Great Trek

Great Trek

Was the movement of the Boers away from British rule in the Cape Colony to the interior of South Africa

Why did the Boers leave the Cape Colony? (Give TWO reasons)

Dislike of British rule /abolition of slavery? economic struggles

What impact did British rule have on the Boers

Introduced new laws, language in courts, and reduced Boer power

Why were Boers unhappy with the abolition of slavery?

Lost slvae labour and felt compensation was unfair and inaccessible

What problem did the Boers face with compensation?

Compensation was paid in London, Boers did not have funds to travel to London

How did Ordinance 50 change power relations?

Slaves were given the right to be free, own property, and challenge Boers legally

What role did missionaries play?

Missionaries supported indigenous people and sometimes opposed the Boer Treatment

Why did Boers feel culturally alienated?

English replaced Dutch

What items did trekkers carry with them

Household Goods

Furniture

Clothes

Agricultural Tools

Weapons

Fruit trees

What was the purpose of the trek into the interior

To find independence, land, and escape British control

Explain THREE economic reasons for the Great Trek

Loss of slave labour

Poor compensation systems

Land is becoming scarce and expensive

Farming systems disrupted

Explain THREE social or cultural causes of the Great Trek

English language dominance

Equality laws between settlers and Indigenous people

Missionary influence

Feeling alienated from British society

Describe how British policies changed power relations in the Cape

The Boers lost legal control

KhoiKhoi gained rights

Workers could challenge farmers

British law replaced the Boer authority

Missionaries supported indigenous complaints

Discuss the effects of the Great Trek on South Africa

Formation of the Boer Republics ( Transval , orange free state , Natalia )

Increased conflict between the Boers, the British, and the African Groups

Defeat of Zulu and Ndebele kingdoms

Expansion of European settlements

Labout shortages led to African labour use

Explain the Empty Land Theory and why it is considered a myth

Interior was uninhabbited

Suggested Eurpeans and African arrived at the same time

Justify land occupation

Myth - african communities already lived there