FACTOID # 166: The Caribbean islands of Barbados, Saint Lucia and Grenada are all in the top 5 for the most crowded prisons in the world.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

Encyclopedia > Bechuanaland Protectorate
An 1887 map showing the Crown Colony of Bechuanaland (shaded pink) and the Bechuanaland Protectorate (pink border)
An 1887 map showing the Crown Colony of Bechuanaland (shaded pink) and the Bechuanaland Protectorate (pink border)

The Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP) was a protectorate established on March 31, 1885 by the United Kingdom in southern Africa. The protectorate became the Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1644x1627, 180 KB) British bechuanaland (1887) source from http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1644x1627, 180 KB) British bechuanaland (1887) source from http://www. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...


Bechuanaland meant the country of the Bechuana (now written Batswana or Tswana). Bechuanaland was divided in two. The southern part, known as British Bechuanaland, later became part of the Cape Colony and is now in South Africa. This is the area around Mafikeng (then called Mafeking). The Bechuanaland Protectorate formed the northern part; its territory was expanded north in 1890. TSWANA (singular Motswana, plural Batswana) is the name of a Southern African people, and of its Bantu language. ... Tswana (Motswana, plural Batswana) is the name of a Southern African people. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Cape Colony Capital Cape Town Language(s) English and Dutch1 Religion Dutch Reformed Church, Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Last Monarch King George VI Last Prime Minister  - 1908 – 1910 John X. Merriman Last Governor  - 1901 - 1910 Walter Hely-Hutchinson Historical era 19th century  - Dutch East India... Mafikeng is the capital of the North West Province, South Africa, 870 miles NE of Cape Town and 492 miles SSW of Bulawayo by rail, and 162 miles in a direct line W by N of Johannesburg. ... Mafikeng is the capital of the North West Province, South Africa, 870 miles NE of Cape Town and 492 miles SSW of Bulawayo by rail, and 162 miles in a direct line W by N of Johannesburg. ...


The British government originally expected to turn over administration of the protectorate to Rhodesia or South Africa, but Tswana opposition left the protectorate under British rule until Independence in 1966. National motto: Sit Nomine Digna (Latin: May she be worthy of the name) Official language English Capital Salisbury Political system Parliamentary system Form of government Constitutional monarchy (until 1970) Republic (March 2, 1970) - Last President John Wrathall - Prime Minister Ian Smith Area  - Total  - % water 390 580 km² 1% Population  - 1978...


The BP was technically a protectorate rather than a colony. Originally the local Tswana rulers were left to rule, and the British administration was limited to police force to protect Bechuanalands borders against other European colonialism. But in the 9th of may 1891 the British Government gave the administration of the protectorate to the High Commissioner for South Africa who started to appoint officials in Bechuanaland, and the independence of Bechuanaland was in practice ended.


The protectorate was administered from Mafeking (now Mafikeng), creating a unique situation of the capital of the territory being located outside of it. In 1885, when the protectorate was declared, Bechuanaland was bounded to the north by the latitude of twentytwo degreees south. In 1894 Bechuanaland was extended to include Ngamiland in the north, which was dominated by the Tawana state.


The eastern part of the colony was originally claimed by Matabeleland, and in 1887 Samuel Edwards (working for Cecil Rhodes) obtained a mining concession. Matabeleland is a region in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Samuel Edwards (March 12, 1785 - November 21, 1850) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. ... Cecil Rhodes. ... This article is about mineral extraction. ...


In 1895 the British South Africa Company attempted to acquire the area, but three Tswana chiefs visited London to protest and were successful in fending off the BSAC. Later attempts to develop also had little effect. 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The flag of the British South Africa Company The British South Africa Company (BSAC) was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company, Ltd. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...


The BP was one of the "High Commission Territories", the others being Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Swaziland. The official with the authority of a Governor was the High Commissioner. This office was first held by the Governor of the Cape, then by the Governor-General of South Africa, by British High Commissioners and Ambassadors to South Africa until independence. Consequently, administration was headed in each territory by a Resident Commissioner, who thus had approximately the same functions of a Governor but somewhat less authority.

Contents

Postage stamps

The first postage stamps were produced in 1888 by overprinting stamps of Bechuanaland (some overprints of British stamps and some issued specifically for the colony) with "Protectorate". In 1889 a 1/2-penny stamp of Cape of Good Hope was overprinted "Bechuanaland / Protectorate.". A selection of Hong Kong postage stamps A postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. ... 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... An overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Cape of Good Hope; looking towards the west, from the coastal cliffs above Cape Point. ...

