The Great Trek of the Dutch descended Afrikaner population which began in 1838 has been described by historians such as J. Du Plessis as being one of the strangest and most moving spectacles in history; with well-to-do farmers… packing their families, and household goods into an unwieldy ox-wagon, driving their flocks and herds before them, and trekking away to the unknown. Narratives of this period of history as depicted by Afrikaner historians tend to portray the voortrekkers as united protagonists placed in a just and misfortunate situation. An exemplary figure of this form of historiography was Gustav Schoeman Preller and his works provided recognition of Afrikaner historical importance. He continued on and made the plea of: ‘Let us be serious about accepting a written Afrikaans’. His works, particularly the 1920 book Piet Retief depicted the Voortrekker leader Retief and the Voortrekkers as heroes and raised the Great Trek as a definitive moment in nineteenth century nationalism. This draws upon the theory that the Great Trek was used as a means to preserve Afrikaner culture and was set upon as a form of cultural nationalism. This essay will discuss the extent to which this was the cause for the Great Trek, along with raising other reasons for why the trek began.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- To what extent was the Great Trek undertaken to preserve Afrikaner culture?
- The Great Trek: Cultural Preservation and Other Reasons
- The Great Trek: Cultural Preservation and Other Reasons
- Anglicisation, Slavery, and Racial Superiority
- Agricultural and Economic Needs
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the extent to which the Great Trek was undertaken to preserve Afrikaner culture. It explores various historical narratives and perspectives, analyzing key factors that contributed to this migration, including:- Cultural preservation and the impact of British policies
- The role of slavery and Afrikaner attitudes towards race
- Agricultural difficulties and economic needs
- The pursuit of greater independence and land ownership
- The evolution of Afrikaner nationalism
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- This essay sets out to examine the extent to which the Great Trek was undertaken to preserve Afrikaner culture.
- This chapter discusses the impact of British policies, specifically Anglicisation, on Afrikaner culture. It explores how these policies contributed to a sense of resentment and the need for cultural preservation among Afrikaners. The chapter also examines the role of slavery and the Afrikaner belief in racial superiority in motivating the trek.
- This chapter focuses on the agricultural and economic factors that contributed to the Great Trek. It explores the challenges faced by Boer farmers, including land erosion, drought, and cattle diseases, and how these difficulties led to the search for new and fertile lands. The chapter also examines the economic needs of the Afrikaner population, including their reliance on agriculture and their difficulties with trade in an increasingly Anglicised society.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay explores the motivations behind the Great Trek, focusing on the themes of cultural preservation, British colonialism, slavery, racial superiority, agricultural hardship, economic needs, and Afrikaner nationalism. Key figures and concepts discussed include Piet Retief, Anglicisation, the abolition of slavery, the Cape Colony, and the expansionist nature of the trek.- Quote paper
- J. A. Lowe (Author), 2014, To what extent was the Great Trek undertaken to preserve Afrikaner Culture?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/278877
