Bechuanaland Protectorate

Bechuanaland Protectorate
1885–1966
Anthem: God Save the King/Queen
1885 map showing the Bechuanaland Protectorate prior to the creation of the crown colony of British Bechuanaland and the Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty
StatusProtectorate of the United Kingdom
Capital
Official languagesEnglish
Common languagesSetswana, IKalanga, widely spoken
Religion
Congregationalism (Christian mission churches of the London Missionary Society/LMS); Anglicanism, Methodism, Badimo
Monarch 
• 1885–1901
Victoria
• 1901–1910
Edward VII
• 1910–1936
George V
• 1936
Edward VIII
• 1936–1952
George VI
• 1952–1966
Elizabeth II
commissioners 
• 1884–1885
John Mackenzie
• 1965–1966
Hugh Norman-Walker
Prime Minister 
• 1965–1966
Seretse Khama
LegislatureLegislative Council
Historical eraNew Imperialism
31 March 1885
• Expanded
1890
1 March 1965
30 September 1966
Area
1924712,000 km2 (275,000 sq mi)
Population
• 1924
152,980
Currency
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Tswana people
Botswana
Today part ofBotswana
South Africa

The Bechuanaland Protectorate (/ˌbɛuˈɑːnəlænd/) was a protectorate established on 31 March 1885 in Southern Africa by the United Kingdom. It became independent as the Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966, six years after the Bechuanaland Democratic Party was established, under the leadership of Seretse Khama.