Difference between revisions of "Afrikaner"
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| − | '''Afrikaner''' is a [[South Africa]]n people | + | '''Afrikaner''' is term applied to a group of [[South Africa]]n people, descended from the original 17th century [[Netherlands|Dutch]] and [[Huguenot]] settlers. During [[British]] colonial rule they were also referred to as ''Boers'', as many of them were pastoral farmers. In an attempt to free themselves of British rule, small groups left the [[Cape Colony]] and headed for the interior, thus opening up the rest of the country, in what is known as the [[The Great Trek]]. |
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| + | The derogatory word ''Boer'' also gave rise to the term [[Boer War]] to describe the two wars fought between the British and majority Afrikaner forces during the late 19<sup>th</sup> and early 20<sup>th</sup> centuries. These have subsequently been renamed the [[South African Wars]]. [[Afrikaans]] is the language spoken by Afrikaners. | ||
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| + | The [[South African National Party|National Party]], which came into power in 1948, received a large amount of support from the Afrikaner community, fueled by anti-British sentiments carried over from the legacy of the [[South African Wars]] and pro-[[Nazi]] sentiment amongst its founders, many of whom were members of the subversive [[Ossewa-Brandwag]] (''Ox Wagon Torch Guard'') during [[World War 2]]. It was this party that later formalised the already-existing [[racial segregation]], imposed first by the [[Dutch]] and later by the [[British]] colonialists, giving it the name [[apartheid]]. | ||
[[Category:South Africa]] | [[Category:South Africa]] | ||
Revision as of 13:51, March 26, 2008
Afrikaner is term applied to a group of South African people, descended from the original 17th century Dutch and Huguenot settlers. During British colonial rule they were also referred to as Boers, as many of them were pastoral farmers. In an attempt to free themselves of British rule, small groups left the Cape Colony and headed for the interior, thus opening up the rest of the country, in what is known as the The Great Trek.
The derogatory word Boer also gave rise to the term Boer War to describe the two wars fought between the British and majority Afrikaner forces during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These have subsequently been renamed the South African Wars. Afrikaans is the language spoken by Afrikaners.
The National Party, which came into power in 1948, received a large amount of support from the Afrikaner community, fueled by anti-British sentiments carried over from the legacy of the South African Wars and pro-Nazi sentiment amongst its founders, many of whom were members of the subversive Ossewa-Brandwag (Ox Wagon Torch Guard) during World War 2. It was this party that later formalised the already-existing racial segregation, imposed first by the Dutch and later by the British colonialists, giving it the name apartheid.