History of the Colony of the Cape

The history of the Colonie of the Cape in South Africa begins in 1488 when the navigator Portuguese Bartolomeu Dias, reached the Cape of Good Hope (baptized Cape of the storms ) then when in 1497, Vasco de Gama crosses it to find the way towards the road of the Indies.

It is necessary to wait however more than one century before a European power plans to establish a permanent establishment to with it.

In March 1647, the survivors of the shipwreck of the Dutch ship, the Nieuwe Haarlem , are the first Europeans to be settled durably (and involuntarily) out of South-African ground. After being helped at the end of one year, some of them, to their return in Holland, manage to convince the Dutch Compagnie of the Eastern Indies ( VOC ) to install a permanent establishment charged there to supply the ships of the company.

Colonization Dutchwoman

The April 6th 1652, with the command of five ships of the VOC (named Reijer , Oliphant , Goede Hoop, Walvisch , Dromedaris ), the captain Jan van Riebeeck reached bay of the Montagne of the Table close to the peninsula of the Cape of Good Hope, with the south-western point of the Africa. After having lost some 130 people during the voyage, it is only with 90 pioneers including only 8 women that it founds the Cape, the city-mother of the future Republic of South Africa, then simple commercial counter on the road of the Indies.

At the time, the peninsula of the Cape is populated only by a few hundreds of Khoïkhoï (called Hottentots by the Netherlanders), wandering people with which the Netherlanders intend to trade to obtain meat. A fort was also set up and of the arranged gardens around, to guarantee resources fraiches. The first times were nevertheless difficiles ; thus nineteen Netherlanders did not spend the first winter.

Jan van Riebeeck was not to establish a colony but a relay establishment for the ships on the way towards the Eastern Indies. Nevertheless, to increase the agricultural production of the colony in order to nourish the population and to ensure the supply of the ships, it recommended that colonists are released their obligations with respect to the company and are authorized with to settle as farmer in the Cape and to trade. It is in February 1657 which the company delivered thus its first authorizations with nine (ex-) employed to be established freely along the Liesbeek river. Those were going to create a class of Dutch owner of free farmers ( vrijburgher or “franc-middle-class man”) simply called burghers .

The station became operational in 1659 before Van Riebeeck does not leave the Cape in 1662 to set out again towards the Eastern Indies. With its departure, the embryo of colony counted 134 paid Company of the Indies Orientales, 35 colonists free, 15 imported women, 22 children and 180 slaves.

In 1679, the town of Stellenbosch is founded in homage to the new commander of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, craftsman of the economic development of the small colony.

In 1685, the number of these colonists is of 800. They are primarily farmers, craftsmen or warehousemen. Their education is summary. They are joined in 1688 by 238 Huguenot S driven out of the villages of the South-Luberon in France by the revocation of the Édit of Nantes and installed by the commander Simon van der Stel in the valley of Olifantshoek to develop to with it the Viticulture on grounds rich in alluvium. These new colonists are cultivated and will very strongly mark of their print the South-African white culture.

At that time, the field of the Colonie of the Cape is restricted with the area which extends from Muizenberg on the Indian Ocean with the mountains of Steenberg and Wynberg. Simon van der Stel, in addition named governor of the Cape in 1691, will transform all the area by conceding grounds with the colonists in order to develop the cultures and to make plant more than eight thousand trees. In 1699, Willem Adriaan van der Stel succeeded his/her father as governor of the Cape. Arrogant, imbus of its person, it undertakes to monopolize the most advantageous commercial contracts. Its behavior and its ostentatious love of the money ended up scandalizing its managed. Thus, 63 of them referred about it to the higher authorities of the Company and in 1706, the first demonstration of distrust towards the autocratic government is organized in the Cape whereas a certain white nationalism develops. Thus, the young person Hendrik Bibault publicly refuses to obey the injunctions of an alleging judge that it was not Dutch any more but African (Afrikaner). At the end of the day, Adriaan van der Stel is revoked and expelled of the Company.

The colony will thrive during all the 18th century, pushing back always more towards the east and north its borders. Of 1688 with 1708, the population of European origin thus has triplet to reach: 1723 individuals to which were added: 1771 slaves. During this expansion towards the interior of the grounds, of many Khoikhoi were decimated, sometimes during fatal fixings with the wandering colonists but much at the time of epidemic S of Variole, in particular in 1713 and 1755. So certain tribes are maintained with the variation white men and preserve to them Indépendance, the majority however are incorporated in the colonial company and are established close to the cities or are recruited in the farms like labor at a cheap rate.

In 1787, the Dutch government imposes a new legislation forcing Khoikhoi nomads either on sédentariser close them firm or to be left the colony and to be established beyond the colonial border. The latter will run up against the Bushman S established between the mountains of Sneeuwberg and the Orange river. Bushmen are them-also victims of the colonial expansion at the 18th century. Close to: 3000 of them are captured or killed at the time of operations of reprisals carried out by commandos of Dutch peasants.

But at the 18th century, the most important conflicts relate to the relations between the colonists and the company Dutchwoman of the Indies Orientales. After the business of the revolt of the colonists against Adriaan van der Stel, the Company had decided to stop the Immigration Dutchwoman in the colony to limit the utility of the Cape to its function of station of supply. For this purpose, the Company had also undertaken to monopolize the outlets for trade of the colony, to fix the prices of the local productions and to impose an administration more and more meddles and litigious. Also having the judicial and legislative powers, it unilaterally imposed its policy and its tax system to the free colonists. Its acknowledged goal was to plan the local economy and to discourage any development of industry or any individual spirit of initiative which it could not control. This restrictive policy of harassing was going however to encourage the spirit Libertarien in the free colonists and the native Dutch peasants of the colony, henceforth called Boer S. The latter then sought to escape oppressive control from the Company and crossed the borders to be established out of its jurisdiction. They were called Trekboers or quite simply Trekkers.

