When did South Africa become a union?

South Africa became a union in 1910, an important milestone in the country's political history. The formation of the Union of South Africa was formalized through the South Africa Act passed by the British Parliament, which unified four previously separate colonies: the Cape Colony, the Natal Colony, the Transvaal Colony, and the Orange River Colony. This union marked the beginning of a centralized government in South Africa, allowing for a more cohesive national administration, although it continued to operate under British colonial influence until the country achieved full independence.

The year 1910 was significant for establishing a framework for governance in South Africa, paving the way for future developments, including the implementation of apartheid. By contrast, the other years listed do not mark the unification of South Africa. For instance, 1900 is before the Boer War and the subsequent negotiations regarding the colonies, while 1912 is the founding year of the African National Congress, which aimed to combat racial discrimination but did not relate directly to the union's formation. The year 1914 coincides with the beginning of World War I, which had no direct link to the establishment of South Africa as a union.