1870s as a Turning Point
- this decade brought a number of milestones and turning points in South African history; we are not going to discuss all of them in detail although some aspects come up in one or other lecture.
1 Conquest of African societies
- during this decade, the last of the Xhosa wars finally brought an end to the 100 years of military resistance by the Xhosa; moreover, the Zulu Kingdom was smashed, divided and entered upon almost 20 years of civil war and turmoil. Other major African peoples were also brought under European control.
- the conquest was not completed during the decade. The last of the southern Nguni were not annexed in the Transkei until 1894 (however, control by the Cape government through agents existed much earlier). The peoples of Botswana and Swaziland were brought under white control only in the 1880s and 1890s respectively.
- however, as we noted last lecture, the late 1860s saw the beginning of mass conversion to Christianity among the Xhosa and shortly thereafter the beginning of political activity out of which would emerge African nationalism by the beginning of the 20th C.
2 Discovery and exploitation of mineral wealth
- this was crucial because it began far-reaching economic changes from an agrarian country to start transformation to industrialisation.
- it brought new wealth for development, and it brought a flood of new immigrants (mostly whites). All the economic changes which had been brought about by the intrusion of white immigrants were now multiplied many times.
- while the new economic activities did provide some benefits to the inhabitants, most were not able to reap the greatest benefits; not only Africans, but many Afrikaners of trekboer background also fell behind. However, prejudice and discrimination against non-whites led to growing legal as well as social barriers for them.
3 Unification and Confederation
- this was certainly discussed in South Africa, but the real drive to achieve this came from outside, and even more fatally from Lord Carnarvon, the Colonial Secretary in britain.
- although there was some support for the idea in South Africa, there was also great opposition. The people in the Boer republics had no interest in once again becoming part of the british Empire, even if they had local autonomy. There was support in Natal, but it was the smallest and least important entity in South Africa. There was support in the Cape, especially in the eastern towns, but these were mostly in opposition to the government (there had long been an eastern separation movement). The government as a reflex was thrown on the other side when the idea was quickly taken up the separatists; however, even more seriously they were concerned about money aspects. They feared, correctly, that just as they were getting significant revenues as a result of the expanding trade due to the diamond mining, this would be lost to the new federation.
- this drive to achieve confederation, led to the annexation of the South African Republic and this had far-reaching consequences in South African history.
4 Beginnings of Afrikaner Nationalism
- this was especially true in the Transvaal. There it resulted not only in a growing national consciousness, but also led to a war. War can be a nationalist unifier, and when it is successful, as in South Africa, it can lead to much greater confidence. It can also be seen as proof of divine support when such a small national group were able to defeat what was often regarded at the time as the most powerful nation in the world.
- however, events also affected the Boers of the Orange Free State, and Afrikaners in the Cape Colony were galvanized. We shall return to discuss this topic in greater detail shortly.
5 Imperialist Reaction
- this was the decade when imperialist fervour began to build momentum in Britain. Among those affected was the young Cecil Rhodes, but there were growing numbers of others.
- the losses in the war in the Transvaal and the withdrawal by the Gladstone Government were bitterly resented. When war came in 1899, many of these people regarded it as an opportunity to ‘wipe away the stain’ of Majuba Hill. Thus, the stage was set for the growing confrontation between rival nationalisms—Afrikaner nationalism and British imperialism.