Thus, in 1730, they settle with Mossel Bay then reach the Gamtoos river in 1765, Cambedoo in 1770 and the river Great Fish in 1778.

In order to control this interior emigration that she disapproved, the Company each time fixes of new borders located beyond the most important establishments boers. Thus in 1745, it annexes Swellendam and names there a representative then in 1786, seizes Graaff-Reinet, town of border located in full desert of Karoo at more than thousand kilometers at the North-East of the city of the Cape.

The expansion of Trekboers increased the risks of conflicts with the indigenous tribes emigrating of central Africa towards the south and the west of the South Africa. Those lived with some: 1500 kilometers of the Cape on the Atlantic coast and to 700 kilometers in the east in the interior of the grounds but several tribes started to approach the zones where lived Trekboers. In 1779 take place the first skirmishes between indigenous Boers and tribes Xhosa S for the possession of cattle in the border zones (first Cafre war). In 1780, in order to avoid these incipient conflicts, the Dutch governor Joaquim van Plettenberg fixed border-is to it Colony of the Cape to the river Great Fish and the Gamtoos river. But Trekkers quasi-immédiatement crossed it in direction of the coasts of the Natal, in spite of the opposition Dutchwoman.

In 1781, in the search of new pastures, Xhosas also cross the River Great Fish and plunder the border region of Zuurveld. In response, Boers are organized in Commando and push back Xhosas beyond the river Great Fish. The conflict takes again eight more years later.

In 1795, Boers of the districts of border, badgered by multiple local wars with tribes coming from the east, expelled the representatives of the Company and declared their independence with Swellendam and Graaff Reinet.

The population of European origin of South Africa counts then: 20000 people and is exceeded by that of the slaves (: 25000 individuals).

Slavery

The colony of the Cape imported slaves coming from Madagascar and Indonesia as from the XVIIe century.

In 1657, the first slaves were imported of Batavia of Ceylon and Madagascar to be used with the construction of the Infrastructure S of the colony or to be distributed between the landowners whereas several forwardings were organized to recognize the interior of the grounds. At the end of the 17th century, slaves are still imported of Guinea, of Madagascar, Angola and Java to mitigate the shortage of manpower.

The colony of the Cape accepted approximately: 4300 slaves between 1652 and 1795. Of 1795 with 1807, the traffic amounted to 200 or 300 slaves per annum. It is estimated on the whole that: 20000 with: 50000 slaves were imported. These slaves were employed primarily in the agricultural activities, but also in the brothels of the colony of the Cape. They revolted by twice in 1808 and 1825.

Slavery will be abolished in the colony in 1834 (See sub-chapter 3.1).

The taking possession by the British

Whereas in Europe, the territories of the Netherlands were yielded to the France (treated $the Hague of the May 16th 1795) which annexed them at the beginning of 1796, the government of the Royaume of Great Britain ordered to make safe the colonies Dutchwomen in order to prevent that they do not fall under the influence from the French. The General James Henry Craig was then sent to the Cape with the head of a military quota. Dutch tried a time to resist but their Khoikhoi deserted and joined the British army. In Graaff Reinet, Boers also tried to resist but the British army put an end to their rebellion. They sporadically revolted still in 1799 and 1801 whereas a third Cafre war burst with Xhosas.

During the British occupation, the Craig General places fine at the many antiquated disposal imposed by the Company. He in particular makes abolish the Torture which was still a legal means of recourse of justice to obtain consents.

In February 1803, under the terms of the terms of the Peace of Amiens, the Colony of the Cape is reassigned with the Batavian République but in January 1806, three months after Trafalgar, the colony was again occupied by the British.

The Colony of the Cape extends then on: 194000 square kilometers and account a little more: 60000 inhabitants of which some: 25000 White, mainly of the Boer S of origin free-germano-Dutchwoman: 15000 Khoisans: 25000 slaves and thousands of free men (former released slaves of their constraint). A study relating to the origins of the population afrikaner in 1807 distributed at the time this one in Dutch (36,8%), states of German language (35%), French (14,6%), not white (7,2%), others (2,6%), unspecified (3,5%) and British (0,3%).

The colony is then managed by an authority in fact during eight years. Starting from 1807, it is attached to the Colonial Office , represented locally by a governor. Not less than six British governors follow one another a station compared to a “tomb of reputations”. Nevertheless, it is during this administration that Protestant missions Anglicans settle in South Africa whose Company missionary of London (LMS) and undertake to come to assistance, to protect, of advising and converting the local tribes hottentotes.

In 1809, they thus obtain from the Caledon governor the creation of Work contract envisaging a regular Salaire for any use of Hottentot individual.

In 1812, the missionaries having affirmed that the colonists maltreated their servants hottentots, a meticulous investigation is ordered by the Colonial Office whereas the travelling courts receive the order of the Cradock governor to judge the complaints deposited by Hottentots against their employers and that the audiences would be public.

These projections cause the irritation of the Boer S. Some of them are actually shown by Hottentots of murder, cruel treatments or non-payment of the pledges and wages. Also, on 62 shown Europeans, 8 were condemned for violences and several tens for nonpayment of the wages. Only one was sent to the Cape where the Superior court pronounced the Capital punishment (it was finally grâcié). But in Veld, Boers perceived these stops of courts like the proof of a hostility of the British administration in their opposition and of an attack to their freedoms although at the same time, they fought the intrusions kaffirs on the side of the river Great Fish at the side of the British army.

