THE EXPANSION OF WHITE COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF

• A. The great trek ✓
• B. Racial war
• C. African unionism
• D. The great war

The answer to the question is: A. The great trek

The Great Trek, also known as Die Groot Trek in Afrikaans, was a mass migration of around 12,000 to 13,000 Boers (Afrikaners) or Dutch-speaking settlers from the Cape Colony in present-day South Africa to the interior of Southern Africa during the period of 1835 to 1840. The main reasons for this migration were the growing tension between the British colonial authorities and the Dutch-speaking farmers, known as Boers, over issues such as language, religion, and land rights.

The Boers sought to establish their own independent republics, free from British control, where they could maintain their unique culture, language, and way of life. They were also driven by the desire for more fertile land for farming, as the overpopulation in the Cape Colony led to a scarcity of arable land.

During the Great Trek, the Boers formed several groups, the most notable being the Voortrekkers, who were led by men like Piet Retief, Andries Pretorius, and Hendrik Potgieter. They traveled through difficult terrain, facing numerous challenges such as harsh weather conditions, lack of resources, and conflicts with the indigenous African tribes.

Ultimately, the Great Trek resulted in the establishment of three independent Boer republics: the Transvaal (or South African Republic), the Orange Free State (or Orange River Sovereign Republic), and the Natalia Republic. These republics later played a significant role in the history of South Africa, including the Anglo-Boer Wars and the eventual formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.