Bechuanaland Protectorate

The Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP) was a protectorate established on March 31, 1885 by Britain in the area of what is now Botswana.

Related Topics:
Protectorate - March 31 - 1885 - Britain - Botswana

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bechuanaland meant the country of the Bechuana (now written Batswana or Tswana). The southern part of the territory of Bechuanaland was divided into British Bechuanaland, a colony which later bacame part of the Cape Colony (and is now in South Africa). This is the area around Mafikeng (then called Mafeking). The northern part was the Bechuanaland Protectorate; its territory was expanded north in 1890.

Related Topics:
Batswana - Tswana - Cape Colony - South Africa - Mafikeng

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 it became independent as Botswana in 1966.

Related Topics:
Rhodesia - South Africa - 1966

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The BP was technically a protectorate rather than a colony, but this was a legal distinction of little practical significance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The protectorate was administered from Mafeking (now Mafikeng), creating a unique situation of the capital of the territory being located outside of it.

Related Topics:
Mafeking - Mafikeng

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The eastern part of the colony was originally claimed by Matabeleland, and in 1887 Samuel Edwards (working for Cecil Rhodes) obtained a mining concession.

Related Topics:
Matabeleland - 1887 - Samuel Edwards - Cecil Rhodes - Mining

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1891 administration of the protectorate was given to the High Commissioner for South Africa; 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.

Related Topics:
1891 - High Commissioner for South Africa - 1895 - British South Africa Company - London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later attempts to develop also had little effect.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~