1897 overprint
1897 overprint

From 1897 to 1925 more British stamps were overprinted using the protectorate's name in various layouts. In 1910 a 6-pence stamp of Transvaal was also overprinted; although it was intended for fiscal use, postal uses are known. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (500x607, 93 KB) Bechuanaland Protectorate 1-penny overprint stamp of 1897, scanned December 2005 by User:Stan Shebs (Expired Crown Copyright. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (500x607, 93 KB) Bechuanaland Protectorate 1-penny overprint stamp of 1897, scanned December 2005 by User:Stan Shebs (Expired Crown Copyright. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Flag of Transvaal For the Russian theme park, see Transvaal Park. ...

6-pence of 1938, used in 1943 at Gaberone's Village, later Gaborone
6-pence of 1938, used in 1943 at Gaberone's Village, later Gaborone

The protectorate's first inscribed stamps appeared in a definitive series of 1932. The 12 values, ranging from 1/2d to 10sh, all used the same design; a group of cattle next to a baobab tree, surmounted by a portrait for King George V. The usual Silver Jubilee and Coronation issues appeared in 1935 and 1937, with King George VI replacing his father in a similarly-designed series of 1938. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x867, 164 KB) Bechuanaland Protectorate 6-pence stamp of 1938, scanned December 2005 by User:Stan Shebs Used at (Gaber)ones Village, later Gaborone. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (600x867, 164 KB) Bechuanaland Protectorate 6-pence stamp of 1938, scanned December 2005 by User:Stan Shebs Used at (Gaber)ones Village, later Gaborone. ... Satellite image of Gaborone Location of Gaborone in Botswana Gaborone (pron. ... A definitive postage stamp is a regular issue stamp that is part of a definitive issue or definitive series consisting of a range of denominations sufficient to cover all postal rates usefully. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... Species See text The baobab (Adansonia), or monkey bread tree are a genus of eight species of trees, native to Madagascar (the centre of diversity, with six species), and mainland Africa and Australia (one species in each). ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 - 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, as a result of his creating it from the British branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. ... In philately, a Coronation issue is an issue of postage stamps made by the British Post Office and the Post Offices of Commonwealth countries and British dependencies to celebrate the coronation of a new monarch. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895 - 6 February 1952) became the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, each of the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, upon the unexpected abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. He reigned from 11 December 1936... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...


The protectorate's Peace issue of 1945 was produced by overprinting "Bechuanaland" on South Africa's Peace stamps. Stamps were issued for the Royal Visit in 1947, and for the usual omnibus sets of the period. Queen Elizabeth II replaced her father in a definitive series of 1955, the rest of the design matching the previous definitives. Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Three stamps in 1960 commemorated the 75th anniversary of the protectorate, then in 1961 Bechuanaland converted to the South African rand, necessitating surcharges on the existing definitives in February, followed by a new definitive series in October that was mostly pictures of birds, with some showing people at work. 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... The old R1 and new R10 bank notes The Rand is the currency of South Africa. ... An overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. ...


Standard Commonwealth omnibus issues appeared up until independence, along with a 1 June 1966 issue commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Bechuanaland Pioneers and Gunners. June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...


See also

The Batswana (plural of Motswana), a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the countrys major ethnic group (called the Tswana in South Africa). ...

External links

References

  • Neil Parsons New History of Southern Africa
  • Fred Morton and Jeff Ramsay (eds) The birth of Botswana : a history of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from 1910 to 1966.

  Results from FactBites:
 
BECHUANALAND : British Bechuanaland : Bechuanaland Protectorate : Postal History (4357 words)
Like most bisect covers of Bechuanaland, this was probably philatelically inspired, though appears to be the first, and only recorded example of a cover bearing this stamp bisected.
Although British Bechuanaland was annexed to the Cape in 1895, the datestamps of some postal agencies, including Keimoes, were not immediately altered and continued to show the previous territorial name for some time.
The datestamps for Kanye, Molepolole, Shoshong, Tati and Gubulawayo with 'Bechuanaland' at base are recorded used together on one piece proving the datestamps had not been allocated to their respective agencies at this date.
Bechuanaland - LoveToKnow 1911 (4246 words)
The greater part of Bechuanaland is covered with superficial deposits consisting of the sands of the desert regions of the Kalahari and the alluvium and saliferous marls of the Okavango basin.
This attempt of the Boers to gain possession of Bechuanaland having failed, T. Burgers, the president of the Transvaal in 187 2, endeavoured to replace Montsioa as chief of the Barolong by Moshette, whom he declared to be the rightful ruler and paramount chief of that people.
Bechuanaland was formally taken under British protection (30th of September 1885), and the sphere of British influence was declared to extend N. to 22° S. and W. to 20° E. (which lastmentioned line marks the eastern limit of German South-West Africa).
  More results at FactBites »

 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your location
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.