Effects of the British changes at the Cape Colony on the Africans and the Boers

Effects of the British changes at the Cape Colony on the Africans and the Boers

The effects were political, economic and social.

The British introduced a number of changes on slavery 1807-1830's, that favored the slaves in and outside the Cape Colony.

British Missionaries who came in 1812 fought for the well being of the Africans, as they helped those whose land had been taken away for white settlement and farming.

Westernization and civilization due to formal education was enhanced by the Missionaries. This saw a more settled African society, as the Africans led good life.

Many African communities were in opposition to enjoy civil and political rights as the other whites at the Cape.

The natives and colored people (Orlarn, Kora and Griqua) at the Cape were brought under British colonial influence.

Because Africans had learnt English, they became interpreters in the English Criminal Law system, which had replaced the Old Roman Dutch Law.

The Boers condemned the new system, as they felt their dignity as a race apart had been undermined.

Very few Africans were now in a position to vote in the Cape Colony elections based on qualifications of a household and the 25 Pound annual income per person had to be paid in order to vote or be voted for. Therefore many Africans failed to qualify with these requirements.

By the 1828 501h Ordinance, Africans benefited or/ enjoyed freedom of movement, political opportunity and equal legal rights as other Europeans at the Cape.

Many Africans moved to live in towns among others Cape Town, Tulbagh, Stellensdam, Graaf Reinet for Port Elizabeth, Stellenbosch where they took up a new lifestyle and a better standard of living.

For most Africans, land became expensive and many had to seek for employment on white farms, towns and other white man's enterprises.

The colored race became landless.

There were intermarriages between the British and the Africans, which led to increase in the colored race.

To the Boers, British policies (reforms) made them more dissatisfied and embarrassed. Tbey refused equality in all sectors with the Africans -emancipation and rights of African slaves, use of Africans as interpreters in Courts, among others.

The Boers became happy when the British removed all the reforms introduced by the Batavian Dynasty at the Cape 1803- 1806. However when the British banned importation of slaves, the Boers distanced themselves from the British.

British reforms on slavery at the Cape deprived the Boers of their cheap African labor because they had insufficient income to recruit more native laborers.

Due to British reforms on land issues which were introduced to control conflicts with the natives, it was now difficult for the poorer Dutch farmers to afford land at the Cape Colony.

In 1795 the districts of Graaf Reinet and Swellendam demonstrated and declared themselves independent Republics.

The British placed the Boers and the Africans on equal footing, which was refused by all Boer farmers and settlers. This led to the Siagters Nek Rebellion of 1815 up to 1816.

British reforms at the Cape Colony left the Dutch settlers restless and unhappy which led to the Afrikaaner exodus or Great trek (Great Journey) from the Cape Colony into the interior of South Africa from 1830's onwards.

With the Great trek, the Boers managed to form independent Boer republics North of the Orange river like Natal, Transvaal, Orange River Sovereignty (later Orange Free State), but even then ,the British used a decree which prevented freedom of the Boers.

The Boers had to make Missionary work difficult as many of them were seen as agents of British reforms/ policies.