Lecture by Josh on the Great Trek in South African history.
The Great Trek: A northward migration of Dutch-speaking settlers from Cape Colony to the interior of modern South Africa, starting in 1836.
Also known as "Die Groot Trek" in Afrikaans.
Goal: To escape British colonial administration.
Motivations for the Trek
Tensions between rural descendants of Cape's original European settlers (Boers) and the British Empire.
Boers' desire for an isolationist, semi-nomadic lifestyle.
Established autonomous Boer republics: South African Republic (Transvaal), Orange Free State, Natalia Republic.
Resulted in conflicts with Ndebele and Zulu people.
Background
Cape of Good Hope originally sparsely populated by Khoisan tribes; Bantu tribes migrating from present-day Lesotho.
Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a victualing station in the Cape in 1652.
Initial settlers were VOC employees granted farmland under certain conditions (tax-exemption, marriage, long-term stay).
By 1691, colony's population mixed with German Soldiers, Sailors, and French Huguenots; primarily Dutch cultural assimilation.
British Rule and Boer Dissatisfaction
1803: British take over the colony; by 1815 permanently under British rule post Treaty of Paris.
Colony: 260,000 km², 26,720 people of European descent (mostly Dutch, some German and French Huguenots), with 30,000 African and Asian slaves and 17,000 Khoisan.
British posed slavery abolition and offered freedoms that clashed with Boer's lifestyle.
Significant events: 1828 Declaration of Native rights, replacement of Dutch with English in judicial and political systems, slavery abolished in 1834.
Economic downturn for Boers dependent on slave labor.
Compensations for slave owners insufficient, leading to discontent.
Onset of the Great Trek
Some Boers decided to migrate due to perceived British intrusion and desire for independent living.