British Imperialism: South Africa

European occupation of South Africa began with the Dutch in 1652, why they founded Cape Town as a place for ships to refuel on their way to the East Indies. This Dutch colony grew very large over time (about the next 150 years), and eventually in the early 1800s, the British captured it. Now that the British controlled this colony in South Africa, many people left it, mass migrating to the north primarily. These Boers, as they were known to be, formed three new territories: the Orange Free State, Natal, and the Transvaal. As this occurred, the Boers came into communication with the native empire already located in the region: the Zulu. In 1879, the Boers teamed up with the British to defeat the Zulu, and destroy their empire, taking over control of all of their lands. Because soon thereafter, diamonds and gold were found in the region, Germany declared a protectorate over the region in the mid 1880s, in hopes of finding opulent mineral reserves. The history of this country, South Africa, was undoubtedly altered by British Imperialism.

The British, when they first began to colonize South Africa, did not impose cultural restraints to a maximum. The British practiced indirect rule over South Africa, primarily because they didn’t have enough manpower to put their own leaders into every country that they colonized. This left local South African rulers with some authority over their lands. The British also decided to allow the Boer populace to continue speaking their native language, Afrikaans, in hopes of ensuring Boer support of the peace. Another matter, though, left the natives upset about their position in society. The only individuals permitted to take part in the voting of government officials and such, were: “males who had lived in the South African Republic for at least seven years” (http://www .workmall.com/wfb2001/south_africa/south_africa_history_british_imperialism_and_the_afrikaners.html). The cultural effects of Imperialism on South Africa, overall, were minimized, with the exception of the law on voting.

The Imperialist effects of Great Britain on South Africa don’t end with their history and culture, but follow through to their economy. A British man named Cecil Rhodes relocated himself to South Africa in 1870. He moved to the diamond fields of the Orange Free State, controlled and operated by the Boers. Soon after moving, Rhodes became interested in the business and economics of the region, becoming engrossed in the production of diamonds. By about 2 decades later, Rhodes almost entirely controlled this industry, exhibiting similar characteristics to a monopoly. In 1899, war broke out between the British and the Boers, with the British eventually prevailing some three or so years later. With this victory, the British transformed the, what was once a Dutch colony, into a mining settlement. Later, in 1910, a constitution united the four regional colonies (Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, the Transvaal, and Natal), into the Union of South Africa. This was significant in history because it caused the economies of all four colonies to combine, creating a single, central economy with an emphasis on mining. This mining characteristic of South Africa brought much wealth to its imposers, the British, and later on in history, despite the fact that in 1908, the British only retained control over Natal. British control over South Africa began in 1878, and ended primarily in 1908, when all they retained control of was Natal.

Other posts on imperialism:

What is Imperialism
The Effects of Imperialism on Foreign Lands
British Imperialism: South Africa
Imperialism Simulation
Historical Review: 20th Century Yugoslavia