4. Impact of the Second Boer War Flashcards
How did the British initially feel going into the Boer War?
Confident
Stage 1 of the Boer War
Boer offensive from October 1899 to January 1900
Where did the British suffer defeats during the Boer offensive?
In Stormberg, Magersfontein and the Tugela River
Where did the British suffer significant casualties during the Boer offensive?
Spion Kop
Stage 2 of the Boer War
British Response from January 1900 to June 1900
What did the British fight back the Boer offensive with?
Heavy reinforcements and command by Roberts and Kitchener
By September 1900, what areas had been annexed by the British?
Orange Free State
Transvaal
What did many people believe about the Boer War after Britain’s response to the Boer offensive?
Many people thought the war was over
Stage 3 of the Boer War
Guerrilla War and British frustration from November 1900 to May 1902
What did the Boers do after abandoning the British style of warfare?
They increased reliance on small and mobile military units
What did increased mobility of military units allow the Boers to do?
It allowed them to capture supplies, disrupt communications and undertake raids on army occupated areas
What were the Boers very successful in doing from November 1900 to May 1902?
Avoiding capture
Stage 4 of Boer War
British response to Guerrilla War
What policy did the British embark on after the Guerrilla warfare tactics were introduced?
The scorched earth policy to deny supplies to fighters
What did the scorched earth policy result in?
The burning of 30,000 farms
What was developed by the British in March 1901 to restrict the movement of the Boers?
8,000 blockhouses along with 37,000 miles of wire fencing and 50,000 guarding troops
Where were refugees sent during the Boer War?
To concentration camps
How many black Africans died in the British concentration camps?
Over 14,000
How many Boers died in the British concentration camps?
Nearly 28,000
What did the inmates of the British concentration camps die of?
Starvation, disease and exposure
How many British troops died during the Boer War?
22,000
How many Boer troops died during the Boer War?
6,000 - WAY LESS THAN BRITISH TROOPS
How much did the Boer War cost the British?
£230 million
Boer civilians and black Africans perished in British concentration camps. How did this affect Britain?
It shook Britain’s confidence as an imperial power
Affect of fighting a ‘white’ enemy on the British?
It destabilised notions of British superiority as fighting a ‘black’ enemy could be justified within a racist imperialist mindset
What did the Boer War show about Britain’s imperial control?
It showed vulnerability
What did the Boer War expose about the British?
If exposed the cost of enforcing British control
What did the Boer War dictate a drive for in Britain?
National efficiency
Pros of the British using tactics such as concentration camps to win the Boer Wars
Reduced length of war
Deaths in camps not intentional
Victory is the most important thing
Putting women into camps seen as military necessity as they supplied Boer fighters with food and ammunition
Cons of the British using tactics such as concentration camps to win the Boer Wars
Camps should’ve been managed better to reduce deaths
Damaged Britain’s ’s reputation
Who was Emily Hobhouse?
A British welfare campaigner who worked tirelessly to improve conditions within the concentration camps
Who was Millicent Fawcett?
An active British suffragist and political campaigner who was appointed to investigate conditions of camps. Made the Fawcett Commission giving British far-reaching recommendations
Treaty in May 1902 after Boer War
Peace of Vereeniging
Result of the Peace of Vereeniging
Ended hostilities and involved surrender of all Boer forces and their arms to British
What did the Boer Republics agree to do at the Peace of Vereeniging?
Agreed to come under sovereignty of British crown
What was promised at the Peace of Vereeniging?
Eventual self-government of Transvaal and Orange Free State
What did Britain provide the Boers with in reconstruction aid at the Peace of Vereeniging?
£3 million
Adjective to describe the British at the Peace of Vereeniging
Generous - possibility showing guilt for mistreatment of the Boers
Radical Liberal view of Kitchener’s concentration camp policy
They condemned (criticised) it
International opinion of the Boer War
International opinion sympathised with the Boers resulting in British fear of invasion
What did Britain try to do to prevent invasion after the Boer War?
Tried to secure allies
What was the British public anti-German by 1902?
Because Germany’s leaders were pro-Boer
Who did Britain ally with due to fears of Russian threat in Far East?
Japan
What did national efficiency claim?
Claimed that British needed to harness all Empire’s resources (intelligence, capital and labour) to become efficient and allow the Empire to survive
South Africa Act 1909
United Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony and Natal in Union of South Africa
What continued after the Boer War?
Imperial enthusiasm
