The 1910 Act Of Union

The 1910 Act Of Union

On September 20^th 1909, the Union of South Africa was passed in the white Cape Parliament, which proposed a Constitution.

The Parliament chose May 31^st, 1910, as the actual date for the Union of South Africa.

Steps to the 1910 Act or Union in South Africa

In the 1850's, the British devised schemes for federation. In 1858 George Grey was empowered to make recommendations. His report supported the idea and recommended the inclusion of the Orange Free State or former Orange River Sovereignty and Transvaal.

In 1858, there was the unification of the two Boer republics of Lydenburg and Utrecht, Zoutpansburg accepted the Constitution.

In 1866, there was the unification of the Cape Colony with the British Kaffraria. In 1868 Basuto land was annexed and in 1871 Griqualand. British policies could then be applied over a wider area.

In the 1870's Caernarvon made effort towards Union. Iv 1878 Jan Hofrneyr founded the Farmer's Protection Association. He was a Boer resident in the Cape Colony. This step provided basis for union.

In 1877 the British annexed Transvaal directly paving way for eventual unification.

By 1890's Cecil Rhodes had earlier formed the De' Beers Consolidated Company and later the British South African Company was chartered in 1890. The company advocated for union.

On 31^st May 1902 the peace treaty of Vereeniging was signed. Boer republics lost independence though they were p-omised full responsible government. All major areas in South Africa were under direct British control.

Between 1902 to 1910 was a period of significant steps. In 1905, P. N. Bortha and Jan Smuts founded the Peoples Party in Transvaal, which stressed reconciliation and accepted all terms of the treaty.

In May 1908, a conference was held to consider the details of the union. From 12/10/1908 to 05/11/1908 a National Convention was held in Durban and 23/11/1908 to 02/02/1909 in the Cape Town.

In the Convention clause of equality between the Dutch and English languages was agreed on and the name Orange Free Colony changed to Orange Free State. A draft Constitution was made for the Union.

On the 31/05/1910 the British Parliament passed the South African Act. The union came into being and the four colonies became provinces.

Between 1854-74, Sir George Grey, Governor of the Cape and the British Colonial Secretary Lord Carenarvon, the latter appointed by the British Prime Minister Disraeli, who attempted to federate aJl the two South African states and the two British provinces of South Africa.

Why the Union was formed

The Union of South Africa was a Federation of the two Boer republics- Transvaal and Orange Free State and the two British Provinces -Cape Colony and Natal.

It was formed after 1910 between the Boers and the British after several years of hostility and conflict as early as the Great Trek.

It was formed aimed at stopping hostility between the Boers and the British.

The British were threatening to destroy Boer independence and the two groups came into a Union.

The British feared that the Boers could co-operate with the Germans in Namibia and the Portuguese in Mozambique and Angola to out compete them in South Africa.

The peace treaty of Vereeniging after the Anglo-Boer wars called for unity and this led to a Union.

It was formed to avoid competition between the whites in South Africa especially Customs Union, trade policies, to avoid economic barriers and integration of railways of Transvaal and Orange Free State under one authority.

To lower administrative costs and avoid repetition of services in South Africa.

The fear of African revolts made the whites united, e.g. Africans had revolted, in 1879 Anglo- Zulu war and 1906 Bambatta rebellion in Zulu land, the 1875-76 Bapedi- Boer war, and the earlier 1854 Basuto- Cape wars, etc.

The whites were aware of African hatred and this threat united them.

There was no opposition from the Boer and British sides. The men who could have opposed it had died especially Paul Kruger, Hendrik Brand and Cecil Rhodes.

There was also a need to restore a responsible government amongst the whites.

It was also formed against Indian threats. The Indians under Mahatma Gandhi who had come during the exploitation of minerals started demanding their rights.

The efforts of the British High Commissioner in South Africa Lord Selbourne helped very much to foster the Union of South African states.

Terms of the 1910 Act of Union/ What was decided upon

The Union Parliatnent was given supreme authority over the four white states, which in future came to be called Provinces.

The four colonies or states were to be called provinces of the Union,

The head of the union was called the Governor General,

A Council Executive of Ministers assisted the Governor General,

The Union Parliament was to consist of House of Assembly and the Upper Chamber- Senate,

The Parliament was to be in Cape Town, Executive headquarters in Pretoria and the Judiciary in Bloemfontein.

The Orange River Colony was renamed Orange Free State,

Swazi, Lesotho and Botswana were to be controlled by the British as the High Commissioner Territories and recognition was made for the non-white voters in the Cape Colony especially the coloureds.

The Parliamentary membership at the Cape was limited to Europeans,

No Africans and other non-whites were allowed to be members of the Union Parliament,

The official languages were Dutch and English,

There was to be complete equality of English nationals- (it had been agreed even in the Constitution) on 20^th September.

There was to be one Supreme Court for the whole national Government with Provincial and District Courts.

Problems that were to be solved by the Union of the whites in South Africa

The special position of the Natal Colony .

The way of life to be adopted by the people in the subcontinent.

The choice of the capital city.

The official language to be adopted in South Africa.

The position of non-whites and blacks in South Africa.

The policy to be adopted by the Boers towards the Africans .

The kind of flag to be adopted in the Union.

The question of internal conflicts between Boers and British.

The Union Constitution to be adopted.

The administrative costs to be established.

The question of resistances offered by Africans.

Problems that were solved by the Union

The Union gave South Africa to European domination.

The Union of South Africa was finally formed.

The problems between the whites for long were alleviated.

The Boers gained more in the union and solved the problem of British influence.

The Governor General of South Africa was to be a British appointee, though the Boers had gained.

The Boer communities were now frce to carry out their activities.

The European economic control of South Africa was attained.

It solved the long-standing Anglo-Boer conflicts that existed since the days of the British occupation in South Africa in 1795 and 1806.

Africans were left enslaved or controlled to the Europeans in South Africa.

The Union left some problems unsolved- that of African heritage in his own homeland.