Bloemfontein Convention
The Bloemfontein Convention or Orange River Convention (English; Dutch / Afrikaans : Bloemfontein Convensie; German for example: "Bloemfontein Agreement" or "Oranje Agreement") was a treaty concluded in Bloemfontein in 1854 between the British Empire and Boers . It led directly to the establishment of the independent Orange Free State .
history
From 1848 to 1854 the area between the Oranje and Vaal rivers was called the Orange River Sovereignty and was administered by the British. In addition, Boers and blacks like the Basotho under Moshoeshoe lived in this area. Because of armed conflicts with the Basotho and low yields, the British had little interest in the Orange River Sovereignty. The interests of British settlers in the area were not taken into account. As early as 1852, the British recognized the South African Republic as the first Boer republic in the Sand River Convention .
The Bloemfontein Convention was signed on February 23, 1854 at the Green Lodge in Bloemfontein. Thus the area became independent under Boer leadership under the name of Orange Free State. However, slavery was banned. Dealing with the blacks ("natives") was also regulated, such as the type of contracts that could be concluded with them. Rules for future trade were also drawn up.
The Bloemfontein Convention was signed by British colonial official Sir George Russell Clerk and 25 Boer representatives.
The British troops left the Orange Free State on March 11, 1854, which existed in this form until the Peace of Vereeniging in 1902. The border to the settlement area of the Basotho in the east was not determined, so it came in 1858 to the Senekal War and 1865 to 1868 to the Seqiti War , which led to the expansion of the Orange Free State.
Web links
- The Bloemfontein Convention at sahistory.org.za (English)
- The Sand River Convention and the Bloemfontein Convention at britannica.com (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c The Bloemfontein Convention at sahistory.org.za , accessed July 12, 2014