Diamonds Gold & War2

The Afrikaners

The White Tribe of Africa

The Afrikaners

The White Tribe of Africa

Diamonds Gold & War 2Diamonds Gold & War 2

Presented at OLLI at Duke - Fall Presented at OLLI at Duke - Fall 20092009

Dutch East India Company

Dutch East India Company

Established a ‘victualing’ station at the Cape in 1652

Population was restricted to the Cape areaSome indentured Dutch moved to areas in the

eastonce their contracts ended.Pastoral, nomadic people.Become “The Trekboers”

Established a ‘victualing’ station at the Cape in 1652

Population was restricted to the Cape areaSome indentured Dutch moved to areas in the

eastonce their contracts ended.Pastoral, nomadic people.Become “The Trekboers”

Traditional BoeremusikWals van Tant Sanie

Origins of the AfrikanersOrigins of the Afrikaners

• 1652 - Dutch East India Company• 1688 - French Huguenots, • 1700’s - Flemish, Frisians, Germans,

Scandinavians • 1823 - British Settlers

Gradual migration into the east

Population in 1717; 744 officials, about 2000 free burgers &over 2,700 slaves

British Annexation - 1805British Annexation - 1805

Maintains policy of limited expansion

Involved in frontier wars with Xhosa

British impose laws protecting ‘Natives’

Slagtersnek incident in 1815

In 1833 British abolish slavery everywhere

Although ‘Trek Boers’ have few slaves, resentment of interference grows

Maintains policy of limited expansion

Involved in frontier wars with Xhosa

British impose laws protecting ‘Natives’

Slagtersnek incident in 1815

In 1833 British abolish slavery everywhere

Although ‘Trek Boers’ have few slaves, resentment of interference grows

A Trekboer Group

Reading suggestion;

The Great Trek by Oliver Ransford

Reasons for The Great TrekReasons for The Great Trek

The British control of the Cape ColonyForced to give up slaves with no compensation

Forced to speak & write “English”British did not protect them from Xhosa raiders

Considered equal with the “natives”This was contrary to Afrikaner religious beliefs

Also seen as punitive

The British control of the Cape ColonyForced to give up slaves with no compensation

Forced to speak & write “English”British did not protect them from Xhosa raiders

Considered equal with the “natives”This was contrary to Afrikaner religious beliefs

Also seen as punitive

Die Voorste Mense – The Pathfinders

Die Voorste Mense – The Pathfinders

Several families trek firstNotably Louis Trichard (Tregard – Swedish

decent)Also, Potgieter, Van Rensburg, Maritz,

Retief, UysIn 1836 Trichard uproots his family and

steps into historyHe kept a journal which tells us much

Several families trek firstNotably Louis Trichard (Tregard – Swedish

decent)Also, Potgieter, Van Rensburg, Maritz,

Retief, UysIn 1836 Trichard uproots his family and

steps into historyHe kept a journal which tells us much

Very little known of the hinterland in

1836

The Drakensburg

The Drakensburg

The MfecaneThe MfecaneA large dislocation (elimination?) of humans took

place in the interior of southern Africa – early 1800’s

Thought to be aggravated by Zulu war parties under Shaka but also environmental factors

(drought)

Current “conventional wisdom” questions the degree of witchdoctors influence notwithstanding

widespread belief in the parable

Boers maintain that the land was essentially unoccupied when they arrived

A large dislocation (elimination?) of humans took place in the interior of southern Africa – early

1800’s

Thought to be aggravated by Zulu war parties under Shaka but also environmental factors

(drought)

Current “conventional wisdom” questions the degree of witchdoctors influence notwithstanding

widespread belief in the parable

Boers maintain that the land was essentially unoccupied when they arrived

The VoortrekkersThe VoortrekkersFollowing the pathfinders, about 12,000

pioneers make the Great Trek to the north

Founding Transorangia, Natalia, the South African Republic and other minor states

British made many attempts to control the Boers;

Cape of Good Hope Punishment Act (1836),

Sand River Convention (1852) & Bloemfontein Convention (1854)

Following the pathfinders, about 12,000 pioneers make the Great Trek to the north

Founding Transorangia, Natalia, the South African Republic and other minor states

British made many attempts to control the Boers;

Cape of Good Hope Punishment Act (1836),

Sand River Convention (1852) & Bloemfontein Convention (1854)

The ZulusThe ZulusIn an attempt to establish an Afrikaner state in Natal

Voortrekkers encountered Zulu’s and many settlers were killed in confrontations with raiding parties.

