South African War Flashcards
When did the British Noer rivalry start
In the 19th century when Britain first occupied the Cape of Good Hope
What was accepted at the treaty of Vienna
Britain’s control of the cape
What was the value of the cape to the British
It had strategic, military value because of its position. They used it as a port to Britain’s colonies and as a naval base.
What was the Great Trek
It was when the boers decided the venture into the interior of South Africa.
When was the Great Trek
In the late 1830’s
Who took part on the Great Trek
Thousands of Boers along with roughly the same output of servants of colour ( many former slaves)
What was the purpose of the Great Trek
It was to escape the British rule. The boers did not agree to the British liberal policies towards people of colour. ( accepting their equality before the law and the freeing of slaves )
What happened when the Boers set up a republic in natal
Britain annexed it
Why did Britain take natal
Because of its fertile soil and had a potentially valuable coastline
What other two republics did the boers set up
The Transvaal and the orange free state
What is another name for the Transvaal
The South African republic
Why did the British not annex the Transvaal and orange free state
Because there were no vital interests that seemed to seemed to be at stake
Why did Britain’s interests in the Transvaal and free state increase dramatically
Gold and diamond were discovered
What was the South African industrial revolution launched by
The discovery of gold and diamond
What was the Anglo-Zulu war
It was evidence of Britain’s new interest in the region.
When did the Anglo-Zulu war begin
When the Zulu kingdom refused to supply labour or pay taxes to the British. Britain removed the potential threat against its economic and political control by defeating the Zulu and dividing it up
What did the discovery of gold and diamonds do for the Transvaal
It made it into a much richer and much secured state. Britain fe,t threatened by this.
Who came into the Transvaal when gold was discovered
Thousands of foreigners ( mainly British ). This included :skilled workers, professionals, traders, managers and fortune-hunters
How were the foreigners different to the boers
Language, culture and way of life
What was the nickname for the foreigners
Uitlanders
Who was the president of the Transvaal at the time of the discovery of gold
Paul Kruger
Why did the uitlanders become a concern to the transvaal
Because if the Transvaal allowed the uitlanders to have a vote, it would most probably result in a shift in power from the boers to the British.
What did the transvaal do to prevent a shift in power
They passed a law that meant that the uitlanders could only become a citizen and gain the right to vote after 14 years’ residence.
What made the uitlanders feel mistreated and upset
The vote, the high taxation, and a corrupt and inefficient public administrations. They felt that they contributed most to the revenues of the Transvaal state and did not have political rights
What was the Jameson raid
It was an attempt to gain control of the Transvaal or at least get the uitlanders a vote.
What was the plan for the Jameson raid
The plan was for the uitlanders in the Transvaal to stage an uprising against the Transvaal government, followed by an armed invasion led by British troops in support of the uprising.
Who did the troops come from
Rhodes’s British South Africa company
Who was supposed to lead the staged uprising
Rhodes’s great friend Dr Leander Starr Jameson
Was the Jameson raid a success of failure
It was a huge failure for 2 reasons. Firstly, it was timed for the Christmas/ New Year holiday period. The raid did not happen because the uitlanders were too busy with holiday festivities. Secondly, the transvaal government heard about the raid and ambushed an defeated the forces.
What happened to the people who participated int he raid
They were arrested, tried and sentenced. Jameson and some other people were sent back rag Britain for trial. Jameson only served 4 months in prison.
What were the consequences of the Jameson raid
The Transvaal new without doubt that the British would go to any lengths to secure control of the Transvaal and destroy their independence. This meant that the Transvaal armed themselves with accurate german Mauser rifles, ammunition and artillery. The relationship between the British and the boers was also destroyed.
Who was appointed the new British high commissioner in 1897
Sir Alfred Milner
What did Milner say the only possible outcome was
Reform in the Transvaal or war. This meant that either the uitlanders get the vote, or they go to war.
What happened at the Bloemfontein conference
President Kruger and Milner met face to face and Milner demanded that they give the vote to the uitlanders
What did Kruger believe Milner was actually after
Not the franchise, but the country.
What did Britain do after they rejected the offers given to them
They prepared for war by sending for more troops.
Who wS the president of the orange free state
Marthinus Steyn
What did Kruger and Steyn decide to do
They decided to attack the British before the troops arrived
What did Kruger and Steyn present Britain with
An ultimatum
Did Britain accept the ultimatum
No
In what way did the ultimatum suit the British
It made it look like the boers were to blame for the war.
When did the war begin
11 October 1899
Why did the British go to war against the boer republics ( 4)
1) Britain’s need to secure the cape sea route
2) the discovery of gold
3) British prestige
4) Britain’s desire to establish a federation of states loyal to the mother country as part of its empire
What was the cape sea route and why was it so important to Britain
It was a sea route from Europe to the east which passed around the cape. It was of great strategic importance to the security of the empire
What did the port at Cape Town and the naval base at Simon’s town provide
Supply, repair and refuelling of merchant and naval vessels en route to the east
What do historians believe is the actual reason for Britain’s interest in the discovery of gold
They believe that it was not a desire to control the vast wealth, but the threat in control and power over the British
What would happen if Britain lost the war
This would set a very bad example throughout its empire
What were the two phases of the South African war
Conventional warfare and guerrilla warfare
What was the first phase of the war
Conventional warfare
What were the two parts of the conventional warefare phase
Boer victories and British advances
What did the boers do at the beginning of the war
They invaded the British colony of natal. The boers won a victory at Dundee and besieged the town of lady smith, trapping around 12 000 British troops. They also advanced into the northern cape, cutting off the railways to prevent British troops and supplies from moving north, and besieged the town of Kimberly. They also besieged the town of Mafeking.
When did the main British troops arrive
November 1899
Who was in control of the troops
General sir Redvers Buller
What was black week
It was one week where Britain suffered three significant defeats
What were the three defeats
The first two were at Stormberg and Magersfontein in the northern cape and the third at Colenso in Natal ( where Buller was trying to relieve the siege at lady smith)
Who arrived in 1900 to take over the troops
Field Marshal Lord Roberts
How did Lord Roberts win back the land he had lost
He sent strong force north to relieve Kimberly. Later Buller relieved lady smith. Roberts took Bloemfontein, relieved Mafeking, took Johannesburg, Pretoria and the SAR
What happened on the 20th of October
President Kruger went into exile
Why did Lord Roberts go back to Britain
He believed that the war was over and that there were only mopping-up operations to be done
What was the second phase of the war
Guerrilla warfare
Was the war actually over
No, it moved into a long phase of guerrilla warfare
