Boers

The Boers are an Afrikaans-speaking people whose ancestors are mainly Dutch, Huguenots and German Reformed Protestants. Boers are also commonly called "Afrikaner-Boers", "Boere-Afrikaners" or sometimes merely "Afrikaners", this last desegnation rather vague, however, becuase they should not be confused with the larger Afrikaans-speaking ethnic group in South Africa, also commonly called the Afrikaners.

History

The Great Trek

The origin of the Boer people can be seen as the The Great Trek (1835-1845) was the northern migration of 12,000–14,000 Boer settlers from Cape Colony in South Africa when the British arrived and took control of the government. They seeked freedom and self-determination in their own homeland. The leaders of the "Trek" was Andries Pretorius, Piet Retief, Piet Uys, Hendrik Potgieter and Gerrit Maritz. The Boers migrated northward into what became known as the Orange Free State and later into the Transvaal (South African Republic). Although the Boers found no indigious people at the time of settlement in these areas, Retief chose to settle in Natal, where he came into conflict with the Zulus. After various battles in Natal in 1838, help from the other Voorttrekker leaders arrived in December. Some 438 Trekkers made a Covenant with God, that they would give the glory of the victory to Him. Charl Cilliers was the author of the Covenant. On 16 December 1838, the Trekkers defeated nearly 12 000 Zulus at during the Battle of Blood River. Boers still celebrate December 16th every year as Covenant Day. Various Boer Republics were founded after the "Trek": in 1838, the Republic of Natalia was founded, but it was shortlived, it ceased to exist in 1843. The South African Reoublic and the Orange Free State gained independence from Great Brittian in 1852 and 1854, respectively.

The Anglo-Boer Wars

Two Anglo-Boer wars were fought during the latter part of the 18th century, the first was won by the South African Republic in 1881, the second, spanning from 1899 to 1902, was eventually won by the British. On May 31, 1902, both the South African Republic and the Orange Free State conceded their independence to Great Brittian. Over 100 000 Boer woman and children died in British concentration camps during the war.

The Maritz Rebellion

After the Union of South Africa was formed by the British colonies of the Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal in 1910, a few thousand Boers participated in a rebellion, under leadership of Manie Maritz, against the government in 1914, after the government decleared war against Germany. The aim of the Rebellion was to found a new Boer Republic. The rebels were surpressed by the government forces, however, and many recieved jail sentences.