At the time of the treaty of Paris of 1814, the the United Kingdom (the Kingdom of Great Britain having become the United Kingdom in 1801) acquired officially and definitively the Colony of the Cape.

British colonization

Inventory of fixtures

In 1815, the tensions between Boers and authorities British cross a new step following the death of Frederic Bezuidenhout. This young person boer of the interior had to refuse to go to a legal convocation and had been condemned by defect. A detachment of police force made up of four White and twelve Hottentots was sent to stop it. It resisted and it was killed by one of Hottentots armed. The brother of the victim shouted with the assassination and managed to raise an about sixty farmers, decided to avenge Frederic Bezuidenhout. Perceived like rebels, they in their turn were pursued. Driven back with rendering, they passed in judgment. Five of them were condemned to death. The March 9th 1816, they were hung in Slachters Neck. Four will be it twice, the cord having broken under their weights. This episode will remain a long time one of the reasons for acrimony of Boers towards the British.

On the southernmost border, the tensions persist between Xhosas and Boers although attempts are made to alleviate the relations between the two communities. Starting from 1817, a large annual fair making it possible to put in contact white merchants and Xhosas is organized with before station of Graham' S town. In 1819, a new war of border concluded by the annexation with the Colony from the Cape from the territories located upstream from the Fish river to the Keiskamma river, driving back Xhosas in the north of this border.

The first British waves of immigration in South Africa begin in the years 1817 - 1819. The governor Charles Somerset then wishes to strengthen the border is with the Xhosas territories. It is accordingly that he undertakes to intensify the colonization of the area border of Zuurveld located upstream of the Sundays river and downstream from the river Great Fish. In 1820, with the support of Lord Somerset and of the British Parliament, close to: 4000 English colonists emigrate in this area at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Mainly of former urban unemployed who appeared poor farmers, they were established for the majority as craftsmen and tradesman with Port Elizabeth, then a small village of bay of Algoa and with Grahamstown, then British garrison. This new emigration of “honest subjects of Its Majesty” makes it possible to make counterweight with the descendants of Dutch, restive colonists with the new administration. It makes it possible moreover to anglicize the colony.

In 1822, the Dutch loses its statute of official language in the courts and the governmental services. It moves back in the school and religious fields. The process of anglicisation is moving whereas the Dutch patois, also called Afrikaans, is disparaged and reserved to the bumpkins of the borders.

In 1828, the English becomes the only official language for the administrative and religious businesses. Hottentots are also seen recognizing the equal rights with the white.

In the years 1820, the free trade movement had become extensive with the the United Kingdom. It leads in 1834 to the emancipation of all the slaves of the Colony of the Cape. To alleviate the spirits, the governor, Sir Benjamin D' Urban founds a legislative council of twelve members supposed to allow managed of the Cape to discuss public affairs.

The pecuniary compensations for the emancipation of the slaves did not satisfy the former owners of slaves and in 1835, several thousands of Boers farmers decided to break any bond with the Colony of the Cape and to be exiled inside the grounds to found an independent republic boer. It is the Grand Trek.

In a few years, close to: 15000 boers thus leave the Colony of the Cape for the unknown factor. Many leaves thus Graaff-Reinet in convoys carried out by elected chiefs, generally charismatic. Those will lead them to Native then later towards north where they found the Republic of South Africa of Transvaal and the free State of Orange.

British cafrery

During this time, on border-is, the skirmishes were increasingly violent. The December 11th 1834, a chief of Xhosa high ranking is killed at the time of a raid of the commandos boers. The brother of the victim then raises in the tread an army of: 10000 warriors, crosses the Keiskamma river, Eastern border of the Colony of the Cape, carries out a systematic plundering of the farms and cuts down cough those which resist. Not only the white farmers are aimed but also the Khoikhoi farmers established close to the Kat river. The governor Sir Benjamin d' Urban reacts quickly and sends in the area a military quota under the command of Colonel Harry Smith. This one reached Grahamstown the January 6th 1835. For nine months, severe combat oppose British troops and the Xhosas warriors. The May 10th 1835, Smith proclaims the annexation of the area located upstream of the Keiskamma river and downstream from the Kei river under the name of province of the Queen Adelaide, in homage to the wife of King Guillaume IV. The annexation of this area to the Colony of the Cape is repudiated by the Secretary of State to the colonies. The December 10th 1835, the province is then displaced in district of the Queen Adelaide while waiting for that the statute of the territory is fixed. Finally, the principle of restoring the area with the natives, defended by the Secretary of State to the colonies, Lord Glenelg, is approved by London. In 1836, Sir Durban, which was favorable to the annexation, must withdraw its troops of the buffer zone and install them on the border located at the Keiskamma river.

The September 17th 1838, a peace treaty is signed between the British authorities and the Xhosas representatives.

During this time, large the trek of Boers had led the governor of the Cape, under the impulse of the missionaries Anglicans, to recognize a certain number of indigenous States, to withdraw them from any covetousness of Boers. Thus at the northern border of the Colony of the Cape, the first treaties were signed with Gricquas in 1843 - 1844 for the recognition of the Western Griqualand whereas in center-is, Basothos were placed under a mode of semi British Protectorat.

