Depth 3: The Second Boer War (Reporting) Flashcards
Which battle had a significant effect on public attitudes and why?
Spion Kop. Photos of dead British soldiers on the hill showed the dark realities of war, The Times commented on the absence of a reasoned plan that soldiers had to pay the price for, and newspapers were generally critical of Buller and his strategy.
The Queen heard of this defeat, and sent 100,000 tins of chocolate sent to her ‘dear brave soldiers’, along with knitted clothing.
What did Winston Churchill experience during the war?
He was a war correspondent. He helped rescue an armoured train from the Boers, but was captured and later managed to escape. He re-joined the Army and was one of the first soldiers into Ladysmith and Pretoria.
His journalism was generally supportive of the British forces and it was popular due to its vibrant action and Churchill’s own heroism.
How was popular culture influenced after the war?
After Black Week, reports of victories sparked flag-waving jubilations and the mood became more optimistic. ‘Maffiking’ was a term used to describe street celebrations.
Pop culture tended to be pro-army and pro-war, with songs being written about glorious soldiers. Soldiers’ slang became more widespread, with works such as Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Barrack-Room Ballads.’
How did press coverage depict the Second Boer War?
Most newspapers backed the war, and sent war correspondents to South Africa. The Daily Mail and The Daily Express were particularly jingoistic in tone. Editors were sacked if they didn’t take a pro-war stance.
Later in the war, the press became less supportive, as questions rose about Spion Kop, the efficiency of the Army, and the length of the war.
How did the press coverage of the Boer War affect politics?
In 1902, Stead launched an attack on the government over the treatment of children in concentration camps, calling them a ‘cold-blooded deed of state policy.’ Such reports began to negatively affect public perceptions of the government and Army.
The 1900 election was known as the ‘khaki election’ as many had served and the entire election was based on the war. The press was broadly supportive of the government policies, and the Conservatives won with 51% of the vote.
Who was Emily Hobhouse?
She was a British peace activist. She joined the South African Conciliation Committee, advocating for peace in the country. She spoke out against the war at protest meetings and founded the South African Women and Children Distress Fund to collect money for Boer families.
She left for South Africa in 1900, being aided by the British high commissioner, Milner.
What did Hobhouse find in the Bloemfontein camp?
The conditions were squalid. She had expected to give women comforts like soap, but found that most needed food. Meat wasn’t given to women and children whose menfolk were fighting, vegetables and fresh milk were scarce. There was no adequate toilets or clean water, so illnesses like whooping cough, measles and typhoid spread.
How did the government and press react to the Hobhouse Report?
They responded with hostility, but extracts from her report were circulated in liberal newspapers. She was denied further access to South Africa, and deported when she tried to land.
What was the Fawcett Commission?
A commission led by suffragist Millicent Fawcett to check the state of the camps. They corroborated Hobhouse’s findings, and this led the government to act, placing control of the camps with civilians, rather than the Army. The death rate decreased to 2%.
How did the British public react to the Second Boer War overall?
The main response came in stages: patriotism and pride, then anger and grief at the failures, and then relief at the final victory.
There wasn’t much glory or intense celebration when the war was over; South Africa gained dominion status, and many questioned the expenditures of war and the right of the Empire to rule others without consent.
How was the Army affected by the outcome of the Second Boer War?
They influenced the Haldane Reforms and the way officers were trained. The idea of an upper class amateur soldier was quickly becoming irrelevant. Reformers urged drastic changes to organisation, training and mobility.
The Second Boer War was the last ‘old-style’ colonial war, but also its first ‘new-style’ war.
