South Africa Post-Anglo-Boer War Quiz

Bechuanaland (Botswana), Basotholand (Lesotho), and Swaziland (eSwatini) were under British control.

Germany controlled South West Africa (Namibia) during this time period.

The British South Africa Company took control of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in the 1890s.

Black Africans worked in the mines on limited contracts, often leaving rural areas to do so.

Farming and mining were the primary economic activities, with little industrial development outside of cities.

Many white Afrikaners were farmers in South Africa.

White English speakers mostly controlled business, professions, and city life.

Coloured (Cape) and Indian (Natal) communities primarily worked in small businesses or as laborers in cities and towns.

In the Boer republics and British colonies before the Union, only white men could vote.

The Cape and Natal colonies had some form of self-government before Union.

Political activity by Black Africans was limited before the establishment of the Union. This changed in response to the proposed white-dominated Union.

Laws restricting voting rights, primarily for Black voters, included property ownership and literacy requirements. These restrictions were harsher in Natal than in the Cape.

The growing sense of Afrikaner identity and pride, strengthened by the Anglo-Boer War.

Political consciousness grew among Afrikaners, evident in groups like the 'Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners' (Society of True Afrikaners) starting in the 1870s.

Disagreements regarding cooperation with the British emerged among Afrikaner leaders.

The period after the war in South Africa, led by Lord Alfred Milner, focused on reconstruction and maintaining white supremacy.

High Commissioner and Governor of the former Boer republics, responsible for post-war reconstruction.

Belief in the importance of British culture and the state's role in maintaining white political dominance.

The policy to increase the number of British settlers and to make the Boers adopt British culture.

The effort to rebuild South Africa after the war, led by the Milner administration.

Milner's administration's belief that white people should have control and rule over other races.

Granting the right to vote.

Schools employing the English language taught in the Milner administration post-war.

The Boers felt bitter about British rule after the Second Boer War, contributing to their support for Afrikaner nationalism.

The British struggled to get enough English-speaking settlers to come to South Africa after the war.

Boers favored Afrikaans over Dutch and English, helping to build Afrikaner nationalism.

Milner's policies aimed to rebuild the economy after the war, focusing on mining and big businesses, but also served British interests.

Boer farmers received their farms back and compensation for war damages, helping them recover.

Boers were trained in modern agricultural methods to produce goods for the market.

The Lagden Report rejected race equality, contrasting with Selborne's proposal for equal voting rights in all provinces.

White men from all four provinces met in 1908-10 to discuss the creation of a unified South Africa (the Union of South Africa).

The unification of the four British colonies and two Boer republics into the Union of South Africa was driven by several factors including:

• Economic Links: The colonies shared economic ties, and a unified system would simplify trade.
• Common White Identity: There was a shared sense of white identity and a desire to create a unified nation for white South Africans.
• Strategic Considerations: The British government sought to consolidate their control over the region and ensure economic stability through a united front against potential threats.

Unification presented several challenges. One key obstacle was the diverse population and political systems in the colonies.

• Identity: Debate raged about whether a unified South Africa should adopt Afrikaner nationalism or a more inclusive white South African identity.

• Franchise: Significant differences in voting rights existed:

  • Cape Colony: White men and black men with property qualifications could vote.
  • Natal: Voting rights were more restricted, favoring affluent white men.
  • Transvaal and Orange Free State (Boer Republics): Only white men could vote.

To address the diverse interests of the colonies, the newly formed Union of South Africa had three capitals, each symbolizing different aspects of power:

• Cape Town: Became the seat of parliament and the legislative branch.
• Pretoria: House to administration and the executive branch.
• Bloemfontein: Served as the location of the Appeal Court and the judicial branch.

Although unification occurred, each colony retained its existing voting rights system (franchise) for the time being. This meant that the wide disparity in voting rights for black and white citizens remained unchanged after unification.

To increase the number of white voters in the newly formed Union, plans were made to extend voting rights to white women. This move sought to bolster white political power while excluding black South Africans from meaningful participation.

The Union's system of governance ensured limited representation for black South Africans. They were only represented through white representatives, meaning their interests were heavily mediated and often overlooked.

The Union, designed largely for the benefit of white South Africans, faced growing opposition from black communities. Despite the lack of voting rights, black South Africans actively organized and protested against the plans for a white-dominated Union.

The Cape Colony had a more inclusive voting system for black men with property qualifications. Natal enforced stricter conditions for voting and favored white men. The Boer Republics, the Transvaal and Orange Free State, only allowed white men to vote, restricting political power to whites only.