In March 1846, the murderous attack by Xhosas of a military escort Khoikhoi leads to a new war Cafre and the defeat of the Xhosas warriors by the Somerset General the June 7th 1846 with Gwangu. The war still lasts some time until the rendering of Sandili, the Xhosa chief of the tribe of Ngqika.

The December 17th 1847, the district is annexed and takes the British name of Cafrerie. Harry Smith, lately appointed governor, announces that it will separately be managed Colony of the Cape as a possession of the British Crown.

The borders north of the Colony of the Cape are then delimited by the Orange river and in the east, by Cafrerie Britannique.

In 1850, Xhosas are raised again after Smith made relieve recalcitrant Sandili of his function of chief of the Ngqika tribe to temporarily replace it by a British magistrate. The December 24th, the escort of Colonel George Mackinnon is attacked by Xhosas whereas the colonists established in the frontier villages are attacked by surprise. The majority are killed and their burnt farms. The governor Harry Smith, present in the area, itself is encircled with his escort with Fort Cox. He manages to take refuge with King William' S Town under the fire of the Xhosas warriors, armed with the rifles. In same time, more than 900 Khoikhois, until there of former soldiers loyal supporters towards the British, join the Xhosas warriors. They assert the establishment of a Khoikhoi Republic.

The war lasted a few years with the Amatolas mountains for principal battle field. Meanwhile, in 1852, Sir Harry Smith had been recalled to the the United Kingdom. The Cathcart Lieutenant-General succeeded to him. Xhosas were finally expelled of the Amatolas mountains and in March 1853, the solidified border. British Cafrerie then changed statute to become a colony of the Crown. The Xhosas chiefs are then placed under the supervision of the British advisers.

In 1856, an young girl xhosa named Nongqawuse announced to have had the vision that the power of Xhosas would be restored, the multiplied cattle and the driven out White. She affirmed that this forecast would be carried out only if, in preliminary, all the cattle were cut down, burned harvests and the destroyed food reserves. Member of an important xhosa family, it was heard and the xhosas chiefs ordered to proceed to the destruction cattle and harvests. The death of the Cathcart lieutenant-general in the Crimea was interpreted like a sign heralding.

At the awaited date of the August 11th 1856, the prediction was not carried out whereas 85% of the cattle had been cut down. The fault was charged by it to recalcitrant and of violent quarrels completed to plunge the area in misery and the Famine. To survive, several thousands of Xhosas had other choices to only resort to the Cannibalisme whereas others fled towards the Colony of the Cape to beseech helps. In the final analysis, this fatal famine killed more: 50000 Xhosas in six months what signed the end of the wars kaffirs on the Eastern border of the colony. The population of Cafrerie passed in two years of: 105000 with less: 27000 individuals.

The depopulated grounds are then allotted to more: 6000 European immigrants of origin German be including one certain number were former members of the Germanic legion which had fought at the side of the British at the time of the Crimean War.

In 1866, all the territory of British Cafrerie is incorporated in the Colony of the Cape to form the districts of King William' S Town and of East London. The transfer is marked by the lifting of the Prohibition towards the natives of these districts.

The development of the colony

During this time, the colony had continued to thrive whereas the United Kingdom had initialized a new active policy of immigration towards South Africa.

As of the end of the year 1830, a legislation on the state education is adopted as well as a legislation as regards public roadway system. Wine industry develops and is modernized as well as the breeding. In 1846, the wool is the first product of export of the colony.

In 1848, the colonial office decides to make of the Cape a penal settlement for the Irish recognized guilty of crimes and offenses. Following the violent reaction of the colonists, whereas the first ship penitentiary approached the South-African coasts, the governor Harry Smith decided, to preserve civil peace, to prohibit to accosting the prisoners at the time of their arrival with Simon' S Bay the September 19th 1849. At the end of five months of blocking, the Colonial Office then decided to divert the ship towards the Tasmanie. While refusing to be a penal settlement, South Africa deprived itself then of all a new category of population which was going to take part in the development of the European Communities of Australia and of Tasmanie. Managed Colony of the Cape benefitted nevertheless from this episode to claim new rights, in particular that to self-manage itself.

In 1852 - 1854, the borders are fixed with the republics of Transvaal and Orange. The Colony of the Cape has from now on neighboring states controlled by descendants of Europeans.

The March 11th 1854, the Colony of the Cape east from now on itself equipped with a Constitution with a Parliament elected, legislating on the interior matters. This one envisages the establishment of two assemblies whose members are elected with the Suffrage censitaire. The minimum of property to vote with the Lower House is thus very weak (25 pounds) allowing 80% male population to exert its right to vote. The selection of the voters of the Upper House is more rigorous and requires to already have a certain fortune (of: 2000 with: 4000 pounds).

The equality of the races, recognized since 1828, is reaffirmed. Thus, a great number of Métis (55% of the population of the Cape) finds full voter with the Lower House. No restriction as for the Illétrisme is envisaged either.

It is as in 1854 as Sir George Grey is named governor of the Colony of the Cape for which it decides to give a new more ambitious political orientation. Until there, no governor had shown real regional ambition for the colony. This one had increased besides only because of migration of the colonists or to preserve civil peace. The Orange river was a political, diplomatic and economic border that the various successive governors had refused to cross until the establishment of the Republics boers. In 1858, the Grey governor proposed the establishment of a South-African confederation including all South Africa, including the Republics the indigenous boers and territories. Its ambitious proposal was immediately disallowed by London. Sir George Grey then undertakes to develop the infrastructures truck drivers. With the support of the missionaries like Robert Moffat and of the Exploring S like David Livingstone, it opens a road towards the Bechuanaland, beyond the Orange river and of the desert of Karoo. He also undertakes to begin integration with from Xhosas, made flexible after the famine of 1857, in their granting a beginning of State education nonobligatory of British type.

