During its history, Goshen, though small in size, became a focal point of conflict between the British Empire and the South African Republic, the two major players vying over the territory.

Before the proclamation of Goshen, the land was under the control of competing Griqua and Tswana groups, while the United Kingdom laid claim to it as part of the emerging protectorate of British Bechuanaland.

Mahikeng fell on 24 October 1882 and, in gratitude, Moshoette ceded large portions of Mankurwane's land (416 farms of 3,000 morgen (2,563 hectares) each) to the Boer mercenaries who had supported him.

[2] The mercenaries, led by Nicolaas Claudius Gey van Pittius, immediately declared independence[3] (followed by an official proclamation on 21 November 1882),[4] naming the new nation after the Book of Genesis's Land of Goshen, "the best of the land of Egypt given to Joseph",[5] with its capital at Rooigrond ("Red Ground").

[5] Goshen's capital Rooigrond was little more than a fortified farm consisting of a collection of mud huts and a population of a few dozen, situated near Mafeking.