By this period of time the country had a single language, a unified army and a government.

In 1868 Moshoeshoe was defeated by those of the Orange Free State, who were made up of the Zulu and the Boers, he sought help from the British, and a protectorate was declared.

In 1870 Moshoeshoe died, the country changed from the granary of the high veld to a labour reserve for the South African mines and farms.

In 1952 the Basutoland Congress Party was founded, under the leadership of Ntsu Mokhehle, they launched a campaign for self rule.

In 1958 the Basutoland National Party was founded under the leadership of Chief Jonathan, the BNP opposed the radicalism of the BCP.

In 1965 as a consequence of the BCP campaign the British were obliged to grant self government.

In 1966 the British granted full independence, and in elections leading up to independence the BNP won the majority of the votes, this was due to the fact that the BNP were supported by the Catholic Church and the South African government.

King Moshoeshoe II was forced to renounce everything but a purely ceremonial role, by the BNP.

The BCP remained popular and in 1970 Jonathan staged a coup d'etat, this enabled him to arrest opposition leaders and banned all other political parties, and he put the King under house-arrest.

In 1972 Jonathan announced an amnesty for all political prisoners due to mounting opposition.

In 1973 an all party national assembly was created.

In 1974 disturbances began such as attacks on police stations, a witch hunt followed of BCP supporters, Jonathan attempted to create a one party state, this had little success, disturbances continued and he resorted to assassination.

His downfall was a result of his flirtation with Mozambique and Cuba, and his alleged support of the ANC guerrillas as due to the fact that they were granted sanctuary in Lesotho, relations between Lesotho and South Africa deteriorated.

Jonathan was overthrown in a coup d'etat in 1986 led by Lekhanya, within hours relations with South Africa improved.

Lesotho remains a political and economic hostage of South Africa, and much of the wholesale and retail trade within the country is South African owned, the platform on which Jonathan came to power at independence, remained basically the same.