-
1488
Exploration of South-Africa
Bartolomeu Dias was the first European (Portugese) to explore the South-African coast. -
1492
Discovery of America
Christopher Columbus discovers the continent of America. -
Willem Janszoon
Historically speaking people knew about the existence of a great ‘Southland’ which they referred to as Terra Australis Incognita. In 1606, Willem Janszoon was the first European to set foot ashore this mysterious
country. However, he returned home disappointedly with stories about an almost empty land inhabited by 'cruel black savages'. -
Period: to
US slave trade
In total 500.000 blacks shipped from Africa to North-America over this period. During the 400 years of slave trade it is estimated that a total of 12 million Africans were shipped into slavery. 6% to 16% died during the voyage. -
Pilgrim Fathers
The Pilgrim Fathers arrive in America (Plymouth, Massachusetts) in the 'Mayflower'.
+
Signing of the 'Mayflower Compact'. -
Thanksgiving
First ever thanksgiving. The pilgrims invited the native americans (Wampanoag tribe) in order to thank them for their aid in surviving the first winter. -
Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman sets for his second voyage to Australia in order to look for promising trade opportunities. His findings were a disappointment for the Dutch East India Company. Because of this no further interest was shown in Australia for the next century. -
Captain James Cook
Claimed Australia as a part of Great Britain. He used the excuse of Terra Nullius in order to declare that the land belonged to no one (disregarding the Aboriginals) and therefore Great Britain could rightfully claim it. -
Period: to
American war of independence
America declares its independence and fights against Great Britain. Treaty of Paris ends the war for independence resulting in the formal recognition of the United States of America. -
Rebellion
The British Parliament declares the colonies in a state of rebellion. -
Independence day
Formal seperation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain. The war escalates. -
Abolition slave trade
The US abolishes the slave trade. Even though the US abolished the slave trade in 1807 it didn't stop its internal slave trade, which would continue until 1865. -
Period: to
Black war
Genocide against the Aboriginals in Tasmania. The extermination was carried out by spreading diseases, alcohol, erosion of their Society, abduction of women/children and systematic murder. -
Period: to
Booker T. Washington
Washington called for Black progress through education and entrepreneurship, rather than trying to challenge directly the Jim Crow segregation and the disenfranchisement of Black voters in the South. Furthermore, he supported racial uplift, but secretly also supported court challenges to segregation and to restrictions on voter registration. Black activists in the North, led by W. E. B. Du Bois, disagreed with him and opted to set up the NAACP to work for political change. -
Period: to
American Civil war
America faces a civil war. The Union led by Abraham Lincoln fights against the Confederacy led by Jefferson Davis. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Order by Abraham Lincoln to free slaves in 10 different states. Targeted at Confederate states. -
Abolition of slavery
The US abolishes slavery on a nationwide level by instituting the 13th amendment. -
Period: to
W.E.B Du Bois
Du Bois was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Du Bois primarily targeted racism in his polemic (arguments), which protested strongly against lynching, Jim Crow laws, and discrimination in education and employment. --> double awareness of African Americans -
Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws mandated racial segregation in all public facilities in the states of the former Confederate States of America and in some others, beginning in the 1870s. -
Truganini
The last full blood aboriginal dies at the age of 64. -
Annexation of the Transvaal Boer Republic
The British annex Transvaal itself as a way of resolving the border dispute between the Boers and the Zulus. This also saved the Transvaal from financial ruin, as the government had completely run out of money. -
Period: to
1st Boer war
With the defeat of the Zulus, and the Pedi, the Transvaal Boers were able to give voice to the growing resentment against the 1877 British annexation of the Transvaal. This led to a revolt of the Boers.The war resulted in a Boer victory and eventual independence of the South African Republic. -
Aborigine Protection act
This act allowed the seizure of "half-caste" children and their forcible removal from their parents. This was theoretically to provide them with better homes than those afforded by typical Aboriginal people, where they could grow up to work as domestic servants, and also for social engineering. The removed children are now known as the Stolen Generations. -
Battle of the wounded knee
Deadliest mass shooting in American history. US soldiers killed around 300 native Americans. Historically, Wounded Knee is generally considered to be the end of the collective multi-century series of conflicts between colonial and U.S. forces and American Indians, known collectively as the Indian Wars. -
Period: to
2nd Boer War
Was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the South African Republic and the Orange Free State) over the Empire's influence in Southern Africa from 1899 to 1902.
