The South African Republic, usually called the Transvaal, was an independent state founded by Boer settlers who had left the Cape Colony in the Great Trek. Britain recognised their independence north of the Vaal River in the Sand River Convention of 1852, and a united republic emerged in the 1850s. Britain annexed it in 1877, but the Boers rose in the First Boer War and regained self-government in 1881 under British suzerainty. The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 transformed the economy and brought in many foreign miners, which led to tension under President Paul Kruger. The Second Boer War ended with the republic's defeat and its annexation to the British Empire in 1902.
Before and after
- 18 October 1851Publication of Moby-Dick
- 24 October 1851Discovery of Umbriel
- 24 October 1851Discovery of Ariel
- 1852Construction of Victoria and Albert Museum
- from 17 January 1852 to 31 May 1902South African Republic
- 3 February 1852Battle of Caseros
- 21 February 1852Death of Nikolai Gogol
- 20 March 1852Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
- 25 June 1852Birth of Antoni Gaudí
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 1799 to 1849Sikh Empire
- 6 February 1819Founding of modern Singapore
- from 1839 to 1876Tanzimat
- 3 May 1841Founding of New Zealand
- 1891Discovery of Gundestrup cauldron
- March 1900Arthur Evans begins digging at Knossos
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.