Boer War - Context Flashcards
Why should the British have good intelligence for the war?
Lost the first Boer War and should know enemy and geography of the land well
South Africa is a British Colony
How is the Army before the Boer War?
Cardwell improved quantity not quality - few regulars of empire know the place
Enthusiastic volunteers but poorly trained due to propaganda and sensationalism (250,000)
Outdated tactics - not used to new weaponry due to minor battles in this period, yet to adapt
Supply considerably improved
Class distinctions
Britain not adaptable and too traditional - Boers will engage them in Guerilla underhand tactics
Describe the Boer Army
Never reached higher than 70k
Ludicrously one-sided battle
Most of them are civilians under arms
Better artillery and effectively concealed - Breech-loading Howitzers and Mortar Cannons (somewhat evenly matched) v. French Crusot Guns
Better rifles and expert marksmen by trade - German Mausers due to Kaiser connection
Not a formal army - resistance forces
Women and children also fought = total war = high morale and effort with complete national dedication
British remain regimented - Boers use knowledge of country to maximum effext
How does weaponry give the Boers an advantage?
Mausers are more accurate than the Lee-Metfords and the Lee-Enfields of the British especially in long-range
More experienced as they use those guns as hunting weapons often
British weapons manufactured with low quality control and sighting at factory level so they were woefully inaccurate at ranges greater than 400 yards
Explain the Kaiser connection briefly
Kaiser congratulated Kruger on Jameson Raids 1895
Sent support to organise Boers and weaponry
Explain briefly the Great Trek
BE acquired Cape Colony in 1815
5000 Boers trekked to SA = Orange Free State and the Transvaal
Farmers = hunting, foraging
Skilled due to lifestyle and owned weapons
Local terrain better known than British
What are the British interests in the Boer territory?
Discovery of Gold in 1886 (Witwatersrand) = Transvaal Revenue from 200k to 4m = wealth and growth for Boer government (money for weapons)
Cecil Rhodes and the Cape to Cairo trainline
What did the British public think the war was over?
Told by government war was fought to protect the Uitlanders of the Transvaal (BC) from tyranny of the Afrikaners
Latter thought Britain was taking their rights
Why don’t Britain declare war?
Regions are small and it would seem brutal, unjust and antagonistic
Provoke Boers to declare war
Explain the role of Cecil Rhodes
PM of Cape Colony
Vicious Imperialist
Highly influential statesman who pressured SA gov to build Cape to Cairo railway
Fears economic power of the Transvaal
Unite SA
Explain the role of Lord Salisbury
PM June 1895
Wants ‘splendid isolation’ and avoiding affairs
Pressured by cabinet to protect B interests
Explain the role of Joe Chamberlain
Colonial Secretary with aggressive ideas who pressured Salisbury
Defender of BE
Counter Salbusry’s quiet conduct
Explain the role of Paul Kruger
President of the Transvaal
Vehement defender of Boer Independence
Military pact with President Steyn of Orange Free State in 1897 against British
Purchased best European weaponry for Transvaal’s armed forces
No voting rights for uitlanders to keep political power out of their hands to controo gold mining and growth of immigrant populations
Hero on high alert after Jameson Raids
Voting rules in Boer republics and reaction
Foreigners can only vote after 14 years - ruled out Gold Rush foreigners
Conservative-Unionist gov use as coverup for economic goals to ignite war
Need to defend rights and expand presence
Explain the role of Lord Milner
Government High Commissioner
League with gold mind owners - Randlords
Exploited issue
Played on Kruger’s growing antagonism towards Britain