The result of the war was a British victory. -> Treaty of Vereeniging -
Australia's turning point
Independence of Australia and the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia by Queen Victoria. -
Treaty of Vereeniging
The Boer republics acknowledged British sovereignty, while the British in turn committed themselves to reconstruction of the areas under their control. -
Union of South Africa
Britain unified the four colonies including the former Boer republics into 1 self-governed country. -
ANC
Founding of the African National Congress in Bloemfontein. The organisation's goal was to fight for the rights of black South Africans. (Oldest liberation movement in Africa) -
Natives' Land Act
Act segregating blacks from whites. South Africa -
Marcus Garvey and the UNIA
Marcus Garvey was all in favour of the African Americans and black people all over the world to return to
Africa and to start building a great nation of black people there. He never once went to Africa himself but
did declare himself Provisional President of Africa. In 1916 he set up the Universal Negro Improvement
Association (UNIA). Du Bois hated this man for being a FRAUD!!! -> still gave black people in the working-class a voice. -
Period: to
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics and scholarship centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. -
Zora Neale Hurston
She refused to see herself as a (black) victim (in a white focused) society. Her autobiography as well as some of her more politically inspired articles in magazines were
not received very well. She refused to take sides or to reduce the whole discussion of racism to a given dichotomy. She first and foremost tried to describe and rethink what
being an African American truly and honestly meant and implicated. "How It Feels To Be Colored Me." -
The National Party
The NP is elected into power. Formal establishment of Apartheid. -
South Africa independent
South Africa declares itself a republic and formally leaves the British Commonwealth. -
Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King gives his speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. This speech about equality for black people consists of dreams, freedom, satisfaction, and justice. -
Nelson Mandela jailed
Nelson Mandela is sent to jail in Robben Island. (member of ANC) -
End of legal segregation in the US
The Jim Crow laws lasted until 1965 after the US passed the Civil Rights act (1964) and the Voting Rights act (1965). This led to a large decrease in segregation as it removed discriminatory practices. -
1967 Australian referendum
Voters were asked whether to give the Commonwealth Parliament the power to make special laws for Indigenous Australians in states, and whether Indigenous Australians should be included in official population counts for constitutional purposes. -> Aboriginals gained full citizen rights 90% of the votes were cast in favor. -
Abolition of the White Australia policy
Asians, Egyptian and other nationalities were allowed into Australia. This led to the transformation of Australia into a multicultural society. The White Australia policy was enacted in 1901. -
Aboriginal Land Rights Act
It was the first legislation in Australia that enabled First Nations peoples (Indigenous people) to claim land rights for pieces of land where traditional ownership could be proven. -
Frederik Willem de Klerk
F.W. de Klerk becomes president of South Africa. He will make important changes to South Africa changing it into a more equal country. -> On 11 february 1990 Nelson Mandela is unconditionally freed from prison.
-> On 2 April 1990 Nelson Mandela becomes Deputy President of the ANC and works together with de Klerk to abolish Apartheid.
-> On the 17th of June 1991 Apartheid is formally abolished. -
Mabo decision
In 1982 Eddie Mabo and 4 other Torres Strait Islanders went to the Australian High Court to claim their land as they were its rightful owners. This started the 'Mabo v Queensland' case. This resulted in the High Court of Australia passing the Mabo decision and ruling that the treatment of Indigenious property rights based on Terra Nullius was wrong and racist. -
Nelson Mandela
First national non-racial elections. Nelson Mandela becomes the first black president. -
National sorry day
From this day on Australians hold a "National reconciliation week" every year. They learn from their mistakes and show consideration for the wrongs that were done against the Aboriginal people. -
Thabo Mbeki
Mbeki’s challenges as president included continuing the difficult work of transforming South Africa into a
more stable, more equitable society. -
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma becomes president. He is accused of corruption (e.g. money laundering) causing him to resign in 2018. -
Cyril Ramaphosa
Present day president of South Africa. He is criticized for his business interests but not accused.