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The '''Boers''' are an [[Afrikaans]]-speaking people whose ancestors are mainly [[Dutch]], Huguenots and [[German]] [[Reformed Churches|Reformed]] [[Protestants]]. Boers are also commonly called "Boervolk", "Afrikaner-Boers", "Boere-Afrikaners" or sometimes merely "Covenant Afrikaners". They should not be confused with the larger Afrikaans-speaking ethnic group in South Africa, commonly called the [[Afrikaner]]s. The Boers number approximately 400,000 people today.  

The '''Boers''' are an [[Afrikaans]]-speaking people whose ancestors are mainly [[Dutch]], [[Huguenots]] and [[German]] [[Reformed Churches|Reformed]] [[Protestants]]. Boers are also commonly called "Boervolk", "Afrikaner-Boers", "Boere-Afrikaners" or sometimes merely "Covenant Afrikaners". They should not be confused with the larger Afrikaans-speaking ethnic group in South Africa, commonly called the [[Afrikaner]]s. The Boers number approximately 400,000 people today.  

== History ==

== History ==

=== The Great Trek ===

=== The Great Trek ===

The origin of the Boer people can be seen as the [[Great Trek of the Boers|Great Trek]] (1835-1845), it 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 sought 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 indigenous 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 during the [[Battle of Blood River]]. Various Boer Republics were founded after the "Trek": in 1838, the Republic of Natalia was founded, but it was short-lived, it ceased to exist in 1843. The South African Republic and the Orange Free State gained independence from [[Great Britain]] in 1852 and 1854, respectively.<ref>

The origin of the Boer people began among the nomadic pastoralists known as Trekboers who trekked inland during the late 1600s & throughout the 1700s but became renown during a series of mass migrations later called the [[Great Trek of the Boers|Great Trek]] (1835-1845), which 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 sought 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 indigenous 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 during the [[Battle of Blood River]]. Various Boer Republics were founded after the "Trek": in 1838, the Republic of Natalia was founded, but it was short-lived, it ceased to exist in 1843. The South African Republic and the Orange Free State gained independence from [[Great Britain]] in 1852 and 1854, respectively.<ref>

http://www.groottrek.za.cx/</ref>

http://www.groottrek.za.cx/</ref>

=== 20th Century ===

=== 20th Century ===

After the formation of the Union, there was a deliberate attempt to assimilate the Boers with the Cape-based Afrikaners. Although this had some success in the 20th century, recently it became increasingly clear that the Boers and Afrikaners have remained distinct cultural groups. Many Boers were represented in the National Party that ruled the country from 1924 to 1934 and again from 1948 to 1994. It was the influence of Boer Nationalism that led to the formation of the independent Republic of [[South Africa]] on May 31, 1961 under leadership of Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd. In the late 1980s, most Boers left the National Party and joined the [[Conservative Party of South Africa]] and some already joined the [[Re-constituted National Party]] some 15-20 years earlier.<ref>http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/flags/za}kp.html</ref> In the 1992 referendum, virtually all Boers voted against the transformation of South Africa into a multiracial state.

After the formation of the Union, there was a deliberate attempt to assimilate the Boers with the Cape-based Afrikaners. Although this had some success in the 20th century, recently it became increasingly clear that the Boers and Afrikaners have remained distinct cultural groups. Many Boers were represented in the National Party that ruled the country from 1924 to 1934 and again from 1948 to 1994. It was the influence of Boer Nationalism that led to the formation of the independent Republic of [[South Africa]] on May 31, 1961 under leadership of Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd. In the late 1980s, most Boers left the National Party and joined the [[Conservative Party of South Africa]] and some already joined the [[Re-constituted National Party]] some 15–20 years earlier.<ref>http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/flags/za}kp.html</ref> In the 1992 referendum, virtually all Boers voted against the transformation of South Africa into a multiracial state.

== The Boers today ==

== The Boers today ==

=== Politics ===

=== Politics ===

=== Education ===

=== Education ===

 

The [[BCVO]] ('Movement for Christian-National Education') is a federation of 47 Calvinist private schools, primarily located in the Free State and the Transvaal, committed to educating Boer children from grade 0 through to 12.<ref>http://www.bcvo.co.za</ref>

The [[BCVO]] ('Movement for Christian-National Education') is a federation of 47 Calvinist private schools, primarily located in the Free State and the Transvaal, comitted to educating Boer children from grade 0 through to 12.<ref>www.bcvo.co.za</ref>

=== Media ===

=== Media ===

Some local Radio stations promote the ideals of the Boere-Afrikaner people, like [[Radio Rosestad]] (in Bloemfontein) and [[Radio Pretoria]].

