Introduction
During the late eighteen hundreds, Great Britain sought to colonize much of Africa for the crown. The forced British rule was not received well by all of the native African tribes and when faced with an ultimatum to surrender to the crown or fight, one tribe chose to fight. The South African Zulu Kingdom refused to comply with Britain’s orders and chose instead to fight for their right to self rule. Against the most advanced army of the time, thousands of Zulu warriors fought back with spears, shields, and a handful of rifles they were able to acquire from their enemy.
History
The 1867 discovery of diamonds in Cape Colony, South Africa, prompted a rapid colonization by the British. The British sought to create a South Africa Confederation and bring the African people and diamonds under British control. They imposed strict taxes on the South Africans and sought to create a “South African Confederation” in an effort to better
…show more content…
control the people. The Zulu tribe was not so eager to give up their land and freedom to the British outsiders, however. The British high commissioner to South Africa, Sir Bartle Frere, viewed this resistance as a threat to Britain’s African interests and sought ways to control the Zulus. Due to Britain’s other world interests, the British leadership did not want war with the Africans, and refused to sanction military action against them. In December, 1878, Sir Bartle Frere took matters into his own hands and gave King Cetshwayo of the Zulus and ultimatum; he was to dismantle his army of 40,000 plus warriors and relinquish his kingdom within 30 days or face war. King Cetshwayo refused. When Sir Frere’s ultimatum expired on 10 Jan 1879, the British invaded Zululand. Planning and Preparation In preparation for the impending British attack, King Cetshwayo had purchased thousands of rifles and muskets, but the Zulu warriors were not trained marksmen. The Zulus were not accurate shooters and preferred their standard issue spear and shield. Using Cowhide shields, spears and clubs, the Zulu warriors relied on their overwhelming numbers and disciplined tactics to combat the British. The British Army was one of the most technologically advanced armies in the world at the time. They had superior weapons and were well trained in their use. In addition to Cannons and a Gatling gun, the British had the advanced Martini-Henry rifle . The Martini-Henry rifle was a breach-loading, single shot rifle that provided the British speed and accuracy against their enemies. State-of-the-art weaponry did not, however, prepare the British Army for what happened after King Cetshwayo refused to comply with the ultimatum. One of Sir Frere’s commanding officers, Lord Chelmsford, said of the Zulu, “If I am called upon to conduct operations against them, I shall strive to be in a position to show them how hopelessly inferior they are to us in fighting power, altho' numerically stronger.” This British Arrogance and underestimate of the persistence of the Zulu people contributed to Britain’s greatest loss during the African campaign. Execution After Sir Frere’s Ultimatum expired, the British forces deployed for the invasion of Zululand. The first British attack took place on 12 January 1879, and was similar to the tactics used by the Zulu. They formed into an attack pattern referred to by the Zulu as the “Horns of the Buffalo”. This three-sided attack formation consisted of a main body (the chest of the buffalo or bull) and two curved flanks (the horns) that could sweep around and surround the enemy. The British were victorious in this first battle and they grew even more over confident. The British only suffered two casualties from this first battle, while the Zulu’s lost thirty and were forced to retreat . The British may have won the first battle for Zululand, but their aggression caused the Zulu’s to rally to King Cetshwayo after the initial British attack, amassing a force of around 40,000- 60,000 warriors . Battle for Islandwana A few days after the initial attack on 12 January, the 5,000 man British army marched to Islandwana where their commander, Lord Chelmsford, intended to set up camp.
When they got to Islandwana, Lord Chelmsford and his men stumbled upon a small group of Zulus. In a brash move, Chelmsford divided his troops and sent some of his men to pursue the Zulus. Chelmsford had misjudged the Zulu’s and thought that he was pursuing the main force. The small Zulu group led the British to the main Zulu force of 20,000 who were hiding nearby, waiting to attack.
