Afrikaners Migration History

Where did many Afrikaners move when the British began settling in South Africa?

When the British began settling in South Africa, where did many Afrikaners move?

When the British administrators explored South Africa, they wanted to take full advantage of the place and slowly started settling in. This led to conflicts and wars with the Afrikaners, who were farmers known as boers in Dutch. The Afrikaners faced mistreatment and discrimination after losing the wars against the British settlers.

As a result, many Afrikaners moved to various countries such as Namibia, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, South America, Australia, and the Southwestern United States. However, the majority of Afrikaners relocated to Namibia and Zimbabwe. This mass migration was primarily due to the aftermath of the Boer War between the British and the Boer states of the Republic of Transvaal and Orange Free State.

The discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa, along with the British implementation of anti-slavery laws, were key factors that led to the conflicts between the Afrikaners and the British settlers. The Afrikaners strongly opposed British control due to these laws and the economic implications of the resource discoveries.

It is important to note that the Afrikaners are white descendants of the European settlers who arrived in the Cape region in the 17th century. Their migration history reflects the complex colonial dynamics and struggles for power in South Africa during the British colonial period.