Dec. 1838 Piet Retief negotiated with the Zulu king, Dingane, at Umgungundhlovu and agreed to a treaty.

Retief and as many as 70 unarmed men were then murdered by the Zulus.

The murder of the Boer leaders was especially brutal. Some were impaled on poles and left to die, others

were disemboweled.

In an attempt to establish an Afrikaner state in Natal Voortrekkers encountered Zulu’s and many settlers were killed in confrontations with raiding parties.

Dec. 1838 Piet Retief negotiated with the Zulu king, Dingane, at Umgungundhlovu and agreed to a treaty.

Retief and as many as 70 unarmed men were then murdered by the Zulus.

The murder of the Boer leaders was especially brutal. Some were impaled on poles and left to die, others

were disemboweled.

The Zulus Impi's (Armies) then attacked and killed more than 500 Afrikaners including women and children, as well as an English rag-tag army sent from Durban to

help.

Andries Pretorius led a group of Boers up from the Cape and eventually they laagered on a hill called Gelato (Vegkop) upon hearing that an Impi of 15,000 Zulu

were approaching

The Boers established a defensive position, a laager, circling the wagons around the 1000 or so animals they had with them. Piled thorn bush under and between the

wagons – and prayed to God for their salvation and victory

The Zulus Impi's (Armies) then attacked and killed more than 500 Afrikaners including women and children, as well as an English rag-tag army sent from Durban to

help.

Andries Pretorius led a group of Boers up from the Cape and eventually they laagered on a hill called Gelato (Vegkop) upon hearing that an Impi of 15,000 Zulu

were approaching

The Boers established a defensive position, a laager, circling the wagons around the 1000 or so animals they had with them. Piled thorn bush under and between the

wagons – and prayed to God for their salvation and victory

Retaliation

“My brothers and fellow citizens, here we stand in the presence of the

Holy God, creator of heaven and earth, to make a vow unto Him, that if His protection shall be with us and He give our enemy into our hand so

that we might be victorious over him, that this day and date every year shall be spent as a memorial

and a day of thanksgiving, just as a Sabbath is spent and that we shall

erect a temple to His honor wherever it will be pleasing to Him and that we shall also instruct our

children that they must also share in it, as well as for our generations yet to come. Because the Honor of His name shall thereby be glorified and the glory and honor of the victory

shall be given Him.”

Vow of the VoortrekkersDecember 9, 1838

Battle of Blood River

The Covenant

The Laager

The Battle of Blood RiverThe Battle of Blood River

Nearly 500 menSupported by 200 or more “non-white”

helpers64 Wagons3 Cannon

15,000 Zulu led by Ndlela – the Zulu commander

Nearly 500 menSupported by 200 or more “non-white”

helpers64 Wagons3 Cannon

15,000 Zulu led by Ndlela – the Zulu commander

The OutcomeThe Outcome

3000 plus Zulu’s killed 3 Boers wounded including Pretorius who had his

wrist stabbed by an assegai.The Boers followed up by destroying

UmgungundhlovuDingane fought a running battle engaging and killing some of the commando. Zulu’s eventually

defeated.The British meantime settled Durban and put an

end to the dream of a “Natalia”

3000 plus Zulu’s killed 3 Boers wounded including Pretorius who had his

wrist stabbed by an assegai.The Boers followed up by destroying

UmgungundhlovuDingane fought a running battle engaging and killing some of the commando. Zulu’s eventually

defeated.The British meantime settled Durban and put an

end to the dream of a “Natalia”

Orange Free State & SA Republic

Orange Free State & SA Republic

Recognized in the two conventions:Sand River Convention (1852) & Bloemfontein Convention (1854)

“Sliced and diced” by the British as opportunities arose

Internal bickering amongst the Afrikaners

Afrikaners establish several short-lived republics

Recognized in the two conventions:Sand River Convention (1852) & Bloemfontein Convention (1854)

“Sliced and diced” by the British as opportunities arose

Internal bickering amongst the Afrikaners

Afrikaners establish several short-lived republics

Transvaal & Free State 1868 - 1888

Transvaal TroublesTransvaal Troubles

Transvaal Republic formed under President T. F. Burgers – 1872.

Transvaal in difficulty - war with the Pedi and facing bankruptcy.

Britain intercedes by annexation in 1877.

Kruger and others, seeking to negotiate, go to England.

Transvaal Republic formed under President T. F. Burgers – 1872.

