Factors that led to the growth of Afrikaner nationalism in the second half of the 19th century

Afrikaners were the Dutch speaking colonist of South Africa.

They were also called Boers

Afrikaner nationalism refers to the feeling by Boars that saw themselves as distinct whites and regarded South Africa as their home. This group saw themselves as different from the Dutch whites from Holland.

Factors that led to the growth of Afrikaner nationalism in second half of the 19th century.

• The emergence of Afrikaner language. The Boars developed Afrikaans as a separate language of their own. This worked as a tool to unite Afrikaners hence Boer nationalism.
• The discovery and exploitation of mineral wealth. The discovery of gold made the Boars rich and strong. In fact the mineral wealth gave them the means to resist the British..

• The long term disagreements between the Boers and the British over policies of land ownership, education, language among others. This made the Afrikaners develop nationalism.

• The role of the Dutch religion under the Dutch Reformed Church also promoted the growth of Afrikaner nationalism. The church preached that the Dutch were a chosen people of God.
• The numerical disadvantage of the Boers also led to the growth of Afrikaner nationalism. They were out numbered far by the Africans and they therefore feared to be wiped out by the majority non whites
• The giving of equal rights to the non-white by the British annoyed the Boers and made them develop nationalism.
• The Boar wars with the Africans such as the Kaffir wars made the Boers to develop nationalism. These wars made the Boars to see them selves as different people hated by natives hence the need to unite.
• The need to preserve the Boer culture led to the growth of nationalism among the Boers.
• The British annexation of Griqualand – west annoyed the Boers making them to unite to fight the common enemy hence promoting Boer nationalism.

• The sand river convention of 1852 and the Bloemfontein convention of 1854 which allowed the Boers to govern them selves promoted African nationalism.
• The wars between the British and the Boers such as the Anglo- Boer war of 1880 – 1881 left the Boers more united hence the growth of Boer nationalism.

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