TASK 18Co-operation & conflict on the frontiers

of the Cape ColonyGrade: 7

Presented By: Mrs Sunichur

Pitlochry Primary School Educator

INTRODUCTION

In this section of our work we will focus on:• the arrival of the British and the expanding frontiers of European

settlement• the wars on the Eastern Frontier• case studies of Chief Maqoma and Andries Stockenstrom• the abolition of slavery• the Great Trek• kora and Griqua trade• Robert Moffat and the mission station at Kuruman

By the end of this section of work, you should be able to:• underestand why the British came to the Cape• understand why the Xhosa resisted the British• appreciate the 1820 settlers' contribution to the Cape• understand why the Dutch left the Cape• explain how the Griqua developed• describe Moffat's missionary work

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When the British took over the Cape Colony from the VOC in 1806, they completely changed the way of life that had been established. The Dutch were furious when slavery was abolished and moved into the interior to get away from the British.In 1820, the British authorities persuaded British immigrants to settle on the eastern frontier of the colony in order to stop the Xhosa raids. There were constant wars and conflicts over boundaries and land.The Kora and Griqua traded ivory and animal products for guns and other goods. Robert Moffat started a mission station at Kuruman.

KEYWORDS

• thriving: doing very well• negotiate: to reach agreement through discussion• casualties: refers to those who were wounded as well as to those who

died.• guerilla: a type of warfare in which small groups of soldiers make

surprise attacks on their target and then move off quickly.• orator: speech maker• sensational: describing shocking details to cause excitement• emotional: using words that makes one feel sad, angry or happy.

SUMMARYThe arrival of the BritishFrance, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, occupied part of Holland in 1795. Britain was afraid that France will also take over the Cape. During this time trade between Britain and India was thriving, and British ships were dependant on the fresh produce provided for their sailors at the Cape half-way station. Britain then sent nine warships to take over the Cape. VOC soldiers fought the British for six weeks, but were eventually defeated at the Battle of Muizenburg. The VOC had internal quarrels which weakened its power and by 1799, it no longer existed.In 1803 Britain handed the Cape back to Holland because they were no longer at war with France. Three years later war broke out again and Britain occupied the Cape for the second time. After a few days of fighting the British defeated the Dutch at the Battle of Blaauwberg.

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Britain began making improvements in their new colony, which consisted of aout 22 000 settlers, 25 000 slaves, 15 000 Khoi-khoi and 1000 freed slaves. The following improvements were made:• The British charged lower taxes than the VOC• Farmers could sell their produce to anybody• Farming implements were imported• New farming methods were introduced• Water taps were placed in the streets of what is now Cape Town• Newspapers and horse-racing were introduced

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• Debating societies and cricket matches were introduced.

1806 was a turning point in South Africa's history. The Dutch had ruled the Cape for 154 years. British rule ended in 1910 when the Cape, Natal and the two Boer Republics formed a union to become South Africa.

ACTIVITY 4.1

1. Which country might have taken the Cape away from the VOC before the British could? (1)2. What do you notice about the the number of settlers and slaves in the Cape by 1806? (2)3. Why were the British determined to control the Cape? (2)4. Why were the Dutch not happy to welcome the British to the Cape? (2)5. What is meant by the statement that Britain “took control” of the Cape and the sea route to India? (2)

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6. Explain why the British left the Cape in 1803, but came back in 1806. (2)7. What is a “turning point”? (2)8. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Give your reasons in no more than two sentences. “The fact that 1806 was a turning point in the history of South Africa was decided by what happened in Europe rather than by what happened in the Cape.” (3)

SUMMARYExpanding frontiers of European settlement A frontier is the edge of a settled area where different communities or countries meet. When the Dutch first arrived at the Cape to create a refreshment station, they only occupied a few square kilometres around Cape Town. When the Free Burghers left the VOC and went to farm, they expanded the frontier and took over some of the land that the Khoi-khoi had traditionally used for grazing. As a result, the Khoi-khoi were pushed further inland.The frontier continued to expand when the Trekboers moved inland. The Khoi-khoi were dispossessed of more land and fled to the mountainous regions, the Eastern Cape or became servants to the Dutch.

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As the number of European settlers grew over the years, towns like Swellendam and Graaff-Reinet were developed on the frontiers. The frontier didn't only expand towards the North. Dutch farmers also moved east. They wanted to get away from the hot, dry summers and cold wet winters and move to an area which offered mild winters and summer rainfall. They found good grazing between the Sundays and Fish rivers. They also encountered Xhosa and Khoi-khoi farmers here, but there were no problems until more settlers started to arrive in the area. In 1780, the Dutch officials created a fixed boundary. The Xhosa farmers on the West of the boundary were told to move to the east of the boundary. This angered the Xhosas and resulted in nine Frontier Wars.

