They also tried to make the cape administration less conservative and smoother.

5. The administration was placed under General Jan Janssen and Commissioner Jacob Demist Abraham.

6. The senior posts went to the Botavians but the British remained dominant in lower posts of the civil service.

7. The judicial system was reformed and the high court became independent of the executive.

8. Local governments was reformed and Districts were subdivided each under special rulers.

9. Each district had a government representative called a Landrost who acted as a magistrate and kept peace.

10. The Landrost also settled minor cases and acted as a link between the government and settlers.

11. Six elders helped the Landrost whenever he was dealing with civil cases.

12. An officer called a Veld Kotnot who had similar duties with the Landlords headed each subdivision of the district.

13. Trade restrictions were removed and farmers allowed trading in all crops and, areas.

14. The Khoikhoi were also given some of their land back and treated fairer.

15. Slave labour was reduced and the Botavians started encouraging white labour.

16. Freedom of worship was extended to all religions.

17. Education, which emphasised thought and discussion, was extended in the colony.

18. New agricultural projects were started and merino sheep imported from Spain and Australia.

The British reforms from 1806-1835

The British Instituted changes in the economy, religion (church), language, press, judiciary and general administration.

Changes in the economy

1. In 1825 a new paper based on the British pound replaced the Dutch rix dollar.

2. Henceforth salaries of government officials were reduced greatly.

3. Expenditure on public works was reduced and the policy of giving financial help to immigrants stopped.

4. All trade restrictions on the farmers were removed.

In the church

Language and Education

The Press

Judiciary

Administration

1. By 1825 an advisory council was set up comprising of the Governor, the chief justice and colonial secretary.

2. The advisory council advised the governor and by 1827 was accommodating two colonists on its board.

3. In 1834 the legislative council replaced the advisory council with powers to debate and pass laws.

4. The Africans were also given more liberty socially, politically and economically.

5. In 1811 the Black circuit courts were introduced to deal with Boer cruel masters and some Africans worked as interpreters in these courts.

6. In 1828 the British introduced the 50th ordinance that restored civil rights of Africans.

7. In 1812 the apprenticeship code was declared to regulate masters teaching Africans a trade.

8. In 1816 slaves had to be registered and 1834 slavery was abolished.

9. In 1823 slave working hours were reduced and Sunday was declared a resting day for prayers.

10. Africans were encouraged to take paid employment wherever they so wished.

11. All land was to be mapped, surveyed, fenced and land titles issued.

12. The Khoikhoi got back part of their stolen land by the 1828 land law.

13. The Hottentot law abolished the carrying of passbooks by the Khoikhoi.

Effects of The Changes On Africans

1. Africans gained more liberty and freedom since they were treated as human beings.

2. Africans acquired their land back from the Boers.

3. Africans got more rest as the working hours were reduced.

4. Africans gained paid employment and-many left the Boer farms where they were harshly treated.

5. Africans acquired education especially from the missionary centres.

6. Special schools were set up to encourage the Education of the Africans.

7. Africans were given accommodation and it became expensive for the Boers to retain Africans as slaves.

8. Africans got freedom of worship and were allowed to attend Sunday services.

9. African slaves got registered after 1816 and were freed after 1834.

10. The 50th ordinance restored African civil rights and they were declared equal to the Boers/whites.

11. African freedom of movement was restored as pass laws were abolished.

12. Africans became interpreters in court and could also report their masters for ill treatment.

13. Africans were more hated by the Boers even leading to their great trek in 1835.

(a) How were the slaves affected by the reforms?

(b) How were the whites (Boers) affected by the reform?

Boer reaction to the British reforms and presence

1. The Boers were not at all happy about the reforms since they disrupted their way of life. The Boers thus resented British presence at the cape.

2. Boers on the eastern and northern boarder were dissatisfied with British administration.

3. Boers rebelled at GraafReinet and Swellendam in 1795 claiming for independence.

4. Boers rebelled after the slatcher's neck incident where rebellious Boers were hanged

5. The Boers disliked the- British government for demanding a lot of taxes yet they gave few services.

6. They hated English laws, which gave equality to non-whites e.g. the 50th ordinance and the charter of justice.

7. Slave abolition 1834 caused hatred and resentment towards the British since even the compensation was little.

8. They hated the British Moravian missionaries because of tempting slave labour away from the Dutch farms.

9. They became suspicious of British plans of importing Presbyterian ministers from Scotland to replace Dutch church ministries.

10. They opposed the new administrative reforms especially the English legal system.

11. They resented being brought to court and be accused by their slaves.

12. They resented missionary acts of educating Africans and their gospel of brother hood.

13. They rejected the abolition of the Dutch dollar and the new replacement of the English pound.

14. They rejected English as an official language.

15. They were not prepared to accept the new land policies of the British.

16. They opposed the new educational system, the freedom of worship and the press Liberties.

17. They treated the Africans more harshly than before the coming of the British.

18. They trekked into the interior to avoid British interference.