As it leaves the Cape in 1861, George Grey leaves a more prosperous colony. Its policy large Public works including Stopping S.A. allowed the colony to be modernized. Mines of Cuivre start to be exploited in small Namaqualand, the woolen manufacturing industry is profit and the Native one became a colony of the Crown. The Railroads start to develop with the launching of the first line the Cape Wellington. In 1869, the breeding of Autruche S becomes a new prosperous activity of the colony and takes part in the economic development of the area of Oudtshoorn.

By comparison, in the years 1860, the economy of the Republics boers is autarkical and primitive whereas the administration and the infrastructures are quasi-non-existent, in particular in Transvaal.

In 1865, the Colony of the Cape counts: 180000 inhabitants of European origin whereas all South Africa counts in the neighborhoods: 250000 White. It also counts: 200000 mongrels and Hottentots like: 100000 Bantou S, benches mainly in the Eastern area of the colony. European immigration remains lower than the forecasts. Thus between 1820 and 1860, the average of the immigrants does not exceed 750 people per annum although the South-African white population doubled between 1820 and 1835. The increase in population is thus primarily due to the birthrate. The European settlement of South Africa forever have priority only it is under the administration Dutchwoman that British although the latter have reactivates an active immigration policy to make South-African territory a colony of settlement. But for strategic reasons, the British government and the Colonial Office stuck firstly to the settlement of the Canada and the Australia. Thus, it was not astonishing that the ships assigned to the service road of the Colony of the Cape were of number more restricted and that sometimes, those were reallocated to serve other destinations.

Annexations of territories

In 1868, Basothos in war against Boers of the free Orange State require and obtain British nationality. Two years later, the Basutholand is annexed to the Colony of the Cape.

In 1871, following the diamond discovery in the area of Kimberley, the Western Griqualand is annexed.

From 1875, the indigenous territories, upstream of the Kei river and downstream from Edward Port in the British colony of Native, are gradually annexed to the Colony of the Cape without these territories for all being as much opened with the Colonisation. The Fingoland is annexed as of 1875 then the Griqualand-is in 1879. It is then the turn of the Gcalekaland and the Bomvanaland in 1885, of the Thembuland in 1886 and of the Pondoland in 1894. Reorganized in districts and managed using indigenous councils ( Native Council ), these territories are gradually unified within a general advice of the Transkei.

An expansionist policy

From 1867, South Africa starts to know a rush towards the Diamant. Until perceived there in Europe like a poor and dangerous region, the basement of the area reveals its potential richnesses. The British colonists are the first to be profited from emergence of industry diamantère but it is of all the countries of Europe and even of America that affluent of the thousands of adventurers and prospectors in diamond search. Among these adventurers a young British come to South Africa for health reasons appears and which makes fortune on the fields of Kimberley : Cecil Rhodos.

In the years 1870, the plan of South-African confederation of Sir George Grey is re-studied by the duke of Carnavon, the secretary with the colonies, after the success of its action plan in favor of a Canadian federation. It is for this purpose that in 1872, the government representative of the Cape is replaced by a government responsible before the Parliament for the Colony. The governor has a statute of Head of constitutional State whose capacities are limited concerning the interior matters of the colony but he is also the High-Commissioner of South Africa and for this reason, person in charge of the relations of Great Britain with the states and populates area. In 1875, Carnavon undertakes to make sell a project of federation to the South-Africans concerned with British sovereignty. He even proposes to divide the colony of the Cape into two federate states whose its proposals all are disallowed at the time of the organized conference with London in August 1876.

In April 1877, Transvaal at the edge of the Banqueroute is annexed by Great Britain. Carnavon required then of Sir Bartle Frere, the new governor of the Colony of the Cape and High-Commissioner in South Africa, to carry out the South-African confederation.

At once arrived at the Cape, little before April 12th, 1877, Frere must however make face disorders in Zoulouland, with Native but also at the border of the still independent Xhosas territories. The revolt of the tribes Galekas and Gaikas leads to a ninth unexpected war kaffir and the annexation in fine of the Gcalekaland to the Colony of the Cape. Monopolized by these wars, Frere cannot present the project of confederation which is abandoned after the resignation of Lord Carnarvon of his functions.

But the abandonment of the project of confederation, which was well perceived among various tribes xhosas or sothos, leads to new revolts and rising, in particular in Basutholand. In the final analysis, this one becomes a colony with whole share of the British crown in 1882 and in 1884, the Colony of the Cape is raised of the administration of the territories transkeiens.

Afrikaner Jump and Cecil Rhodos

In 1881, Transvaal finds its autonomy at the price of a concomitant general rising to the rise in the Cape of a Nationalisme of the speakers of language Afrikaans, the Afrikaner S. In 1875, a group of teachers and pastors had formed a cultural movement of claim, the “Association of Afrikaners truths” whose objective was to defend and to impose the Afrikaans on the side of English like official language of the colony. In 1876, a review in Afrikaans, Die Afrikaanse Patriot , was published. In 1881, Afrikaners of the Cape meet in Graaff-Reinet where they found the union afrikaner (Afrikaner Bond), partisane of the inclusion of the Republics boers and of the Colony of the Cape. The party is also established in Transvaal and in govuernement of Paul Kruger. Initially unit, the Jump ends however up splitting up between several political currents. Some are loyal supporters and patriotic towards the Crown, others promote the insubordination and resistance. The league of the Cape is dissociated in particular from the leagues of republican tendencies. Resting on a néo- Calvinism rigorous inspired of the theories of Abraham Kuyper, the global project of Afrikaner Bond is to establish a South-African nationality for a sovereign country, directed by Afrikaners. The country would defend its own interests and not those of the European metropolis, that it is in the political arenas, economic and commercial. The United Kingdom would remain a privileged partner.