ACTIVITY 4.2

1. Choose the best answer to complete the statement below:

A frontier is - a) a town where people live b) a border between communities c) a river d) the area east of which the Xhosa had to live (1)

2. Name two directions in which the Cape frontier expanded. (2)

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3. Give the names of two towns that were founded as the frontier expanded. (2)

4. Write a paragraph on why the frontier expanded away from the Cape. (5)

5. What would you say was the main reason for conflict between Dutch and Xhosa farmers on the Eastern Frontier? (2)

SUMMARY Frontier wars on the Eastern Frontier of European settlementThere were nine Frontier Wars in the Suurveld area between 1779 and 1879. The first three were fought between the Xhosa and the Trekboers over who had the right to graze their cattle in the area. The VOC sent a commando to help the Trekboers against the Xhosa and to draw up a peace treaty. They were unable to drive the Xhosa out of the area during these first three wars. However, when the British took over the Cape they sent well-trained troops into the Suurveld . This was the beginning of the end of Xhosa independence. The British governor , Sir John Cradock, was determined to drive the Xhosa out of the Suurveld. He was protecting the interests of the Dutch farmers who were the main suppliers of meat for Cape Town.

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Military forts were built along the Fish River to keep the Xhosa out of the Suurveld. In 1820, British settlers were given farms in the Suurveld. In 1830 , the occasional raids on settler farms by the Xhosa turned into the sixth fierce Frontier War, led by the Xhosa chief, Hintsa. This war left a total of 7000 people homeless.In 1835, Hintsa, who was trying to negotiate for peace, was captured and held by the leader of the British army, Colonel Harry Smith. After a few days, Hintsa was wounded while escaping imprisonment and hid in a river. Soldiers found him there and shot him dead.

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His head was cut off and sent to Britain as a trophy. Hintsa became a Xhosa hero.

The end result of the bitter wars was that all the territory and inhabitants in the Eastern Cape came under British authority.

ACTIVITY 4.3

1. How many Frontier Wars were fought? (1)2. How many years ago did the last frontier war end? (1)3. Which four groups fought in the Frontier Wars? (2)4. What is meant by “Xhosa independence”? (2)5. What was the main reason according to the text, for Dutch farmers to have settled in the Suurveld? (2)6. What was the main reason according to the text, for Xhosa farmers to have settled in the Suurveld? (2)

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7. Why do you think the Dutch were unable to drive the Xhosa from the Suurveld? (2)8. How did the British try to keep the Xhosa out of the Suurveld? (2)9. Do you think this solution worked? Why do you say so? (2)10. Write a short histoty of Hintsa's life. (5) Complete the following statement by adding two words:11. When the Xhosa lost their independence, they came under __________________ _________________ (2)

SUMMARYChief Maqoma and Xhosa resistance to British rule

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Activity 4.4

1. Summarise the ten most important facts about Chief Maqoma in point form. (10)

2. Write an article about Chief Maqoma's life in newspaper format for 'The Xhosa Times', dated 9 September 1873 (the day on which Maqoma died). Your article must be biased in favour of Maqoma. You can write in a sensational and emotional style, but you must also stick to the facts. Make up an eye-catching heading. (10)

SUMMARYSoldiers and officialsWhen the frontier expanded inland, the VOC did not have enough officials to police the Free Burghers and Trekboers, who were hundreds of kilometres away from Cape Town. The Dutch farmers formed their own commandos, so that they did not have to give up owning slaves.After 1806, the British government in the Cape colony grew determined to control the unrest on the frontier. The colony was divided into districts which were governed by British officials. The Dutch were allowed to choose their own magistrates and committees to run local affairs. In order to control the labour force, new laws were passed which forced European farmers to register their Khoi-khoi servants.

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The British government's second objective was to push the Xhosas back beyond the Great Fish River. Colonel John Graham founded a Khoi-khoi regiment which was sent along with British soldiers to fight the Xhosa along the Eastern Frontier. The Khoi-khoi were given alcohol, tobacco and salaries in exchange for their services. They were very useful to the British because they were excellent marksmen, wagon-drivers, trackers and guides.The Frontier wars became more violent when the British built 11 forts from which to watch the Xhosa's daily movements in the Suurveld. Eventually the Eastern Frontier came under the control of the British.

Activity 4.5

1. Explain what the word “unrest” means in the following sentence: “After 1806, the British government were determined to control the unrest on the frontier.” (2)2. Choose the best answer from a) to d) below: Why did the Dutch farmers form commandos? a) To chase the VOC officials away b) To protect themselves from Xhosa attacks c) To maintain law and order d) To put restrictions on the way in which servants were treated. (2)

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3. Why did the British build forts on the Eastern Frontier? (2)4. Name the river on the east of the Suurveld? ( refer to map on page 150 of your textbook) (1)5. Why, according to the text, was the Khoi-khoi regiment prepared to fight the Xhosa on the frontier? (2)6. “The VOC officials were weak.” Decide if this statement is true. Give reasons for your answer. (4)7. Explain how the British officials tried to control the frontiers. Name and explain at least four methods that they used. (4)

REMEMBER!!!!