Now that the Zulu force had accidentally been discovered, they went on the offense and attacked Chelmsford’s divided army. The remaining force that did not pursue the small Zulu group, failed to set up a defensive perimeter back at Islandwana. Because of this, the Zulu’s were able to surround the men with the “horns” of the formation and take Islandwana. Using the “Horns of the buffalo” attack, the Zulu surrounded Chelmsford’s army and exacted a devastating
blow. The Zulu were organized and disciplined in their tactics. They forced the British to focus on the center, or “Chest of the Buffalo” while the right and left flanks swung around to finish the British off. Banging their shields and chanting a terrifying battle cry of “Usuthu”, The Zulu warriors were ferocious and took no prisoners. . Nearly 1,300 of Chelmsford’s men died in the battle of Islandwana, humbling the British army and forcing them to recognize the power of an unsophisticated Zulu army. After Action After the loss at Islandwana, Lord Chelmsford and the rest of the British army were engaged in several other key battles including some major victories for the British. A Turning point in the war was the battle of Rorke’s drift on 22 January, 1879. Better prepared this time, a British force of 139 soldiers defended their small fortified compound against approximately 4,500 Zulu warriors and won. Surrounded by thousands of chanting Zulu warriors, the small British force at Rorkes drift barricaded themselves in their small camp. The combination of good defensive tactics, and understanding of the Zulu “Horns of the Buffalo” attack formation, and superior weapons caused the British to be victorious. Unlike Islandwana, the British did not underestimate the Zulu’s this time. Even though the advanced weapons of the British have been credited for the victory at Rorke’s Drift, it was the combination of weaponry, tactics, and respect for the enemy that ultimately one the battle. By 4 July 1879, the British effectively destroyed the Zulu army at the battle of Ulundi and the Zulu kingdom fell. Shortly afterward, British reinforcements arrived and total British control was established in South Africa. Lessons Learned Valuable lessons were learned from the Zulu wars, some of which can be applied to current United States operations today. The British underestimated the enemy and believed their technological advances guaranteed victory. The Zulu’s taught the British some hard lessons about arrogance and proved that numbers and sound tactics can sometimes overcome a lack of sophisticated weapons. It wasn’t until the British acknowledged the strength of the Zulu army that they were able to secure victory. As we find ourselves engaged with unsophisticated enemies today, we need to remember what happened to the British when an African tribe using spears and shields fought one of the greatest armies of the time. Never underestimate your enemy and instead rely on sound tactics to win battles, not advanced weaponry.
The prologue provides excellent background information leading up to the launch of the North African campaign, describing in juicy detail the Allied debate between a campaign in North Africa and a cross-channel invasion, presenting the idea that fighting in North Africa was really fighting for British imperial interests instead of get...
The Zulus displayed discipline at the battle at Rorke’s drift and the battle at Isandhwana. Depicted early in the chapter by Victor Davis Hanson he explains what discipline the Zulu worriers displayed by crawling through grass, and thorn bushes to get to the British while their guard was down. That took incredible discipline. In the battle at Rorke’s the Zulu warriors show discipline as well. The Zulu warriors marched so may miles and went days without food or water and waged war with the British. It also took disciple for the warriors to keep fighting British solders that they heavily outnumbered as well when they were still dropping like flies in the field. The discipline displayed by the British at the battle at Rorke’s drift was outstanding to say the least. With the injuries and the numbers they had it was by beyond belief that the 139 British solders with 35 wounded and 80 sharp shooters that they won. It took incredible mounts of discipline and focus to take down 4500 charging Zulus that came from 3 different locations at Rorke’s drift(Hanson pg. 296). The British didn’t back down, didn’t fold, and Victor Davis Hanson depicts that well in this
In the essay Island Civilization: A Vision for Human Occupancy of Earth , Robert Frazier Nash discusses the past and present human impact on the environment and offers solutions for the distant fourth millennium.
Popular perception of both the Sioux and Zulu peoples often imagines them as timeless and unchanging (at least before their ultimate demise at the hands of whites). To what extent does Gump's book challenge the similarities and differences between the Sioux and Zulu people?
Zwick effectively builds the characters of the 54th regiment by portraying the grueling months of training and development. One prominent example of this is in the end of their movie when the 54th is given the chance to fight in an attack on the beach of South Carolina at Fort Wagner. Determined to dismiss the belief that blacks would not be disciplined under fire, the 54th is at the forefront of the suicidal attack on Fort Wagner. During this battle, the 54th displays the courage that persuaded President Lincoln to enlist many more black soldiers.
In many accounts of the Africans, the Africans were in disagreement with the European's Scramble for Africa. Ndansi Kumalo an African veteran wrote in 1896 if many of them to give or keep their land. In a distrustful and agony tone he spoke of how the poor treatment of the Africans in the Ndebele rebellion against the British advances in South America to convince many others not to stay because it has impacted many Africans and many died in the process of it. He says “So we surrendered to the White people and were told to go back to our homes and live our usual lives and attend to our crops. They came and were overbearing. We were ordered to carry their clothes and bundles (Doc.4).” A German military officer in 1896 wrote in a newspaper article about the reactions of the Africans about the white settlers. In an awed tone he wrote about the 1906 account of the Maji Maji Rebellion in German East Africa and to give an example of how the Africans believed in a magic medicine would help them defend themselves against the white settlers (Doc.8). Mojimba an African chief in 1907 described a battle in 1877 on the Congo River against British and African mercenaries to a German catholic missionary. In an appalled and hateful tone he used this description to show that these whi...