In 1882, the Parliament of the Cape authorizes the use of the Dutch at parliamentary sessions. This return of Dutch on the public place which was at the beginning a liberal measurement of political expansion causes to stimulate the Jump. The obligation of good knowledge English speech to be elected appointed is removed shortly after for a certain number of seats what allows the election of Afrikaners of the back country the Parliament.

The development of the Afrikander Jump in the Colony of the Cape benefits then from these liberal measurements. The Jump is then directed by charismatic the Jan Hofmeyr, appointed Stellenbosch. Defender within the colony of the expansionist policy of the president of Transvaal, Paul Kruger, Hofmeyr ends up incarnating the Jump although it moves away from the line original neo-calvinist and the mystical nationalism of the beginning. Adopting a pragmatic line, Hofmeyr defends a South-African nationalism gathering Afrikaners and Britanniques. If they think that the indigenous are politically and socially lower than the White, it defends however the Right to vote in favor of the black elites.

In 1883, the deputy of Barkly West and business man ambitious, Cecil Rhodos, approaches Hofmeyr and asks him to reflect on a project of Sovereign state named “the United States of South Africa”. Rhodos is a British imperialist and an advised politician. It knows that its political career can evolve/move more or less favorably according to its relationship with Afrikaners of the Cape. This is why it firmly defended the use of Dutch within the Parliament and in 1884, it is found for six months treasurer-general in the government of Sir Thomas Scanlen. Indeed, to this date, the influence of the Jump at the Parliament manages to reverse the government of Sir Scanlen. Hofmeyr is had a presentiment of to succeed to him but he refuses and prefers to support an Irish lawyer, Thomas Upington. The refusal of Hofmeyr is perceived by the English loyal supporters as a violation of the parliamentary Régime since the main leader of party at the Parliament prefers not to assume his responsibilities, to name a man of straw in his place and to thus direct in writing pad the policy of the government.

In the facts, of 1881 with 1898, the Jump is the Almighty. Hofmeyr just like determines the votes of the Dutch deputies (afrikaners) of the Parliament of the Cape it initiates the policy of the Jump and influence that of the government, even after its resignation of the Parliament of the Cape in 1895.

Customs union and industrial development

In 1888, the Parliament of the Cape votes in favor of the establishment of a South-African customs union. It is the first stone of a process having the aim of leading to a South-African Federation. The British colonies of Southern Africa there are also included gradually but the Republic boer of the free Orange State which adheres in 1889 to it. Transvaal of the president Paul Kruger however refuses to adhere to it. In fact, it tries to disenclose its country and more not to depend on the British with launching of construction on a railroad connecting Transvaal to bay on Delagoa to the Mozambique Portuguese.

The railway network of South Africa had developed much with the prospection of the diamond mines. As from the years 1880, the economic system based on the exploitation of gold and the diamond and which was going henceforth to dominate South Africa was set up.

Lines had been open connecting to the Cape the main cities of the colony like Worcester, Beaufort West, Grahamstown, Graaff Reinet, Queenstown and Kimberley. The discovery of the Gold in the Witwatersrand in 1886 prolonged these lines towards Transvaal until Vryburg at the border of Bechuanaland.

This railway expansion had profited from the fusion of the companies diamantères from Cecil Rhodos, Alfred Beit and Barney Barnato in only one company the De Beers, in 1889. This one was a company influential and dominating on the market of the exploitation of diamond and she claimed always more lines to convoy her loadings of men, materials and materials.

In 1889, Bloemfontein, in the free Orange State, is connected by the rail to the Cape. The city was going to become the principal rail junction of South Africa.

Lastly, in 1892, it is with the turn of Pretoria and Johannesburg in Transvaal to be connected to the South-African railway network.

In 1898, the Native one enters the customs union. A single tariff is adopted for all the imported goods and soups within the countries and colonies of the Union. The distribution of the rights is done on the basis of of the equity and contribution of the local production to the development of the territories of the Union.

This industrial development of the colony and the states and territories adjacent had then led to the recruitment of a African labor in the big cities and the mines. It is besides in Kimberley that a policy begins from management of work based on work migrating and the segregation of the residences with the creation of the working quoted first reserved for migrant worker not Blancs. They are the ancestors of the South-African futures Township S.

Cecil Rhodos Prime Minister

In 1890, Cecil Rhodos had received the support of Jan Hofmeyr to occupy the post of Prime Minister in the place of Sir Gordon Sprigg, resigner. Hofmeyr had proposed to him to be the official candidate of the Jump but Rhodos had refused. It obtained nevertheless the confidence of the members of Parliament of the Jump, which were very favorable to his customs policy and of railway construction for the whole of South Africa.

At that time, Bechuanaland and Basutoland had joined the customs union. They were followed by Pondoland in 1894.

Cecil Rhodos was expansionist which had undertaken to connect the Cape to Cairo by the way of the railroad without never leaving a African territory under British sovereignty. It had to this end financed a column of pioneers to annex the territories upstream Transvaal.

