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Afrikaners' Establishment of Apartheid in 1948 Essay

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Afrikaners' Establishment of Apartheid in 1948

During the seventeenth century South Africa was colonized by English and Dutch, the decedents of the Dutch settlers became known as as Boers who were determined to live by their own rules and not to be controlled by anyone else, they wanted economical end geographical control, but most of all the wanted to be segregated from all non-whites, the wanted Apartheid: Afrikaans: "apartness", a policy that governed relations between South Africa's white minority and black majority, sanctioned racial segregation and political and economical discrimination against non-whites.

In 1838 their journey to gain the power that they longed for began. Since the …show more content…

The myths and legends that evolved from the Great Trek would later be used as a factor to justify the Apartheid. The Great Trek was the first step towards power and Apartheid, It was very important because it put the Boers on a course, which would develop in to a longing for supremacy.

Before their second step could take place their strategy to gain economical power suffered downfall. In 1867 diamond fields were found in South Africa, shortly followed by the discovery of gold in 1886, these discoveries were controlled by the British and vastly altered the South African economy. They created wealth, cities and new kind of employment. The Boers now had a bigger battle to fight against the British before they could boast economical control.

Their second step was their revolt against British rule in the Boer war (1899 -1902).

During the three years of the Boer War the British dominated the Boer colonies. Enforcing rules on them without any consideration for Boer traditions or beliefs. The methods, which the British used, deserved no recognition. They showed their enemies no respect. Their methods in fighting the Boers later became a long-term cause of Boers feeling superior towards other races, the Boers pride had been dented by the British; they continued to believe that they were the supreme race.

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