South African Republic
South African Republic | |
---|---|
Motto: Eendragt maakt magt (Unity makes strength) | |
Location of the ZAR with Africa Location of the ZAR with Africa | |
Capital | Pretoria |
Largest largest city | Johannesburg |
Official languages | Dutch, Afrikaans |
Other languages | English, Pedi, other Bantu languages |
Ethnic groups (1910) |
75% Black 20% Coloured 15% White |
Religion | Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa |
Demonym(s) | South African |
Government | Parliamentary republic |
State President | |
• 1853-1873 | Marthinus Pretorius |
• 1873-1883 | Thomas Burgers |
• 1883-1903 | Paul Kruger |
Commandant-General | |
• 1853-1860 | Marthinus Pretorius |
• 1860-1880 | Paul Kruger |
• 1880-1902 | Piet Joubert |
Legislature | Volksraad Parliament |
House of Delegates | |
House of Representatives | |
Formation | |
• Great Trek | 1833 |
• Sand River Treaty | 1852 |
• Constitution ratified | 1853 |
• Anglo-Boer War | 1894-1897 |
• Union of South Africa | 1910 |
Area | |
• Total | 1,500,000 km2 (580,000 sq mi) (TBD) |
• Water (%) | 2.23 |
Population | |
• 1910 census | 7 million (TBD) |
• Density | 4.6/km2 (11.9/sq mi) (TBD) |
Currency | South African Pound (£SA) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (South African Standard Time) |
Calling code | +2 |
ISO 3166 code | ZAR |
The South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Republiek, Pedi: Repabliki ya Afrika-Borwa; also known as the Transvaal Republic or ZAR) was an independent state that lasted from 1852 until 1910, located in the region now part of the Union of South Africa. It was established by a group of Dutch-speaking settlers who migrated north from the British Cape Colony in the 1830s, in a movement known as the "Great Trek". After numerous conflicts with the British and native African states, a settlement was finally reached in 1852 known as the Sand River Treaty. This treaty recognized the independence of several Dutch-speaking states north of the Orange River, known as the Boer States. Four of these states (Zoutpansberg, Lydenburg, Pretoria, and Griqueland) united into the South African Republic in 1853, and later unified with the Orange State in 1861. There were a number of concessions made by the ZAR in the Sand River Treaty, which maintained the republic diplomatically and economically tied with Britain for the rest of their history.
Through a combination of mass immigration, wealth of natural resources, and alliances with native African kingdoms, the ZAR quickly expanded across the next few generations, becoming among the fastest growing industries of the late 19th century. After incorporating large sections of territory from Central Africa, the ZAR gained a great degree of respect from the Great Powers of Europe, particularly the leading theorists of imperialist anthropology. After this apex had passed, the ZAR faced an unavoidable conflict with Britain in the 1890s, prompted by English citizens in South Africa who wanted to see the Republic incorporated within the British Empire. While the ZAR was ultimately victorious, they faced a subsequent economic decline that they never fully recovered from.
Finally, in 1910 the Republic negotiated a new settlement where they agreed to fully unify with the British Cape Colony, while Britain conceded that the new union may choose to become an independent state. The resulting Union of South Africa continues to exist to this day, which later annexed Namibia after World War I.