The policy of Rhodos towards the indigenous tribes of South Africa, was made ambiguous of a mixture of real considerations and very great firmness. The right to vote was granted to them besides in the Colony of the Cape under the same conditions censitaires that the white but Rhodos imposed in 1892 some particular conditions intended for the natives. Officially aiming at fighting illiteracy by imposing a certain educational level to be able to vote, it expressed for the first time in the colony a concern of the leaders as for the possibility for the natives of being able one day to have sufficient influence at the Parliament to reverse a government of the Western type and to impose its own system of values. On another side, Rhodos fought the Alcoolisme which as far as possible made devastations in the tribes by prohibiting the alcohol sale to the natives and on the mines. It also interfered to put forward out of successional matter and for the matrimonial modes, the tribal laws on those of the colony. By doing this, it legalized thus indirectly the Polygamie.

In 1894, Rhodos implemented project of a commercial and railway federation between the colonies and the States of South Africa, based on the same principle as the customs union. The project hooded following dissensions between the Cape and Transvaal on the railway tariffs. Estimating itself injured by the British tariffs, Kruger thus blocked a multitude of goods and men at the border of Transvaal whereas it strongly taxed the gold bearing insdustrie. A recourse was deposited to the imperial government. In the final analysis, the road was reopened with the traffic but for Rhodos, president Kruger was an enemy of the modernization of South Africa and an obstacle with his project of South-African total union under British sovereignty.

The December 29th 1895, one of its close relations, the doctor Leander Starr Jameson tries at the time of a raid to reverse the government of Transvaal. It is a piteous failure. Jameson is imprisoned and Rhodos, shown to be the author of the raid, is obliged to resign of its station of first minitre. It is then replaced by Sir Gordon Sprigg.

The implication of Rhodos in the coup d'etat is unknown but its probable possibility is denounced very strongly by the Jump and Hofmeyr which are estimated betrayed. Afrikaners of the Cape then start to be wary of the colonial government and to be shown more sensitive to the arguments of Boers of Transvaal.

Walk towards the war

In 1898, the Colony of the Cape is then directed stalemate William Philip Schreiner. It must its maintenance with its capacity be sailed between contradictory political currents which go from the English loyal supporters in Afrikaners of the Jump and who form his parliamentary majority. It is however hostile with any inclination of war with the republics boers and is opposed to the firm policy preached by the Minister for the colonies, Joseph Chamberlain, and Sir Alfred Milner, the high commissioner in the Cape.

President Marthinus Steyn of the free Orange State invited Alfred Milner and Kruger with a conference with Bloemfontein which began the May 30th 1899 to speak about the rights of the uitlanders (foreign) to Transvaal. In June, Schreiner and the parliamentary majority of the Cape accepts the proposals made by Kruger create new electoral constituencies allowing non Boers to take part in the political life of Transvaal. A few days later, at the time of a voyage to Pretoria, Hofmeyr and the Minister for the agriculture of the colony realize that the Parliament of Transvaal drowned the political expansion of Kruger by creating fifteen new electoral constituencies boers vis-a-vis the four conceded by Kruger in the anglophone zones of the Republic. Hofmeyr is made indignant by what it perceives as an unfair failure but its influence is thwarted by the emissary of the free Orange state, Abraham Fischer, which encourages Boers of Transvaal in their resolutions. Hofmeyr having the reputation to be a Diplomatic end and the only able one to influence Kruger, its failure feeds the current warmonger which goes up to the Cape.

Several diplomatic incidents follow one another during the summer 1899 and in September, Chamberlain sent a Ultimatum to requiring Kruger supplements it equality of rights for the British citizens residing at Transvaal. The unavowed but transparent goal of the British warmongers is to seize the mining richnesses of Transvaal and to create a confederation under their control. Kruger, anticipating that the war was inevitable, launched its own ultimatum before to have even received that of Chamberlain. It gave 48 hours to the British to evacuate their troops of the borders of Transvaal or the war would be declared to them in agreement with their ally, the free State of Orange.

The war of Boers

The transitional period towards the South-African unification

The war of Boers had shown a human carnage (: 100000 dead) and an economic disaster in the old republics. More: 130000 Boers like more: 115000 their African allies had been imprisoned but more than one score of thousands of civilians boers and close to: 20000 Africans had died in the Concentration camps British. The defeat had unified the community of language Afrikaans in a claiming nationalism which had gained the Cape.

Whereas Lord Milner envisages to anglicize all South Africa by supporting British immigration, Sir Gordon Sprigg, the Prime Minister progressist of the Cape, restricted this one in the Colony in order to not of advantage precarized the situation of Boers. In fact, he sought to ensure his position near the members of the Jump and showed himself reconciling in their connection more especially as one of his independent measurements taken since the end of the war had been to sign a customs convention binding all the British colonies of South Africa, which granted a preferential treatment to the imported products of the United Kingdom.

It is at that time that African Political Organization is founded (APO), the first national party with scale militant for the rights of nonthe white. Its political base is then mainly composed of Métis of the Cape which asserts equal rights for all the civilized men. The APO remains nevertheless marginalized.

In 1903, Jan Hofmeyr, which had passed the greatest part of its time in Europe during the war of Boers, returned to the Cape to reorganize the Jump and to take part in the general elections. Vis-a-vis him, the doctor Leander Starr Jameson took the direction of the party progressist.

