SETTLEMENT OF THE
EUROPEAN AT THE CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA.
MOTIVES FOR BRITISH TO
SETTLE AT THE CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA:
— EXTERNAL
MOTIVES:
¢ The
aftermath of Napoleonic wars to the Dutch.
¢ Need
to protect British route to India.
¢ An
economic reason for investment
¢ The
contribution of renaissance.
¢ Prestigious
reasons
— I
NTERNAL MOTIVES:
¢ Availability
of raw materials at the Cape.
¢ They
wanted to administer the cape.
¢ To
conduct trade.
¢ Need
area for investment.
¢ Need
area for market.
¢ Need
area for settlement.
¢ IMPACTS
OF BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA
— ECONOMIC
IMPACT:
¢ Trade
development.
¢ Land
occupation.
¢ Establishment
of big farms.
¢ Destruction
of indigenous activities.
¢ Emergence
of Heavy industries.
¢ Large
mining companies were formed.
— SOCIAL
IMPACTS:
¢ Depopulation.
¢ Introduction
of New culture.
¢ Inequality
segregation or Discrimination.
¢ Abolition
of slave trade.
— POLITICAL
IMPACTS:
¢ They
created enemity between them and other ethnic groups.
¢ Political
instability.
¢ Introduction
of Apartheid policy in 1948.
¢ British
used to accumulate the African free independent organization.
¢ It
incited enemity between the British and the Boers.
¢ The
occurrence Boer trek.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAPE:
¢ The
word Cape can be defined as the
land projecting into a body of water, or a piece of land jutting
into the sea, so it is modern word which means the land of resting and
this is according to “(English dictionary, Eighth :2010) .
¢ The
historical development of the cape stated during earliest period especially
during renaissance period, when the Portuguese explorer such as, Bartholomew
Dias in 1488, reaches cape. Hence all knowledge of the previous
inhabitant of the region was derived from fossil evidence, rock, and art in the
area.
¢ The
first Europeans to discover the cape were the Portuguese, known as Bartholomew
Dias arriving in1488after the journeying south along west coast of Africa the
next European explorer sighting of the cape was Vasco d agama in 1497, while
he was searching of the route that would lead directly from Europe to
Asia.
¢ The
British first entered at the cape in 1795 was largely confined to the shore of
the cape and Table bay as half way stop by the east India company on their
trading trip to the east, the tents were occasionally set or constructed along
the shores to trade with khoikhoi.
¢ “British
used Robben Island located few kilometers from table bay strategic place to trade with khoikhoi. In1615 and British
appoint Autshumato or (Harry) to control or administer the khoikhoi at the
cape” (Basil: 1981)
¢ Also
British under Admiral Keith Elphinstone [major general] produced paper claiming
that they had settled in Table Bay in 1620 than Dutch and France, however
British were determined to prevent the cape from falling into the hand of
France because at this time France had occupied the Netherlands and causing
many conflict.
¢ In
an armed conflict that ensured the Dutch were defeated by the British and an
estimated 1200 British infantry forces matched into the Cape Town. British viewed this occupation as temporary
measure, until when France become defeated .after the signing of the treaty of
armies the British handed the cape into Dutch Batavian government in 1803.
¢ When
the second Napoleonic war broke out for the second time the British feared that
the cape could fall into the hands of the France. “British attacked cape town
from Bloomberg strand and retook the cape from Dutch in 1806 .at the treaty of
Vienna in1814 the British acquired the cape permanently .British paid six
million pounds and the cape remain into hand of British”
¢ MAP
OF SOUTH AFRICA SHOWING BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN THE CAPE JULY 1885
¢ BACKGROUND
OF BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE
¢ According
to Gale H.S. (1996: xiii) in the British Encyclopedia of British humorists; “British
refers to those nations located in British Isles- England, Ireland, Scotland
and Wales.” Therefore the combination of those nations called British,
Great Britain or United Kingdom.
¢ First
British immigrant found at cape in 1817 conducting commercial exchange. Up to
1820 most of British societies were established at the cape however during that
period there was about 757 people from Britain settled in Cape Town
¢ “John
Bardwell established the first joint stock private bank known as cape of good hope bank in1837 further more
temporary economic boom of 1830 laid foundation for commercial and financial infrastructure
of the cape colony in cape town”(Alan ,m:1983)
¢ The
introduction of British settlement to the eastern body as well as with their
arrival in port Elizabeth of the 1820 settlers
influenced social economic and political changes in south Africa such as
abolition slavery, Dutch farmers move to the interior this known as great trek,
the migration of Afrikaners inland forming the Boers republics of Transvaal and
the orange free state.
