Southern Africa By 1860 Flashcards
Discuss indentured labour from India to work on sugar plantations in the British colony of natal
1860s- new group of people in SA. They from India and came to work on sugar plantations in B colony of natal.
Discuss India as a British colony
B started trade in India hundreds of years ago. India came under trading organization, the English east India company. 1857- uprising against them, B gov sent soldiers to crush it and then took over India as a colony. Raw materials from India (cotton, tea, rice, indigo, jute) sent to be processed in B factories. Manufactured goods from B were sold in India. Britain got wealthy. Indian soldiers served as B soldiers. Thousands of indentured Indian workers were sent to work in other B colonies.
Discuss reasons why labour was imported:the Zulu kingdom was still independent
In 1850s B settlers in natal saw sugar cane grew well there. Sugar farming needed lots of workers, some to grow the sugar cane, others to work in sugar mills. African locals refused to work there because wages were low. They preferred to work on their own farms. At that time, zululand was independent and zululeaders did not want young men to leave to work in the natal colony. Between 1860 and 1911 about 152 000 (quarter women) people came from India to work on the sugar plantations.
Discuss reasons for demand for sugar in Britain
It was used to sweeten coffee and chocolate, and for making jams and cakes. It could not be grown there, as it needed warmer conditions. For years, the plantations in West Indies supplied nearly all sugar needed in B. When slaves were freed in 1830s, West Indies still produced sugar, which was sold in Europe using indentured workers. During IR! Demand for sugar increased (population increased, many more people could afford it). B started sugar plantations in other colonies (Queensland in Australia, Mauritius, natal). Between 1850 and 1900 over half a million indentured workers left India to work in sugar plantations.
Discuss the conditions under which indentured labourers lived and worked.
Indian workers in natal signed contracts, called indentures, to work a period of time (5years). After this they could make a choice:
-they could do another 5yr indenture
-they could stay in natal 5yrs and go back to India at gov expense.
-they could accept a piece of land equal to the expense of return passage to India.
Living and working conditions were hard. Workers lived in grass huts or corrugated iron buildings. Work hard and dangerous. Workers were badly treated and whipped. Half stayed in Africa once contracts are finished.
Discuss passenger Indians from 1869 onwards
Not all Indians in Africa were labourers. From 1869 some wealthy merchants came aswell. They paid for own tickets from India, were called passenger Indians. Many set up successful shops and businesses. Mahatama Gandhi (Indian lawyer) spent 20 yrs working in SA. He returned to India to free India from British rule.
Map and brief description of political settlement
B got powerful and wealthy, as a readily of IR and was determined to build up an empire in other parts of world. (southern Africa). 1860- B had control over some of it, over next 40 yrs extended.
-THE CAPE
B colony since 1806. Main export: wool (made into cloths in B)
-NATAL
B colony since 1843. settlers grew diff crops (cotton, coffee, Tabacco) for export. 1850s found sugar grew well there
-THE ORANGE FREE STATE AND TRANSVAAL
boer republics, where Dutch-speaking Trekkers from cape settled as stock farmers. Orange free state got independence in 1854 and Transvaal in 1852
-INDEPENDANT AFRICAN KINGDOMS:
most independent A states formed in 1820s and 1830s. Some were Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Mpondo, Thembu, Swazi, Pedi, Shangaan, Venda and several Tswana chiefdoms.
-THE GRIQUA
lived in area where orange and Vaal rivers meet. They were farmers, hunters, traders. Had independent republic.
-THE NAMA, OORLAMS AND KORA
were Khoi societies. Lived near orange river. Managed to keep independence coz they had guns and horses from cape colony.
