Orange Free State

Orange Vrijstaat ( hook size ) Orange Vrystaat ( afr. )

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The Orange Free State ( Dutch: Oranje - Vrijstaat, Afrikaans: Oranje - Vrystaat ) was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa that existed in the second half of the 19th century. The Orange Free State lost its independence as a result of the Second Boer War. The area of the former Orange Free State in 1910 received its name back, but since then has been a South African province. Since 1995 she is called Free State ( engl. Free State ). The name of the Republic fell to the Dutch Royal House of Orange.

Flag

The national flag of the Orange Free State consisted of seven horizontal stripes alternating white and orange. In addition, was located in the left Obereck a Gösch, which was the flag of the Netherlands. The flag of the Free State emerges as part of the coat of arms of the old national flag of the Republic of South Africa, which was valid from 1928 to 1994.

History

After the British had finally annexed the Cape Colony in 1814 and 1834 prohibited slavery, left many Boers (descendants of Dutch, French, German and other settlers ) the colony. Among other things, slavery was one of the economic foundations of the Afrikaner farming. Furthermore, the Boers were dissatisfied with the introduction of the British legal system and the English the official language.

Between 1830 and 1850 the Boers ( " farmers " ) or Voortrekkers ( "Pioneers " ) migrated from the Cape Colony to the north. This emigration wave is also known as the Great Trek.

After fighting with the Zulu ( Battle of Blood River ), they settled north of the Cape Colony in the old border between the Basotho and Batswana.

The Orange Free State, the territory between the rivers Orange and Vaal, was established in 1842. 1848 bis 1854, he was administered as the Orange River Sovereignty British. The British realized the Treaty of Bloemfontein on the state independence of the area on 17 February 1854 after the South African Republic had received its independence in 1852.

In the next few years prospered the young republic, but was under constant attack of the British, Batswana, Basotho and Zulu exposed. As the economy continues based on slavery and exploitation and disenfranchisement of the black population, the state was threatened by internal political contradictions.

The Orange Free State was as a result of the Boer War in 1900 annexed by the British as the Orange River Colony and 1910 integrated into the Union of South Africa as Orange Free State Province.

Through the Dutch occupation of the area, some German came into the Orange Free State. In 1934 there were about 2650 German in the Free State.