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- This newspaper extract describes the discussions which took place
in the Volksraad on the issue of migrating African peoples. The Volksraads
were the Parliaments for the Boer areas of South Africa.
- The issue being discussed is that the Bachatla people were saying
that they needed more land. If they did not get it, they were threatening
to migrate. The Bachatla were one of many peoples who had lost their
original lands in the course of wars with the Boers and the British.
At the time of this source Bachatla peoples were settled on lands that
were crossed by the border between lands controlled by Britain and the
Boers. This gives an idea of the ways in which European settlement disrupted
lives.
- Britain took control of the Cape Colony in South Africa in 1806. However,
there were already European settlers there. They were descended from
the original Dutch settlers, and were known as Afrikaaners or Boers.
- During the 1800s the Boers moved inland into South Africa because
they did not like British rule. They objected to British taxes. They
also objected because under British rule native Africans were given
basic civil rights.
- As they moved inland the Boers clashed with the Zulus and other African
nations. The British became involved in these wars. By the late 1800s
the British controlled the provinces of Cape and Natal. Further north,
the Boers controlled the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
- Africans were not treated especially well in the British controlled
areas or the Boer controlled areas. However, the British generally treated
them better. The Boers saw the Africans as only being fit to be slaves.
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