Unit 1:Britain, diamond mining, labour control and land expansion

Unit 1:Britain, diamond mining, labour control and land expansion

Powerpoint presentation created by:Mr L Taute

ltaute@hsmontana.co.za

Textbook page 106 - 111

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1. Diamond mining starts in S.A.

• In 1866, Erasmus Jacobs (the child of a Dutch farmer) found the first diamond on the banks of the Orange River!– This was on the farm De Kalk, near Hopetown.– It was the Eureka Diamond (21.19 carats).

• When more diamonds were discovered, a 3rd in 1871 (83,5 carats), then the diamond rush started.

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This was the beginning of theMineral revolution in S.A.

1. Diamond mining starts in S.A.(continues)

• The diamond rush focused on Kimberley.• Hundreds became involved here in open-pit

mining, eventually resulting in the “Big Hole”.

• This also helped finance gold mining on the Witwatersrand (now Johannesburg-area) when gold was discovered there in 1886.

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2. Increasing control over black workers

• Britain & Mine Owners began to look for ways to control and hold black Africans once they were in Kimberley...thus closed compounds wereformed.

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2.1 What were closed compounds?

1. Type of fenced residence for migrant workers.2. Provided very basic accommodation, with 4-6

men living in a confined space. Bathroom / Toilet facilities were also shared.

3. About 15 years AFTER diamond mining began in Kimberley in 1885, mining companies began to introduce a system of closed compounds to accommodate their black labour force.

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2.1 What were closed compounds? (continues)

• By 1889 all 10 000 black mineworkers on Kimberley were accommodated in closed compounds.This system was SO successfull it was later replicated for the gold mines, to get maximum labour time form the workers

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Self-studyLast paragraphof page107-108

(read only)

2.2 Migrant labour• Africans journeyed far to work on the mines, some even

up to 1500km!• From 1872 migrant labour was controlled by a pass

system .• Mine owners liked to use

these workers becausethey could pay them lowwages.

• They worked on a contract basis.

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3. Final defeat of the African kingdoms

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Map page 109in textbook.

• British increased the dispossession of the African kingdoms’ land in SA!

• These nations had experienced the above :

3.1 Xhosa (1878)3.2 Zulus3.3 Pedi

(1879)

3.1 Land dispossession and defeat of the Xhosas

• The Xhosa wars (Cape Frontier Wars) , were a series of NINE wars from 1779-1879 in the Eastern Cape.– Wars 1+2+3 = Against the trekboers.– Wars 4+5+6+7+8+9 = Against the Brittish.

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3.2 Land dispossession and defeat of the Zulu

• After the death of Mpande in 1873, Cetshwayo became king of the Zulu.

• Although Britain recognised him as king, the colonial authorities in Natal tried to bring him under his control.

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Self-studyp.110

in textbook(only read through)

3.2 Land dispossession and defeat of the Zulu (continues)

Britain hold war against Zulus :• General Frederick Thesiger had lead 17,000 soldiers in Zululand , and

continued to Isandlwana (the mountain's name in Zululand).• Thesiger had later split his troops into 2 groups.

(1 group had chased a small group of Zulus, while the rest stayed at camp)• On 22 Jan 1879, Zulu soldiers of ± 20 000 attacked the British forces at

Isandlwana, and won!• Britain later defeated the Zulu

forces on 4 July 1879, at thebattlefield of Ulundi.

• Cetshwayo was captured on 28 Aug.

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3.3 Land dispossession and the defeat of the Pedi

• July 1876 was start of 1st war in Bopedi against the Bapedi, Boers en Swazi’s.

• In April 1877, Transvaal was annexed by Brittain.

• On 28 November 1879,Sekhukhane was capturedand the Bapedi weredefeated!

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Unit 1:Britain, diamond mining, labour control and land expansion

Unit 1:Britain, diamond mining, labour control and land expansion

Powerpoint presentation created by:Mr L Taute

ltaute@hsmontana.co.za

Textbook page 106 - 111

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