Transvaal in difficulty - war with the Pedi and facing bankruptcy.

Britain intercedes by annexation in 1877.

Kruger and others, seeking to negotiate, go to England.

The ‘Vierkleur

The 1st Boer WarThe 1st Boer War

Talks with British fail.

In 1877 the British annexed the Transvaal (ZAR.*)

The Boers protested and fought back.

Dec. 1880 Transvaal declared independence and declared war, the OFS with them.

Talks with British fail.

In 1877 the British annexed the Transvaal (ZAR.*)

The Boers protested and fought back.

Dec. 1880 Transvaal declared independence and declared war, the OFS with them.

16 December 1880 until 23 March 1881.

Battles of Laingsnek,

Schuinshoogte and Majuba

Battle of MajubaA Mountain in Natal

Battle of MajubaA Mountain in Natal

The battles culminated at Majuba in Natal

General Colley, senior British General took command himself.

The British established themselves on the top of the mountain

The battles culminated at Majuba in Natal

General Colley, senior British General took command himself.

The British established themselves on the top of the mountain

The OutcomeThe OutcomeBoers eventually beat them off the

mountain

British losses; 92 killed, 134 wounded and 59 captured

Boers; 1 killed, 5 wounded

British withdrew and called for negotiations

Boers eventually beat them off the mountain

British losses; 92 killed, 134 wounded and 59 captured

Boers; 1 killed, 5 wounded

British withdrew and called for negotiations

The Battle of Majuba

General Colley had led the 554 riflemen onto the mountain. He

was killed in the battle after ordering the retreat

Peace NegotiatedPeace Negotiated

Sir Evelyn Wood negotiated the peace with President Brand, Paul

Kruger and Piet Joubert

Britain retained suzerainty and other oversight privileges over the TvL

Thanksgiving after Majuba

An uneasy peace ensued – diamonds and gold had been discovered and greed and

avarice were raising their ugly heads!

Cecil Rhodes and Albert Milner lurked in the background!

Stay Tuned!

An uneasy peace ensued – diamonds and gold had been discovered and greed and

avarice were raising their ugly heads!

Cecil Rhodes and Albert Milner lurked in the background!

Stay Tuned!

Diamonds Gold & War

The Beginning

Rhodes’s ‘Big Idea’

“Johannesburg is ready … [this is] the big idea which makes England dominant in Africa, in fact, gives England the African

continent”

Secret letter from Cecil Rhodes to

Alfred Beit in August 1895

Johannesburg was not ready!

The Uitlanders were “in a funk”

and not going to “revolt.”

‘The Raid’ was heading for disaster

Pitsani Camp, near Mafeking on the Transvaal border

29 Dec. 1895

• 1870-1 Diamond Rush to Kimberly

• 1880 President Paul Kruger leads the Boers

against the British in the First Boer War -

gaining partial autonomy for the South African

Republic.

• 1880 Rhodes & Rudd form De Beers Mining

Company

• 1886 Gold Rush to Jo’burg

• 1870-1 Diamond Rush to Kimberly

• 1880 President Paul Kruger leads the Boers

against the British in the First Boer War -

gaining partial autonomy for the South African

Republic.

• 1880 Rhodes & Rudd form De Beers Mining

Company

• 1886 Gold Rush to Jo’burg

South Africa - 1800’s

• 1888 Cecil Rhodes obtains British Royal Charter

for his BSA company to exploit Chief Lobengula’s

territory

• 1889 Wernher, Beit & Co become main Rand

mining-house

• Julius Werner, Alfred Beit, Barney Barnato and

Rhodes became known as “The Rand Lords” or

“Gold Bugs”

• They wield great influence in South Africa and

Britain although their wealth is in the Transvaal

and Kimberly.

1890 Rhode’s BSA company occupy Lobengula’s land and rename it Rhodesia.

Cecil Rhodes

“Colossus”

“I admire him, I frankly confess it; and when the time comes I shall buy a piece of the rope for a keepsake”

Mark Twain

Colonial Africa1914

Meanwhile: back at the gold fields;

• Johannesburg has become “the richest place on earth.”

•Millionaires have been created ‘overnight’ and wield much political power in Britain.

•British government begins to feel pressure to ensure stability in the region.