The electoral registers of the colony had been purged of all those which had expressed their supports for Boers and of which some were still imprisoned. Each camp then undertook to obtain the support of the voters of colors, mongrel and Noirs, which in certain districts held the key of the victory. The Jump proposed even with a black journalist, who declined, to be candidate under their colors. The promise of the progressists to expel the Chinese colony carried the favor of the voters of colors which did not appreciate this new competition on the job market. At the time of the elections of January and February 1904, the progressists obtained a majority of 5 seats out of the 95 seats of the Parliament whereas Sir Gordon Sprigg and the former Prime Minister Mr. W.P. Schreiner was beaten by their respective adversaries.

The February 18th, Sir Gordon Sprigg resigned to leave the post of Prime Minister to Doctor Jameson who formed a government Anglophone and anglophile.

Its first filed in bill was an electoral amendment rectifying the disparity between rural district and urban district in order to support the vote of the urban voters, famous loyal supporters towards the Crown. By restricting on-representation of the rural areas, it aimed to restrict the influence of the Jump. The government of Jameson must then face a financial crisis. The preceding government had let the public expenditure fly away and the Budget deficit of the colony to grow hollow. The colony did not have now any more a treasury available obliging the government to carry out severe budgetary cuts in the public expenditure and to increase the taxes and the taxation, in particular of alcoholic drinks.

This policy of budgetary Austérité is not less effective because finances of the colony pass from a deficit of: 731000 pounds sterling in 1904 with a sudden surplus of: 5161 pounds in 1905.

Consequently, the Jameson government undertakes new investments to modernize the Agriculture. New lines of railroads are developed to improve goods transport of the cereal areas.

In March 1905, Lord Selborne succeeds Lord Milner as high commissioner in the Cape. As much imperialist whom his predecessor, it played no role in the war of Boers what makes it possible to facilitate the dialog between Britanniques and Afrikaners.

On the political front, Jameson makes release the former rebels still imprisoned in the name of the national reconciliation and makes expel the Chinese migrants. He also undertakes to maintain positive ratios with the close colonies whereas at the same time, the Jump approaches the political movements afrikaners which reappear in the old Republics boers, in particular Het Volk of the general Louis Botha in Transvaal. In March 1906, at the time of its congress, the Jump adopts a resolution reiterating its fundamental origin with knowing the objective of the unification of Afrikaners and national sovereignty.

Whereas Afrikaners start on their side to speak about unit, the commission inter-colonies of the indigenous businesses recommends to reconsider the political rights granted to the Africans and to colored persons in the Colony of the Cape. The advantageous situation of the indigenous natives of the Colony of the Cape compared to the other colonies then seems an obstacle with the project of South-African Federation. The political consequences on this one, resulting from demographic imbalance between Blacks and White in South Africa, are then considered in the long run just like the consequences of an indigenous rising similar to that of the Herero S in the South-western African German. In 1905, all the natives of the Cape are however not registered on the electoral rolls. Only: 23000 voters of the colony are nonwhite people whereas they constitute the demographic majority of it. The commission recommends ségréguer however the electoral rolls and to grant a number of given seats representing the colored persons and the Africans of the Cape following the example what is practiced then in New Zealand with the Maoris.

Following the called intercolonial conference with Pietermaritzburg with Native in the first months of 1906, a law of Amnistie is adopted restoring the Civic right of: 7000 former rebels boers.

Hustled by a which gallops Inflation and a new financial crisis in 1907, Jameson causes in September 1907 of the anticipated elections, which take place in January 1908 and show the victory of the opposition incarnated by the Jump. At the time of this poll, the progressists had been renamed Unionistes whereas the Jump had gathered with allies in the South-African party. This last gained 17 of the 26 seats of the legislative council.

The January 31st 1908, Jameson resigns of its post of Prime Minister. Its successor is John X. Merriman. This last is however not member of the Jump but a former member of the cabinets of Cecil Rhodos and W.P. Schreiner. It however has the support of Afrikaners. In April, the elections at the legislative assembly, the other room of the Parliament, are a triumph for the Jump. The South-African party gains 69 seats against 33 with Unionistic and 5 with the Independent ones, among which Sir Gordon Sprigg and W.P. Schreiner.

The change of government did not affect the recession which particulièrment affected the sector of wool and that of diamond, the principal South-African productions. The fall of the incomes occurées contributed to accentuate the budget deficit. The Merriman government then undertook to still reduce the public expenditure, in particular by reducing drastiquement the number of Fonctionnaire S and paid public sector and by raising the tariff barriers. It is made unpopular quickly.

Whereas Transvaal and the colony of Orange had found their autonomy in 1907, the Parliament of the Cape approves in 1908 the project of South-African unification.

That which controls national convention joined together with Durban on the unification of South Africa is the general boer Jan Smuts, who with the characteristic to be anglophile. He recommends a unit constitutional system ready to fight against the regional disparities and the inertias garnered by the Bureaucratie. But it had to impose this approach whereas the federal system had many partisans. Several compromises are adopted concerning the choice of the South-African capital (makes three capitals of them), the official languages (Dutch and English), the left right to vote of the natives and other colored persons with the responsibility for each future province and even the standard size of the spacing of the ways for railroad.

The conclusions of the conference were summarized in a resolution final making to figure of constitution project at the summer 1909 and approved unanimously delegates.

The constitution project was ratified by the Parliament of the Cape, that of Orange and Transvaal and with Native by Référendum. The constitution was then submitted to the British Parliament where it was also approved. It is in December 1909 which the king Edouard VII promulgated it and the May 31st 1910, the Colony of the Cape, gathered with Griqualand, Stellaland and British Bechuanaland, became the news the Cape Province to form, at the side of the provinces of the Natal, the Transvaal and the free State of Orange, Union of South Africa.

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