Social Features
The Effect of the Boer War
From 1880 to 1902 two wars were fought in the area now known as South Africa. The Boers separated themselves to escape British rule and created their own states of Orange Free State, Natal and Transvaal. Before the most significant war, the second Boer war, the Boers had fought wars with native populations, in particularly the Zulu’s and the British. The wars with the British were mainly land based and Britain took control of Natal and Transvaal, but recognised the semi independence of Transvaal.
In 1886 gold was discovered on a Transvaal farm. Floods of Foreigners and migrants came to South Africa in the bid to find their fortune. Small mining camps were established along the Witwatersrand, which was a trail of small mining camps which created a curve of the map. These small camps soon were established into small towns with a base of three main groups of people. Firstly there were the Prospectors, once hearing of the gold rush, travelled to these small camps looking for gold in the soil. This resulted in a change of demographic in these areas. Skilled workers came from Australia, America, Eastern Europe and especially Britain. Next there were the labourers. Many of the labourers were native people who would travel to these areas to make money and then return home once they had made the money they wanted. The third group were the people who made a living by providing for the needs of the miners. This group established shops, were drivers, barbers, hawkers and traders.
There was believed to be “Endless treasures of Gold” as miners followed the curve of small camps and towns finding more and more gold along these areas. This “endless gold” became an extremely important part of South Africa’s economy. By the 1880’s the Boers had formed their own government in Transvaal and the Free Orange State. The British ruled over Cape Colony and Natal. Both the Boers and the British slowly started to extend their control. The British made demands towards the Boers after they received complaints from British gold prospectors. The Boers did not comply with these demands which lead war to break out. This war had a particular effect on families and children during this time. Many children were orphaned after losing their parents in the war. Young boys were enlisted to fight, many being killed and captured. Some ended up in concentration camps, where they would die from disease and poor living conditions.
By the 1900 most land in these areas was owned by white farmers, mining companies, land companies and also by the government. The indigenous peoples of South Africa had lost most their political and economic independence. After the war, systems left Black, Coloured and Indian people completely marginalised. The British wanted to create a unified country after the break down of the country during the war. Rather than Federalised country the Union of South Africa was created, joining all the smaller states as one. This meant that the Union remained British territory, but with home-rule for Afrikaners.