Throughout the story’s progression, Blackwood secretively becomes involved in a friendship and agreement with the Aboriginals who migrated to stay nearby ‘his’ home. Blackwood explains how they came to the agreement: “They come down, see… tell me to bugger off… [They] had their bloody spears up ready…give them some victuals. But they wasn’t having none… they let me stay. Made it real clear- stay on the beach,” (pg.215). Soon after Blackwood explains his confrontation with the Aboriginals, a voice called out from the lagoon. “[It was an Aboriginal woman, and] Blackwood was speaking in her own tongue. [Blackwood’s] words were slow and clumsy, but Thornhill could see the woman listening and understanding… I find them quiet and peaceable folk, Blackwood said,” (pp.216-7). This acceptance and hospitable relationship between Blackwood and the Aboriginals, shows the audience that Blackwood made the decision to make a comfortable relationship with the land owners. It is evident that Blackwood has changed his perspective on the Aboriginals through the contradiction of his confrontation, in which he uses words such as “bloody [and] bugger” to show that he did not feel welcome near or around them; and his agreement and “understanding” friendship in which words such as “peaceable” are used to show that they have a quiet, enjoyable relationship. This contradiction shows that Blackwood came to change his
page 175 “No help or backing was to be had then from his high-born comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to safety of the wood.” (Heaney)
The history and popularity of diamonds in Africa all began in 1866 when the first diamond was found along the banks of the Orange River. In the next fifteen years, Africa became the leading supplier of diamonds in the world, exporting more than nations such as India and Brazil. The discovery of these highly valued and highly demanded diamonds brought an immense amount of trade into Africa, a continent known for its poverty. One diamond company in particular, De Beers, instantly became interested in African diamond mines. By 1888, the company controlled the entire market, connecting African diamonds to wealthy humans all over the world. In 1929, De Beers began marketing diamonds to the middle class as well and associated the diamond with engagement and marriage, increasing the demand of the diamond worldwide. Though the company felt they had a hold on the market, they were wrong. Soon Lebanese traders discovered the enormous profit they could make by smuggling diamonds out of the country. As a result illicit mining and trading increased throughout countries in Africa and especially in Sierra Leone. To make matters worse, the government seemed to overlook the problem, if not sometimes encourage it. One Sierra Leone leader, Siaka Stevens, encouraged illicit trading to gain more control over the diamond mines. Succeeding leaders did the same, and with a corrupt government, the country of Sierra Leone was very vulnerable for a rebellion. Instead of bringing the continent of Africa out of its years of poverty stricken hardship, the discovery of diamonds in Africa only brought more of a curse as it fueled civil war, created political instability between governments, and caused unimaginable human suffering for African citizens.
The two sides come to an agreement, Britain surrenders to France, and they are lead towards the Atlantic Ocean so that the British can be returned to England, “with pride”. On the route there they are ambushed by a very large band of Indians...
It became a known to most people in the 15th century that outside forces rarely conquered the “old states of Africa”. Some writers of the Colonial period c...
In 1806, Britain would take possession of the Dutch Cape colony during the Napoleonic wars with Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France. The Boers, descendants of the original Dutch settlers in Africa, would come to resent this British rule and Britain's anti-slavery policies that would be forced upon them. Much of the Boer way of life depended on the work from their slaves. In attempts to free themselves from British rule the Boers would make the “Great Trek” in 1833. They would press into tradition tribal territory and would found the twin republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Peace between the new republics and the British would hold until gold and diamonds were discovered, in 1867. In the spirit of greed, war was inevitable to break out between the Boer and the British, although peace did hold for several years after the discovery. In 1890 skirmishes would begin and in 1899 an all-out war prec...
Cecil Rhodes created De Beers, which became the owner of most of the diamond mines in South Africa. De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., was formed in 1888. This created a monopoly on all production and distribution of diamonds in South Africa . Many other diamond suppliers joined forces with De Beers as to create scarcity of diamonds, once again, as to increase their price. De Beers and its Central Selling Organization established exclusive contracts with producers and consumers, which made it impossible to trade diamonds outside of the De Beers Empire. De Beers would determine the price and quantity of diamonds for the year. Therefore each one of its producers would receive a part of the total output to be sold at the predetermined price. When the monopoly was threatened through the discovery of diamonds in other countries, De Beers bought the diamonds increased their inventory and therefore their complete control through funneling all sales through single channel. When rebellions against De Beers occurred, th...
South Africa was first colonized by the English and Dutch in the 17th century. It was a country abundant in diamonds and minerals. The findings of diamonds in these lands around 1900 resulted in the Boer War. After the African’s political independence from England, the two groups shared power until the 1940's, until the African National Party was able to gain a majority. This caused the National Party to create apartheid. It was a means to solidify their control over the economy and social system. The idea was to maintain British power while growing racial segregation.
On the second documentary on the Kingdoms of Africa, historian Gus Cacely-Hayford makes his way to the southern part of Africa to learn about the fierce kingdom of the Zulu Nation. He starts by saying that on January 22nd, 1879, 200 British troops were defeated by the Zulus as he was expressing how influential the Zulu nation was as they were one of the most powerful kingdoms in Africa. In the 1700’s, there was once a cattle farmer that had a vision on how to unite the neighboring chiefdoms and transformed it into a great empire, and his name was Shaka.