South Africa

 A Short History of South Africa

The Industrial Revolution was a period in history in which the world was drastically changed after thousands of years of being mainly an agricultural society. The earliest and possibly most well known of these revolutions is the one that took place in Britain, beginning in the late 18th century and spanning over a century. The catalyst of this important historical period was the Agricultural Revolution. This was the process in which people were able to produce more and better crops. This was accomplished by crop rotation, the process of enclosing land, and crop rotation, in which people would change which crops were planted in the same soil through the year. This caused people to have more food, causing a larger population. Many people were able to step out of the agriculture business, and into factory work. The industrial revolution was also extremely influenced by the appearance of the cottage industry. This was a business carried out in a persons home. These cottage industries were able to be because of the surplus of time and food caused by the agricultural revolution. The people in this business would receive raw materials, such as wool, turn it into material, and sell it to merchants, who would sell it in the city. One of the main reasons that a place industrializes is the presence of the correct natural resources needed to do so are available in the region.These include Sheep, Coal, Water, and Iron.   South Africa became industrialized in the late 19th century, when the country went from being largely dependent on agriculture, into an industrialized society. This was the result of discoveries of diamonds in the country. The country became an economic power by the 20th century, a time in which they invented things such as oil from coal, dolos blocks, and the CAT scan. Industrial Revolution is a sudden/radical social and economic change, usually involving the bringing of industry, mechanics, and manufacturing on a large scale.  The Dutch East India Company sent the first Dutch settlers to South Africa in 1652. These Dutch people and their European descendants were known as Boers or Afrikaners and they spoke a dialect known as Afrikaans. As early as 1795, they tried to establish an independent republic. In 1815, Britain took possession of South Africa. After they freed the slaves in 1833, many of the Dutch Boers traveled north and east in a journey known as the Great Trek. After the discovery of diamonds, many “outlanders” of South Africa came into the region. This inspired the prime minister of the Cape Colony to call for annexation. This caused a war against the Boers. The defeat of these Boers led to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Racial separation dominated domestic politics as the Nationalists gained power and imposed greater restrictions on any non white person in South Africa. In 1961, South Africa declared itself a republic, severing its ties from the commonwealth. This was also a step toward farther racism, due to Britain’s views against the South African segregation. By 1993, this segregation known as the Apartheid had been ended due to years of rebellion against it.   

 Crop Rotation 

Personal Narrative 

Anti- Apartheid Poster 

Important Terms 

Industrial Revolution: Totality of the changes in economic and social organization, usually involving the increase in manufactured goods.

Agricultural Revolution: When farmers began to enclose their land and started using crop rotation. This process increased food and lessened the need for jobs in Agriculture.

Afrikaners: A white native of Cape Province who is a descendant of Dutch settlers and who speaks Afrikaans.

The Great Trek: The migration of Boer farmers from the Cape Colony to the north and east from about 1836 to 1845 to escape British authority.

Apartheid: A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.

Diamond Mines in South Africa 

 The Great Trek

The Industrial Revolution  

 Questions for Webquest:

1. Explain why South Africa was able to become an economic power.

2.  Explain what kind of influence the Dutch had on South Africa compared to the influence that England had on it.

3.  Would you risk your life for freedom like the Black people did in the Aparthied did if it was you? Why or why not?