¢ Also
British contribute to the discovery of diamond around Kimberley and gold in the Transvaal led to a return to
instability particularly because they influenced the rise to power of ambition
and at this time Cecil Rhodes becoming the capes prime minister he investigated
a rapid expansion of British influence
into hinter land he also engineer the conquest of Transvaal and this
lead to the second Boer war, so this was preparation of union of south Africa
in1910 which transform Cape Town to become the Cape of good hope
province better known as Cape province
¢ MOTIVES
FOR BRITISH TO SETTLE AT THE CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA:
A: EXTERNAL MOTIVES.
¢ The
aftermath of Napoleonic wars to the Dutch, The Dutch
settled at the cape in 1652.But due to the effects of Napoleon wars in Europe.
As Robert (1768: 647.) states that “……due
to the course of the Napoleonic wars, the cape was captured by a British naval
and military force in September 1795, normally on behalf of the Prince Orange
who had taken refuge in England by 1802, the Dutch gate up the cape under
British….”
¢ A
need to protect British route to India.(continental trade)
The cape was base in which the British could protect themselves against ships
of enemies that might attack them from the sea. As James ( 2010:41) state
that “….The cape could easily link
the British and western Europe across the Atlantic ocean than areas in Eastern
region of south Africa…”.
¢ An
economic reason for investment (industrial
revolution).The British were attracted to settle at the cape due to the fact
that, they wanted to get raw materials
and markets for industrialized goods from their home industries. According to
Walton (2008:184) says that. “….British
wanted to accomplish trade monopoly at the c ape…”
¢ The
contribution of renaissance period that exposed South Africa,
The preliminary role of Portuguese explorers like Bartholomew Dias, Vasco da
Gama, made the cape be known to the world. Once, it attracted the British to
settle at the cape, as it went on further the British to occupy the cape by
defeating the Dutch.
¢ Prestigious
reasons, Acquiring of many colonies for European countries
was a prestige for European. So the acquisition of Colonies in Africa added a
prestige to the British.
¢ B:
INTERNAL MOTIVES:
¢ Availability
of raw materials at the Cape; this was one of the
motive which attracted the British to
settle in the cape because in South Africa there were a lot of raw materials
which were produced like diamond, silver ,copper, ostriches feathers and other
raw materials which were highly needed in Europe.
¢ As Rodney
(2009:191) state that; “For a long while, South Africa was the
most important raw materials reservoir for the whole of Imperialism, Britain
was the European power which had already been entered in South Africa for many
years when gold and diamond were discovered in the 19th century on
the eve of scramble”
¢ They
wanted to administer the cape; the British government
sent their settlers to settle at the Cape in order to administer the cape
colony in all aspect of life especially politically.
¢ As Stals
(1991:119 ) say that “When
Sir Henry Barkly Became the British commissioner for South Africa in December
1870, he represented a renewed push for federalism, this time at the
investigation of Lord Carnrvon, British colonial secretary from 1866to 1867 and
again during 1874- 1878”.
¢ To
conduct trade; the British in South Africa they
wanted to control the trade activities at the cape as well as worldwide and
they need to exchange goods with their neighbor countries.
¢ As
James (2012:196) say that “ South Africa trade, most of south Africa’s
gold was resold in London to America buyers, just as most gold coast and the
Nigeria cocoa was resold to the USA”
¢ Need
area for investment; due to the industrial revolution in
Europe in 19th century, British needed to invest their capital in Africa
as well as in the Cape of South Africa Therefore European Government sent their
settlers to the Cape of South Africa. According to Rodney (2009:163) state that “In South
Africa, the outstanding Bank in South Africa ltd …… started in 1862 in the cape
colony by the heard of business houses having close connection with
British”
¢ Need area for market;
British people were motivated to came at the cape of South Africa because of
the demand of new market for the goods produced in Europe. As Okoth (2010:368)
state that “ Further in the Southern cape, enterprising farmer took to
breeding ostriches, whose feathers fetched an excellence price in European
market”
¢ Need
area for settlement; due to industrial revolution In Europe
the number of people in Europe were increase so they find the area for
settlement. Therefore British came to the cape of South Africa in order to seek
the area for settlement. This was one of the motives for British to settle at
the cape of South Africa.
¢ IMPACTS
OF BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE OF SOUTH AFRICA
A: ECONOMIC IMPACT:
¢ Soon
after the end of Napoleonic war of 1795, British captured and push away the
Dutch at the Cape to overcome the economic problems in England. According to James (2010) State the economic impacts of
British settlement at the Cape of South Africa are as follows:-
¢ Trade
development – British at the cape engaged into
trade activities. For example sea route trade, this is due to the presence of
ships. They controlled trade within the cape and that of Dutch; for instance
they controlled trade route on sea water to India and Asia from the Dutch.
British based also on extraction of
resources such as Gold and Diamond
¢ Land
occupation – the British took the land of indigenous either by
force or by false treaty. Many people
were forced away into the unfertile land.
Here British establish large Settler economic.
¢ Establishment
of big farms, soon after pushing away the original
people of the cape (Xhosa). British taking the land and practiced agriculture
to produce maize, and barley. Also British establish wool farming for their
mother industries.
