Overview Flashcards
When was the South African War/ Second Boer War?
1899-1902
Who fought in the Second Boer War?
British army against the Boers
Of what origin were the Boers?
Of Dutch origin, descendants of the first Europeans to settle in south Africa in the 17th Century
Which two colonies did the British establish in the 19th century?
Cape Colony and Natal
Where did the Boers hold whilst the British established colonies in the 19th century?
Orange free state and Transvaal
What area did Britain annex in 1877?
The Transvaal
What had happened in the Transvaal prior to British annexation in 1877?
The Boers and Zulus had fought
(Briefly) What happened during the Zulu war?
In the Transvaal in 1879 the British suppressed the Zulus in the Zulu war
(Briefly) Why was the first Boer war fought? (1880 - 81)
Because the Boers resented British intrusion
Who did the Pretoria peace deal in 1881 favour?
The Boers
How did the London Convention (in 1884) affect the Boers?
Left them in control of the Transvaal
What did the discovery of gold in the 1880’s in the Transvaal lead to?
An inrush of foreign settlers known as uitlanders (outlanders)
By the 1890s, who had outnumbered Afrikaans speakers?
outlanders
What did the Transvaal government refuse outlanders?
voting rights
Why were there tensions between the Transvaal and Britain after the discovery of gold in the 1890s?
The refusal of voting rights towards outlanders by the Transvaal government caused distrust between their president, Paul Kruger and British high commissioner, Alfred Milner
Who was the president of the Transvaal in the 1880s and 90s?
Paul Kruger
Who was Alfred Milner?
The British high commissioner from 1897
When was the Jameson Raid?
1895
What was the Jameson raid a ploy for?
To give Britain an excuse to intervene in the Transvaal on the side of the outlanders
What was the Jameson raid?
A failure raid from Cape Colony that aimed to overthrow the Boer government of the Transvaal
Who led the Jameson raid?
led by Dr Leander Starr Jameson from Cape colony
What resignation did the Jameson raid lead to?
Cecil Rhodes’ resignation as premier of Cape Colony
What unification did the Jameson raid lead to?
Unifying of the Boers under Kruger
How was the Jameson raid portrayed in Britain?
As a heroic attempt to help settlers oppressed by anti-democratic racist Boers
Who was Joseph Chamberlain?
Colonial secretary at the time of the Jameson raid
Who insisted that Britain had a right of control over the Boer republics?
Chamberlain and Milner
After the Jameson raid who became allies and started to mobilise?
Orange Free State and the Transvaal
What ultimatum was issued by the Boers after the Jameson Raid?
Demanded the withdrawal of British troops from their frontiers and the return to Britain of reinforcements en route by sea
How did Britain react to the ultimatum issues by the Boers after the Jameson raid?
They refused
What did the British refusal of complying with the Boers ultimatum lead to?
War beginning with Boers attacking Cape Colony and Natal
When did war between the British and Boers break out?
11th October 1899
Why did war initially break out between the British and Boers?
Because the British refused to comply with the Boers ultimatum
How did the Boers see the war?
As a fight for survival and identity
Why did the Boers see the war as a fight for survival and identity?
They feared British empire-building would engulf their Afrikaans-speaking republics
Who were most of the Boer fighters?
Volunteers
Where did the Boer government get guns from?
From abroad to get modern ones
How was the Boer war perceived by the British public at first?
With patriotic enthusiasm and confidence was high after the recent victory in the Sudan at Omdurman (1898)
How was British optimism about the Boer war quickly tested after the start of the war?
- Controversies about organisation, leadership and conduct to civilians.
- Critical reporting by observers such as Emily Hobhouse and the press scrutiny of the army
