Everything Everywhere Daily · Thursday, July 30, 2026
The British Empire's expansion led to the formal annexation of Cape Colony in 1806, meeting immediate resistance from the Afrikaners who opposed British policies on trade, language, religion, and particularly the abolition of slavery. This growing friction culminated in the Great Trek of the 1830s and 1840s, as thousands of Afrikaner families migrated inland to establish independent Boer Republics.
“The British formally annexed Cape Colony in 1806, and their attempts to exert authority over the region were met with fierce resistance almost immediately.”
“As a British colony in the 1830s, the Cape was expected to follow London's policies and join with the rest of the empire in abolishing slavery.”
“This growing friction fueled the Great Trek of the 1830s and 1840s, as thousands of Afrikaner families migrated deep into the interior to preserve their cultural, social, and economic independence, ultimately establishing their own sovereign republics beyond British control.”