¢ Destruction
of indigenous economic activities, For instance, British
killed the cattle of Xhosa in 1856 up to 1857 therefore the economics of Xhosa
people were collapsed because the British destructed the economic activities
which was pastoralism.
¢ Emergence
of Heavy industries – Before the coming of white’s people
at the cape, there were no heavy industries.
Most industries were processing industries for processing agricultural
products. But soon after British
settlement heavy industries was emerged due to the mineral revolution.
¢ Large
mining companies were formed – in South Africa to
deal with the production of minerals. Fore example of the biggest companies was
that Cecil Rhodes and De beer consolidated mines Ltd. Which was formed by
himself to deal with the production of diamond and Gold in 1880s
¢ B:
SOCIAL IMPACTS:
¢ Depopulation,
especially the movement of Boers from the cape to the interior North ward out
of the colony in 1830 and 1840’s. The migration of Boers was resulted with the
discouragement of British government who took over control the whole area of
the colony.
¢ As Azika (2008:45) state that “By
introducing social and economic changes to the territory the net result of
these changes was to prompt a large of Boers to move for escaping British
control.”
¢ Introduction
of New culture, After British took control of the
colony, English language was used within the colony. English language was
used in all settings especially in administrative system as the official medium
for communication.
¢ As
Kiruthu (2009:60) state that “Coming of British at the cape resulted
English language to be used as the official medium of communication rather than
indigenous languages that were spoken by the people, but the language was
becoming as the medium of instructions in schools in 1822.”
¢ Inequality,
segregation and Discrimination,the British felt more superior than indigenous
people in South Africa and Boers who
lived there before arrival of British at the colony, provision of social
services especially in hospitals and schools was provided according to their races.
¢ According
to Okoth (1979:302) says “Once in control in natal they supposed
policy of liberalism in the cape was not imitated, the British adopted a policy
of rigid racial segregation which Boers had followed with regard to Africans.”
¢ Abolition
of slave trade, in 1834 the British abolished slave trade at the cape colony aims to
fulfill their demands of markets and laborers that was needed to work in their
land and different mines in South Africa especially Kimberley in 1867 where diamond was discovered.
¢ As
Okoth (1979:304) says “Kimberley suddenly become a haven Flocks of
migrant labor from all over southern and Central Africa, Initially the administration in Griqualand
West was Liberal and anybody black or white, could and operates the mines.”
¢ C:
POLITICAL IMPACTS:
¢ They
created enemity between them and other ethnic groups /tribes
such as Xhosa of the eastern from tier
and Khoikhoi the habitants of the cape of south Africa and this extreme enemity
it was because of the over control of their territories which occurred in the
18th century.
¢ As Wilson Derek (1975) state
that “The coming of British had created an internal triangle of hatreds and
misunderstanding”
¢ Also
they resulted to the creation of political
instability within the ethnic groups or Africans such as Khoikhoi, Xhosa
and other native organization; this accelerated to the occurrence
of the chronic symptoms of underdevelopment
in the political context since their ruling system became dis - organized due
to the conflicts and war planted by the British (Isichei 1997).
¢ Introduction
of Apartheid policy in 1948, this was the policy of
segregation and separation based on races. It was applied by the British to
facilitate white minority dominance in political, social and economic
opportunities. Most significantly, Africans were excluded from all important
aspects of life.
¢ A
part from that, British used to accumulate the African free independent
organization (states) by pushing natives out of their habitants (cape) and
near boundaries where they lived as a
results they monopolized the whole potentialities within the states. Such as
diamond, gold etc.
¢ It
incited enemity between the British and the Boers,
because the famer’s land was confiscated. Due to the suppression of Boers
interests and British’s intervention, Due to the suppression of Boer’s
interests and British’s intervention there germinated hostility.
¢ In
turn, the British desire to have federation independence in the interior. In
turn, the British desire to have a federation of South Africa developed. This
idea of federation seemed s the best workable solution for the problem of
appropriation of mineral fields.
¢ The
Boer trek; the fist Anglo- Boer confrontation was
fought in 1880 UP TO 1881 AS the aftermath of diamond discovery. And the second
Anglo Boer war was fought in 1899 up to 1902 betweene two main races, British
and Boers through Africans were involved on other side
¢ “By
August 1900, the Boers were defeated and by 1902 the Boers sumendered by
signing the vereeninging peace treaty which aimed to dissolve he enemity and
differences….” (Mwijage 2004).
¢ Trek
Boer migration map
Source – http//www.davidrumsey. Com/maps4704 html
Source – http//www.davidrumsey. Com/maps4704 html
¢ CONCLUSION:
¢ The
British made a profound historical remark that influenced South Africa in all
dimensions of life, both positive and negative. For many decades, South
Africans passed through struggles of all spheres, be it political, social
cultural or economic. On 1990 when the British released Nelson Mandela, the act
paved a way for majority rule in South Africa by May 1994.
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