Imperialists Divide Nigeria and South Africa

1. Imperialists Divide Nigeria and South Africa Imperialism in South Africa

2. Background • African pastoralists and farmers had inhabited the region for centuries before any other country. • South Africa was geographically ideal • Pastures and farmland were substantial • There were huge deposits of diamonds, gold, copper, and coal and iron ores

3. Who invaded? The British – Cecil Rhodes • Annexed the diamond region at Kimberly • Continued inward to defeat the Xhosa people • Encountered the Zulu people, which were the most dominant and most feared kingdom in southern Africa and very resistant to European invasion. Hence, the Zulu kingdom fought a war against Britain in 1879. Britain eventually conquered Zulu lands. • Tried to annex Afrikaner republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State which led to the South African War. • The British ruled directly The Zulu people were the most resistant to European invaders and fought back tenaciously. They were led by Shaka Zulu. During the war against Britain, the Zulus succeeded in the beginning but were eventually defeated.

4. Effects: Positive • Contact with missionaries • Schools opened up where Africans were taught reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as crafts such as carpentry and blacksmithing, and cooking, laundry and child care. • Some slaves had the opportunity to rise up in social status. Ex. Samuel Ajayi Crowther was rescued in slavery and went on to become an Anglican minister and the first African bishop.

5. Effects: Negative • South Africa had a majority of indigenous inhabitants that were not given any civil rights. • The Natives Act, passed by the South African parliament in 1913, assigned Africans to reservations and forbid them from owning land elsewhere. • South Africa became a land of segregation, oppression and bitter divisions. • When migrant workers left their families to find work, women faced many hardships.

6. Union of South Africa • In 1910, all the British colonies of southern Africa unites to create the union of South Africa.

7. What has happened since? • After World War II, the Union of South Africa became the nation of South Africa. • Because of the inequality in South Africa, the crime rate has increased dramatically. • South Africa went through a time of extreme discrimination.

8. Britain invaded many areas of Africa, mainly southern Africa. The Union of South Africa, capital Pretoria.

9. Overall… Overall the negative effects of imperialism in southern Africa were greater than the positive effects. South Africa is not a stable country today because of the events during the age of imperialism.