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.
Table of Contents
1. To what extent was the Great Trek undertaken to preserve Afrikaner culture?
Objectives and Topics
This academic essay examines the primary motivations behind the Great Trek, specifically investigating the extent to which the preservation of Afrikaner culture acted as the central driver for this historical migration. It analyzes the interplay between cultural nationalist aspirations, resistance to British colonial policies, and the socio-economic pressures faced by the Boer population.
- The impact of British Anglicisation policies on Afrikaner identity.
- The role of slavery abolition as a catalyst for socio-political grievance.
- Concepts of racial superiority and the desire for social hierarchy.
- Agricultural hardship and economic necessity as non-cultural motivators.
- The historiographical narrative of the Great Trek as a defining moment in Afrikaner nationalism.
Excerpt from the Book
To what extent was the Great Trek undertaken to preserve Afrikaner culture?
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.
Summary of Chapters
To what extent was the Great Trek undertaken to preserve Afrikaner culture?: This section provides a comprehensive overview of the historical motivations for the Great Trek, concluding that while agricultural and economic hardships were significant, the preservation of traditional Afrikaner culture, identity, and social order remained the primary driving force behind the movement.
Keywords
Great Trek, Afrikaner, Voortrekkers, Cultural Preservation, Nationalism, British Empire, Anglicisation, Slavery, Racial Superiority, Boer, Cape Colony, Historiography, Piet Retief, Migration, Social Order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper examines the historical motivations for the Great Trek, specifically evaluating how cultural preservation efforts and reactions to British colonial policy influenced this migration.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The work covers themes of cultural identity, the impact of colonial legislation, racial ideologies of the 19th century, and the economic conditions of Boer farmers.
What is the primary research question?
The research asks to what extent the Great Trek was undertaken as a deliberate means to preserve Afrikaner culture rather than being a result of purely external economic factors.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The author employs a historical analysis methodology, reviewing various historiographical sources, manifestos, and scholarly interpretations to contrast cultural arguments with economic and material circumstances.
What is addressed in the main body of the text?
The text analyzes the specific grievances regarding Anglicisation, the abolition of slavery, the perceived racial superiority of the Boers, and the agricultural crises that pressured the population to leave the Cape Colony.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Great Trek, Afrikaner, Nationalism, Colonialism, Anglicisation, and Cultural Preservation.
How does the author interpret the role of Piet Retief?
The author utilizes Retief’s writings and manifesto to demonstrate that the desire to maintain specific social hierarchies and the "proper" order of master-servant relations was a key aspect of the cultural justification for the Trek.
In what way did economic hardship influence the decision to trek?
While economic necessity (such as agricultural failure and land scarcity) was a factor, the author argues it was inextricably linked to culture, as the Boers refused to abandon their traditional, land-based lifestyle for alternative economic paths.
- Arbeit zitieren
- J. A. Lowe (Autor:in), 2014, To what extent was the Great Trek undertaken to preserve Afrikaner Culture?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/278877
