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The First Europeans Come to South Africa
South Africa, before European influence, had different ethnic groups that divided the area, but there were not many natives. Europeans originally went there as a stop to resupply their ships on the way to Asia during the Age of Exploration. The Dutch East India Company were the first Europeans to establish themselves in South Africa. As the Dutch expanded, they drove out or enslaved the Khoisan and set up large farms. -
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South Africa
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British Take Control
The British took control of Cape Colony from the dutch Boers during the Napoleonic wars in 1795. From there, they could expand their control to other areas. The Boers were not happy with British control. The British used indirect rule. -
The Great Trek
The Boers were not happy with the British in Cape Colony, so they went north into Africa for more independence. -
Discovery of Diamonds in Kimberley
The Boers discovered diamonds near Kimberley, and the British soon took the land for themselves by annexing the area. Because of this, more Europeans and native laborers came to the area to mine for diamonds. -
British Invade Zululand
The British invade the Zulus, who posed a threat to the British because of their large army set up by their leader, Shaka. The British defeated the Zulus when they captured their capital in July of 1879. -
Gold Discovered
South Africa was also an area of focus for imperialists because of the discovery of a rich gold hotspot along a cliff called "Witwatersrand." It shifted the attention of the major diamond miners like Rhodes, Barney Barnato, and Alfred Beit to also invest in gold mining. Soon, all gold mining was controlled by European companies, using the Africans to mine for them. -
Anglo-Boer War
The Anglo-Boer War broke out between the British and the Kruger government. Tensions grew between Cecil Rhodes, the British Prime Minister of Cape Colony, and Paul Kruger, who was the president of Transvaal and was a Boer. After almost 3 years, the British defeated to Boers, and Treaty of Vereeniging was signed between them in 1902. -
Union of South Africa
The new Union of South Africa was formed, not under the British. It was divided into 4 provences: the Cape, Transvaal, Natal, and Orange Free State. -
Apartheid Introduced
The Apartheid laws passed in 1948 segregated the white and black populations in South Africa. These laws changed the regular way of life for blacks and restricted their rights. These laws caused many resistances and violence within the country -
South Africa Becomes a Republic
South Africa changed from being a Commonwealth to a Republic, although it still continued Apartheid. -
Nelson Mandela Becomes President
Nelson Mandela becomes the first black president of South Africa, and was first to be elected in an election that is multiracial and all-representative. He ended the apartheid in South Africa, making everyone equal.
