Grade 8 - Topic 2 - The Mineral Revolution in South Africa
Background and Focus of Grade 8- Term 2: The Mineral Revolution in South Africa
The Mineral Revolution in South Africa started with the discovery of diamonds in Kimberley in 1867, and intensified with the discovery of deep-level gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886. By the time that gold was discovered, African kingdoms had lost their independence. During the gold-mining revolution, patterns of land and labour were established and continued into the 20th century. This lesson focuses on the changing balance of power in South Africa brought about by gold mining, and the foundations of racial segregation by exploring Britain, diamond mining and increasing labour control and land expansionism as well as Deep-level gold mining on the Witwatersrand 1886 onwards.
Key Terms
Annexation: the act of taking control of a country, region, etc, especially by force
Compound: an area surrounded by a fence or wall in which a factory or other group of buildings stands
Frontier: a line that separates two countries, etc.; the land near this line
Independence: freedom from political control by other countries
Merino Sheep: a breed of sheep with long fine wool
Mineral: a substance that is naturally present in the earth and is not formed from animal or vegetable matter, for example gold and salt.
Mining Magnate: a person who is rich, powerful and successful, especially in mining
Pastoral Farming: a farming practice relating to the farming of animals
Peasant: a farmer who owns or rents a small piece of land
Protectorate: a country that is controlled and protected by a more powerful country
Source: http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
CAPS Requirements for Term 2
History Term 2 Topic: The Mineral Revolution in South Africa Suggested contact time: One term/15 hours. This content must be integrated with the historical aims and skills and the associated concepts listed in Section 2 Background: The Mineral Revolution in South Africa started with the discovery of diamonds in Kimberley in 1867, and intensified with the discovery of deep-level gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886. By the time that gold was discovered, African kingdoms had lost their independence. During the gold-mining revolution, patterns of land and labour were established and continued into the 20th century. Focus: Changing balance of power in South Africa brought about by gold mining, and the foundations of racial segregation. Content and topics: Ӣ Britain, diamond mining and increasing labour control and land expansionism - Increasing control over black workers: closed compounds and migrant labour - Further land dispossession and defeat of African kingdoms: Xhosa 1878 and Pedi and Zulu 1879 Ӣ Deep-level gold mining on the Witwatersrand 1886 onwards - Why gold is valuable - The discovery and mining of deep level gold on the Witwatersrand o How gold is mined o Conditions underground o The Randlords and the formation of the Chamber of Mines o Migrant workers (more systematic control and borrowing of compound system from Kimberley) o Increasing burden on women in the reserves, erosion of families o Skilled and unskilled white workers o Anti-Indian legislation o Forms of labour resistance o The city of Johannesburg - The Mineral Revolution as a turning point in South African history o The shifting balance of power: defeat of the Boer Republics 1902; African Political Organisation (APO) 1902; Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) 1903; Bambatha Rebellion 1906; Union 1910; formation of South African Native National Congress (SANNC) 1912 (later renamed ANC); Satyagraha Campaign of 1913 Р1914; Land Act 1913 o Map of Southern Africa in 1913 compared with 1860 |
Resource Links
Topic 1: Britian, Diamond mining and increasing labour control and land expansion
South African History Online, (2011), “Mineral Revolution” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://www.sahistory.org.za/mineral-revolution [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Luscombe, S., (2009), “Diamonds and Migrant labour in South Africa, 1969- 1910” from The British Empire [online] Available at http://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/southafrica/southafricamigrantlabour.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Jones, J., (2014), “South Africa in the 19th Century” from West Chester University [Online] Available at http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his312/lectures/southafr.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Vicat- Turrell, R., (1987), “Capital and labour on the Kimberley Diamond Fields 1871- 1890’s” (Press Syndicate).