Cecil Rhodes

Lord Salisbury

Prime Minister

Joseph Chamberlain

Colonial Secretary

Alfred Milner

High Commissioner

For Southern Africa

(after the Raid)

President of the South African

Republic

Paul Kruger

President of the Orange Free State

Martinus Steyn

Commandant-General

South African Republic

Piet Joubert

State AttorneySouth African

Republic

Jan Smuts

•The ‘Uitlanders’ – ‘out-landers’; essentially foreigners who had flooded into Jo’burg when gold was discovered

•They had become increasingly frustrated with high taxes, high costs and accusations of abuse by the TvL (Transvaal) government

•By early 1890’s these people constitute about 50% of the population and are starting to agitate for enfranchisement

•Rhodes and other high level Cape and British officials support their goals and the ousting of the Boers

•Chamberlain sees this as a opportunity and also a potential problem – expansion of imperialism or a semi-autonomous state ruled by Rhodes

•Rhodes wants to expand his hold over South Africa and wants Kruger out

•Rhodes begins to manipulate Chamberlain and others to move against Kruger and the Orange River Colony

•Kruger, to counteract this pressure cultivates links with Germany. He encourages German investment and immigration.

•In a speech he contrasts German immigrants with ‘Her Majesty's’ subjects – the Germans remain loyal to SAR in times of trouble but the British subjects turn to Great Britain.

•By 1895 Kruger has established the SAR (TvL) as the dominant state in southern Africa – Rhodes decides it’s time to remove him.

The Rhodes Conspiracy

•Rhodes gathers the “Rand Lords” and they begin to plan a coup d'état in the Transvaal.

•He also uses his influence to rally support in London

•Although some prominent Cape Afrikaners and newsmen are more in favor of a political solution, Rhodes persists that he does not want a “reformed Republic” – he wants a British Colony.

See D,G&W pg 311

Rhodes and his cohorts make several major miscalculations:

•The overthrow of Kruger will be

“straightforward”

•The Uitlanders are ready to participate in an

uprising

•The white settlers in Rhodesia will be safe if

Rhodes withdraws the BSA police to take part

in the coup.

•First and foremost Chamberlain wants the two republics as colonies and he wants this without war

•He insists on “a proper consideration of all issues” including the Tswana chiefs (Bechuanaland)

•However he is in favor of handing over a “strip of land” in Bechuanaland for railway construction

•Rhodes (and Chamberlain secretly) want a launching point for the invading force in Bechuanaland near the border close to Johannesburg

•“Doctor” Leander Starr Jameson is appointed to lead the raid. A very close colleague and employee of Rhodes he had no military experience

•Percy FitzPatrick became a leader amongst the Uitlanders and, working with Rhodes and many others, both in Johannesburg and London “stoked the fire.”

The Plan

•Jameson's force would be 1,500 men raised from Rhodesian police and others equipped with Maxim guns, artillery, spare rifles

•They would invade Johannesburg from Pitsani in Bechuanaland (170 miles) on pre-arranged date

•Uitlanders – about 7,500, secretly equipped with rifles and Maxim’s would rise-up

•Together they would subdue the local authorities and declare a provisional government

Excerpt from PBS ‘Victoria - Scramble for Africa’

Well! That was interesting!

That’s the whole story.

So we can all go home now!

Not Really;

There is a lot more to this story!

The surrender

Capture of Jameson

Jameson returning to Britain

“I express to you my sincere

congratulations that you and

your people, without

appealing to the help of

friendly powers, have

succeeded, by your own

energetic action against the

armed bands which invaded

your country as disturbers of

the peace, in restoring peace

and in maintaining the

independence of the country

against attack from without.”

Kaiser Wilhelm II’stelegram to Kruger

Now, public opinion, the press and the Conservatives in Parliament were

strongly in favor of the Uitlanders and against the Boers.

The Liberal party led by Carter-Bannerman was opposed to any war but was too weak to be effective in stopping

it.

‘The Jameson Raid was the real

declaration of war in the Great Anglo-Boer

conflict. . . . And that is so in spite of the

four years truce that followed . . . [the]

aggressors consolidated their alliance ...

the defenders on the other hand silently

and grimly prepared for the inevitable.’

Jan Smuts, 1906

‘A war in South Africa would be one of the most serious wars that could

possibly be waged. It would be the nature of a Civil War. It would be a long war, a bitter war and a costly war. . . it

would leave behind the embers of a strife which I believe generations would hardly be enough to extinguish …. to go

to war with President Kruger, to force upon him reforms in the internal affairs

of his state, with which [we] have repudiated all right of interference - that would have been a course of action as immoral as it would have been unwise.'

 Joseph Chamberlain, speaking as Colonial Secretary

in the House of Commons. May 1896