Editing History of Botswana (section)

=== Early years of the protectorate ===
{{Multiple image|total_width = 300
| image1            = Chief-khama-III.jpg
| image2            = Sebele I by Fritsch 1865.jpg
| image3            = Bathoen I in london1895.jpg
| footer            = [[Khama III]], [[Sebele I]], and [[Bathoen I]], who convinced the British government to not absorb the Bechuanaland Protectorate into the [[British South Africa Company]]
}}
The British planned to eventually incorporate the Bechuanaland Protectorate into the Union of South Africa.{{Sfn|Leith|2005|p=24}} In the years after the protectorate's creation, the United Kingdom entered talks with Cecil Rhodes to absorb it into the [[British South Africa Company]].{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=40}} In response, three of the most influential chiefs—Khama III of the Ngwato, [[Sebele I]] of the Kwena, and [[Bathoen I]] of the Ngwaketse—made a diplomatic trip to the United Kingdom in 1895 and convinced the government not to complete the deal.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=41}}{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=xvii}} This set a precedent of chiefs interacting with the British as a unified group{{Sfn|Hjort|2009|p=704}} and enshrined these three figures as early figures in Botswana's history as a single nation.{{Sfn|Gulbrandsen|2012|p=29}} Rhodes's handling of the failed [[Jameson Raid]] discouraged the British and negotiations were postponed indefinitely.{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|pp=30–31}} The celebration of these chiefs resulted in the publication of ''Three Great African Chiefs: Khamé, Sebéle and Bathoeng'' by the London Missionary Society the same year. This text introduced a [[founding myth]] that their three respective tribes were created by three brothers.{{Sfn|Parsons|2006|p=670}}

Also in 1895, the capital was moved from Vryburg to another South African city, [[Mafeking]],{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=41}} and the [[Ancient Ruins Company]] was registered to dig up prehistoric ruins in Bechuanaland and Rhodesia in search for gold.{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=30}} The protectorate was heavily affected by the [[1890s African rinderpest epizootic]], losing large portions of its livestock and wild game.{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=xvii}} The protectorate's railroad was built in 1897 as the main north–south transit line.{{Sfn|Makgala|2009|p=226}}

When the United Kingdom raised the [[Pioneer Column]] to go to war with the Ndebele people, [[Khama III]] of the Ngwato assisted by sending soldiers.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=32}} Botswana became a staging ground for the [[Jameson Raid]] in 1896.{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=xvii}} The Kgatla tribe was later part of the [[Boer War]], fighting alongside the British Army.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=32}}

The early colonial economy of the Bechuanaland Protectorate remained much the same as the pre-colonial economy.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=26}} The United Kingdom primarily used the protectorate as a supply of labour, offering high wages to Batswana who migrated south to work in mines.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=42}} Taxes were also imposed, beginning with a [[hut tax]] in 1899, which was then replaced by a [[poll tax]] in 1909.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=43}} A native tax was later imposed in 1919.{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=31}} Colonial taxes in the Bechuanaland Protectorate were higher than those in neighbouring colonies, causing mass exodus to the south, and the chiefs allowed more generous power sharing with citizens to incentivise them to stay.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|pp=43–44}} The United Kingdom considered integrating the protectorate into South Africa as it [[South Africa Act 1909|unified its southern African colonies]], but it ultimately grouped them economically by creating the [[South African Customs Union]],{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=xvii}} joining in 1910.{{Sfn|Samatar|1999|p=137}} Membership entitled the protectorate to only 2% of the union's revenue.{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=31}}

By 1910, all Tswana tribes had adopted Christianity.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=38}} Bechuanaland sent several hundred soldiers to assist the British Army during [[World War I]].{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=32}} The London Missionary Society found itself in decline at this time, and it gradually lost influence over the protectorate.{{Sfn|Parsons|2006|p=670}}

[[Sebele II]] became chief of the Kwena in 1918, succeeding his father, [[Sechele II]]. Sechele II had conflicted with the dominant London Missionary Society, permitting an Anglican presence and reinstating many traditional practices such as polygyny, rainmaking, and ''[[bogwera]]''. Sebele II continued his father's challenge to the London Missionary Society, to the grievance of the British government.{{Sfn|Gulbrandsen|2012|p=78}}

The dual government of the chiefs and the colonial administration made administration difficult, so the administration created two advisory councils to standardise these authorities.{{Sfn|Denbow|Thebe|2006|p=31}} The Native Advisory Council (later the African Advisory Council) was established in 1919.{{Sfn|Makgala|2009|p=229}} This annual meeting of the chiefs and other influential people in the protectorate allowed the British government to hear from and manage the tribes collectively instead of individually.{{Sfn|Samatar|1999|pp=47–49}} Khama III of the Ngwato refused to participate, citing weak enforcement of alcohol prohibition in southern tribe. Khama III died in 1923{{Sfn|Makgala|2009|p=230}} and was succeeded by [[Sekgoma II]], who served until his own death in 1926.{{Sfn|Makgala|2009|p=230}} Sekgoma's son [[Seretse Khama]] was still an infant, so [[Tshekedi Khama]] became regent.{{Sfn|Gulbrandsen|2012|p=87}} Tshekedi came to be recognised as a representative for all of the Tswana tribes.{{Sfn|Leith|2005|p=25}} As Seretse grew, Tshekedi insisted that he be given a [[liberal education]] rather than be sent to a Rhodesian industrial school.{{Sfn|Samatar|1999|p=179}}