L7: The Second Boer War and Union of Africa Flashcards
By 1895, how did Britain feel about taking action in South Africa?
Really confident
Who got appointed colonial secretary?
Joseph Chamberlain
Why did Chamberlain team up with Rhodes?
To try to develop and promote the British empire in South Africa
What happened from September 1895 to October 1895?
The Drift Crisis, Cape Colony against the Transvaals
What had the Cape finished building?
A railway line to Johannesburg
Why did the Cape build a railway line?
They tried to get as much of the Transvaal railway traffic as it could by reducing its rates
What did the Transvaal government do once the railway line was built?
They increased rates on part of the railway that ran through the Transvaal once it had crossed the Vaal river
What did the Public do to avoid the high rates after crossing the river?
Goods were taken by train to the Vaal river but after they arrived, goods were then taken by Wagon as it was cheaper
How did Kruger, a South African politician, react to rates of Transvaal?
He reacted by blocking access to Transvaal, closing the drifts on the Transvaal side
What did the British do during the drift crisis?
They demanded that Kruger should open the drifts and directly used it in a way to include them in Transvaal affairs
In addition to the Drift crisis, what else happened?
The Jameson Raid was planned but failed under the guidance of Cecil Rhodes
What was Rhodes planning in Johannesburg?
Rhodes was planning an uprising of Uitlanders and decided to overthrow the government by taking up arms
What was the Johannesburg uprising timed to coincide with?
An invasion of the Transvaal from Bechuanaland (Botswana) by Dr Leander Starr Jameson
What did Cecil Rhodes want from the Jameson raid?
Rhodes wanted to take over the government of Transvaal and turn it into a British colony that would join all the other colonies in a federation
When does the Jameson Raid begin?
29th December 1895 when Jameson and armed forces crossed the border from Bechuanaland (Botswana)
Why was Jameson hasty with the raid?
While Jameson waited on the border, the Uitlander leaders in Johannesburg were arguing amongst themselves about the kind of government to be put in place after the invasion
What were the problems with the Jameson raid?
Many of the Uitlanders had no interest in violent uprisings so Rhodes had actually called off the raid but it was too late as Jameson had already crossed the border into Transvaal
Communication was lacking and plans were botched when all telegraph lines were not cut as had been planned
What were the consequences of the Jameson raid?
The Boers received warning of the attack and Jameson was forced to surrender on 2 January 1896; the raid had been a failure.
The prisoners were handed over to their own government and Uitlanders leaders who were involved were put on trial in Johannesburg where some were condemned to death but later reduced to fines
Rhodes was forced to resign as the premier of the Cape Colony
When was the Second Boer war?
11 October 1899 - 31 May 1902
Who fought in the Second Boer war?
Between the British empire and 2 independent Boer states the South African Republic and Orange Free state
What was the conflict like in the Second Boer war?
Long and drawn out and the British forces seriously underestimated the Boers guerrilla tactics
How did the British respond to these Guerrilla tactics?
Increasingly aggressive measures against the Boers farm as well as civillians
What did the British do to the Boer civilians?
They moved civilians into temporary accommodation which were essentially concentration camps
Who was driving the Second Boer war?
Boers as they had the latest German rifles, knew how to dig trenches and understood the terrain
What tactics were being used by the British?
Barbed wire nets
8,000 block houses
Killing cattle and sheep
Burning crops
Burned houses
When and how did the Second Boer war end?
The Boers finally surrendered in May 1902
What did Boer leaders do?
They opted to negotiate for peace on the basis of promises for local self-government, restoration of management of goldmines and crucially the alliance of Britons and Boers against Black africans
What was the Act of Union 1910?
It brought together the previous separate colonies of the Orange Free State, Transvaal and the Cape to form the Union of South Africa, the British and the Boers
What was the South Africa Act 1910?
Granted dominion to the White minority over native (African), and other mixed races.
Under the Act, the union remained British territory but with home-rule for Afrikaners