Worger, W.H. & Byrnes, R.M., (1998), “History of South Africa” from Nations Online [online] Available at http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/South-Africa-history.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
South African Labour History Project, (2001), “Overview of South African Labour History” from South African Labour History Project [Online] Available at http://www.lrs.org.za/salhap/history.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Infrastructure of South Africa, (2008), “Mineral Revolution in South Africa” from Infrastructure of South Africa [online] Available at http://southafricainfras.blogspot.com/2008/02/mineral-revolution-in-south-africa.html [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
Zeleza, T., (1997), “A Modern Economic History of South Africa: The Nineteenth Century” (East African Educational Publishers)
O’Malley, P., (2007), “The Mining Industry, Migrant labour and hostels” from Nelson Mandela Center of Hope [online] Available at https://www.nelsonmandela.org/omalley/index.php/site/q/03lv02167/04lv02264/05lv02303/06lv02317/07lv02318/08lv02323.htm [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
South African Government, (2013), “South African History” from South African Government [online] Available at http://www.gov.za/about-sa/history [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
Topic 2: Deep level Gold Mining on the Witwatersrand
South African History Online, (2011), “The Socio- economic Impact of the Mineral Revolution on South African Society” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/chapter-3-socio-economic-impact-mineral-revolution-south-african-society [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
South African History Online, (2011), “The Glitter of Gold” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/glitter-gold [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Mining Artifacts, (2015), “South African Mines” from Mining Artifacts [online] Available at http://www.miningartifacts.org/South-African-Mines.html [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Rand Refinery, (2013), “Discovery of Gold in South Africa” from Rand Refinery [online] Available at http://www.randrefinery.com/brochures/Rand%20Refinery%20-%20The%20Story%20of%20Gold.pdf [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Africa Mining IQ, (2012), “Mining in South Africa” from Africa Mining IQ [online] Available at http://www.projectsiq.co.za/mining-in-south-africa.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
South African History Online, (2011), “The Compound System” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://v1.sahistory.org.za/pages/library-resources/onlinebooks/Luli/Gold-and-workers/part%202/unit11.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
New History, (2010), “Diamonds and After Origins of the Migrant Labour System” from New History [online] Available at http://newhistory.co.za/Part-2-Chapter-5-Diamonds-and-after-Origins-of-the-migrant-labour-system/ [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Nakhoda, Z., (2011), “Indians in South Africa wage Satyagraha for their rights, 1906-1914” from Global Nonviolent Action Database [online] Available at http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/indians-south-africa-wage-satyagraha-their-rights-1906-1914 [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, (2011), “White Domination and Black Resistance, 1881- 1948” from Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa [online] Available at http://www.content.eisa.org.za/old-page/south-africa-white-domination-and-black-resistance-1881-1948 [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
South African History Online, (2011), “First Mines are proclaimed in Johannesburg” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/first-mines-are-proclaimed-johannesburg [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
South African History Online, (2011), “African People’s Organisation (APO)” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://www.sahistory.org.za/organisations/african-peoples-organisation-apo [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Eyes on Africa, (2002), “History of South Africa” from Eyes on Africa [online] Available at http://www.eyesonafrica.net/south-african-safari/south-africa-info.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
ZAR, (2007), “SA History in a Nutshell” from ZAR [online] Available at http://zar.co.za/nutshell.htm [Accessed: 18 February 2015].
Stratford, S., (2002), “British Military and Criminal History- 1900- 1999” from Stephen Stratford [online] Available at http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/boer_war.htm [Accessed: 23 February 2015]
Marks, S.E., (2014), “Southern Africa: Political Organisations and Trade Unions” from Encyclopaedia Britannica [online] Available at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/556618/Southern-Africa/43822/Political-organizations-and-trade-unions#ref479828 [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
South African History Online, (2007), “Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC)” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://www.sahistory.org.za/organisations/transvaal-indian-congress-tic [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
Mare, L.J., (1976), “History of the Bhambatha Rebellion” from Greytown [online] Available at http://www.greytown.co.za/bambathastment.htm [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
Boddy- Evans, A., (2013), “Union of South Africa- 31 May 1910” from African History [online] Available at http://africanhistory.about.com/od/southafrica/a/UnionSA.htm [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
South African History Online, (2008), “The Formation of the South African National Native Congress” from South African History Online [online] Available at http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/formation-south-african-native-national-congress [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
MKGhandi, (1999), “The Satyagraha Campaign, 1913- 1914” from MKGhandi [online] Available at http://www.mkgandhi.org/social_reform/chap06.htm [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
Mahlangeni, B.M., (2013), “Reflections On the Impact of the Natives’ Land Act, 1913, on Local Government in South Africa” from Parliament of the Republic of South Africa [online] Available at http://www.parliament.gov.za/content/Land%20Act%20-%20Paper%203%20-%20Langa%20-%20Final.pdf [Accessed: 23 February 2015].
Van Der Linden, M. & Rojahn, J., (1990), “The Formation of Labour Movements, 1870- 1914: An International Perspective” (E.J. Brill).
Rowlatt, J., (2013), “Why do we value Gold?” from BBC News Magazine [online] Available at http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25255957 [Accessed: 24 February 2015].
Mining in SA, (2013), “History of Mining in South Africa” from Mining in SA [online] Available at http://www.mininginsa.co.za/ [Accessed: 24 February 2015].
New History, (2010), “The Story of Gold: The Rise of Mining Corporation Prospectors, Mining Corporations and Randlords” from New History [online] Available at http://newhistory.co.za/part-3-chapter-8-the-story-of-gold-the-rise-of-mining-corporations-prospectors-mining-corporations-and-randlords/ [Accessed: 24 February 2015].
Map of 1860
This is a map of South Africa before European colonization occurred. Source: http://s13.zetaboards.com/Res_Dura/search/6/?c=3&mid=259603&month=3&year=2013
Map of 1913
Map of Southern Africa in 1913.