The Making of a Nation - A History of the Union of South Africa 1910-1961 DW Kruger

A History of the Union of South Africa 1910 - 1961.

As the title indicates this work deals with the history of the white South African nation during the period 1910 - 1961. After a brief survey of the heritage of the past Professor Kruger tells the history of the development of the Union from it's formation in 1910 until the coming of the Republic half-a-century later. The book highlights the personalities who helped to shape the destinies of South Africa, particularly those courageous leaders the Boer-war generals and their political successors since then. It not only describes the major events in their historical sequence but also analyses the political, economic, social and cultural factors which determined the history of the country. Side by side with the main theme of the gradual growth of national consciousness among the two white elements of the population, the development of the constitutional independence takes an important place. The struggle for equality for the Afrikaans language and the influence of this cultural movement on politics is explained as the only means to make the history of the period intelligible. At the same time the tremendous socio-economic revolution which was brought about by the process of industrialization and urbanization has not been neglected.

The author sets all these forces and influences against the back-ground of race politics, the history of which is the other theme of this book.

Information derived from inner jacket sleeve.