Some local Radio stations promote the ideals of the Boere-Afrikaner people, like [[Radio Rosestad]] (in Bloemfontein) and [[Radio Pretoria]].

=== Territories ===

=== Territories ===

Two territorial areas are being developed as settlement exclusively for Boere-Afrikaners, [[Orania]] in the Northern Cape and [[Kleinfontein]] near [[Pretoria]].

Two territorial areas are being developed as settlement exclusively for Boere-Afrikaners, [[Orania]] in the Northern Cape and [[Kleinfontein]] near [[Pretoria]].

== Characteristics ==

== Characteristics ==

=== Nationalism ===

=== Nationalism ===

''See also: [[Boer Nationalism]]''

{{See also|Boer Nationalism}}

[[Nationalism]] is one of the main distinctions of the Boers. The Boers originated from a northward migration in the 19th century, in order to escape British Imperialism, and since then they have had a continuous struggle for self-determination in their own homeland. Boer nationalism also supports a [[Republican]] form of government and strongly oppose [[Communism]] in favour of [[Capitalism]].<ref>http://www.boerevolk.com/boerevolk/index.htm</ref> Boers still celebrate the Covenant made at Blood River on December 16th, 1838, annually. This is often regarded as their biggest distinction as a seperate culture group.

[[Nationalism]] is one of the main distinctions of the Boers. The Boers originated from a northward migration in the 19th century, in order to escape British Imperialism, and since then they have had a continuous struggle for self-determination in their own homeland. Boer nationalism also supports a [[Republican]] form of government and strongly oppose [[Communism]] in favour of [[Capitalism]].<ref>http://www.boerevolk.com/boerevolk/index.htm</ref> Boers still celebrate the Covenant made at Blood River on December 16, 1838, annually. This is often regarded as their biggest distinction as a separate culture group.

=== Calvinism ===

=== Calvinism ===

 

{{See also|Boer Calvinism}}

''See also: [[Boer Calvinism]]''

The Boers are mainly descended from Dutch, German and French [[Calvinists]], who left Europe between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. The Boers had a distinct Calvinist influence throughout their history, however it has varied from time to time. During the second half of the century, the [[Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) Church]] was the state church of the Transvaal and Calvinism was also the national religion of the Orange Free State. Note the "Orange" in Orange Free State: it is named after the Protestant [[House of Orange]] in the Netherlands. Most Boers today are members of [[Reformed Churches]] and they represent approximately 80% of the members of the [[Afrikaans Protestant Church]]. Boer Nationalists also often stress the importance of Calvinism in Boer culture.<ref>http://www.kletskerk.co.za/viewtopic.php?p=78085#78085</ref> In recent times, however, many Boers joined the [[Christian Identity]] movement. A very small number is also members of [[Baptist]] and [[Pentecostal]] Churches.

The Boers are mainly descended from Dutch, German and French [[Calvinists]], who left Europe between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. The Boers had a distinct Calvinist influence throughout their history, however it has varied from time to time. During the second half of the century, the [[Dutch Reformed (Hervormde) Church]] was the state church of the Transvaal and Calvinism was also the national religion of the Orange Free State. Note the "Orange" in Orange Free State: it is named after the Protestant [[House of Orange]] in the Netherlands. Most Boers today are members of [[Reformed Churches]] and they represent approximately 80% of the members of the [[Afrikaans Protestant Church]]. Boer Nationalists also often stress the importance of Calvinism in Boer culture.<ref>http://www.kletskerk.co.za/viewtopic.php?p=78085#78085</ref> In recent times, however, many Boers joined the [[Christian Identity]] movement. A very small number is also members of [[Baptist]] and [[Pentecostal]] Churches.

Unlike most [[Afrikaner]]s, Boers use the 1953-translation of the Afrikaans [[Bible]].

Unlike most [[Afrikaner]]s, Boers use the 1953-translation of the Afrikaans [[Bible]].

[[Category:Africa]]

[[Category:Africa]]

[[Category:South Africa]]

[[Category:South Africa]]

[[Category:Ethnicities]]

[[Category:Ethnicities]]