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Bantu Migration
People migrated to Southern Africa(Including South Africa) during the Bantu Migration. These people were usually farmers and herders who spoke Bantu. -
Arrival of the Dutch
Later, the Dutch arrived in Africa and set up trading posts. After that, they colonized the area, took control, and implemented apartheid laws. The Dutch that integrated into African society were known as the Boers. -
The British
Due to a large conflict with various European powers, the British sent their troops to South Africa and took control of the area. -
Afrikaners
The Dutch population in South Africa saw themselves as an independent ethnic group and called themselves the Afrikaners. They were usually rural and would often fight British rule while separating themselves from the native South Africans. -
Boer and English conflict
After the English took control over South Africa, many Boers fought back against their rule. The Boers would often engage in conflict and push back against their laws and expantion. -
Creation of New States
Because of British control, some Boers decided to leave the area and create three new states that they had control over. -
Indian Arrivals
After the British abolished slavery in their empire, many Indians came to South Africa to start a new life. Some of them came as Indentured Servants, who would work for a few years and then be free on the land. -
Passenger Indians
Passenger Indians were Indians that paid for their migration to South Africa. Most of them came here to set up shops. These shops would compete with European stores and this lead to discrimination. -
British Companies
South Africa was rich in natural resources such as diamond and gold. Many British businessmen created mining companies to profit off of the natural resources. -
Employment of black South Africans
The British companies took lots of land from the natives for their companies, they would then employ these natives because they didn't have many other ways to make money. This led to further oppression because the native Africans were working for the British. -
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa was created to unify the separate colonies in South Africa. But this state had an entirely white parliament with black South Africans having no say in their community and government. -
Afrikaner Nationalism
Afrikaner leaders pointed out their supposed racial superiority over black South Africans and their cultural superiority over British South Africans. -
South African Involvement in War
Because South Africa was technically a British Colony, the British wanted to send soldiers from South Africa to support the war effort in Europe. But the Afrikaners, having long standing hatred against the British, waned South Africa to side with the Axis powers. -
Further Separation
Before the official implementation of Apartheid laws, the distinct ethnic groups in South Africa further divided: the black South Africans created their own national organizations to fight constant oppression and the Afrikaners still despised the British inhabitants. -
Segregation
Many laws were implemented that gave white people an advantage in society and prevented black South Africans and Indians from getting the same opportunities.