South African War Flashcards
1
Q
When did the British Noer rivalry start
A
In the 19th century when Britain first occupied the Cape of Good Hope
2
Q
What was accepted at the treaty of Vienna
A
Britain’s control of the cape
3
Q
What was the value of the cape to the British
A
It had strategic, military value because of its position. They used it as a port to Britain’s colonies and as a naval base.
4
Q
What was the Great Trek
A
It was when the boers decided the venture into the interior of South Africa.
5
Q
When was the Great Trek
A
In the late 1830’s
6
Q
Who took part on the Great Trek
A
Thousands of Boers along with roughly the same output of servants of colour ( many former slaves)
7
Q
What was the purpose of the Great Trek
A
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 )
8
Q
What happened when the Boers set up a republic in natal
A
Britain annexed it
9
Q
Why did Britain take natal
A
Because of its fertile soil and had a potentially valuable coastline
10
Q
What other two republics did the boers set up
A
The Transvaal and the orange free state
11
Q
What is another name for the Transvaal
A
The South African republic
12
Q
Why did the British not annex the Transvaal and orange free state
A
Because there were no vital interests that seemed to seemed to be at stake
13
Q
Why did Britain’s interests in the Transvaal and free state increase dramatically
A
Gold and diamond were discovered
14
Q
What was the South African industrial revolution launched by
A
The discovery of gold and diamond
15
Q
What was the Anglo-Zulu war
A
It was evidence of Britain’s new interest in the region.
16
Q
When did the Anglo-Zulu war begin
A
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
17
Q
What did the discovery of gold and diamonds do for the Transvaal
A
It made it into a much richer and much secured state. Britain fe,t threatened by this.
18
Q
Who came into the Transvaal when gold was discovered
A
Thousands of foreigners ( mainly British ). This included :skilled workers, professionals, traders, managers and fortune-hunters
19
Q
How were the foreigners different to the boers
A
Language, culture and way of life
20
Q
What was the nickname for the foreigners
A
Uitlanders
21
Q
Who was the president of the Transvaal at the time of the discovery of gold
A
Paul Kruger
22
Q
Why did the uitlanders become a concern to the transvaal
A
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.
23
Q
What did the transvaal do to prevent a shift in power
A
They passed a law that meant that the uitlanders could only become a citizen and gain the right to vote after 14 years’ residence.
24
Q
What made the uitlanders feel mistreated and upset
A
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
25
What was the Jameson raid
It was an attempt to gain control of the Transvaal or at least get the uitlanders a vote.
26
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.
27
Who did the troops come from
Rhodes's British South Africa company
28
Who was supposed to lead the staged uprising
Rhodes's great friend Dr Leander Starr Jameson
29
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.
30
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.
31
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.
32
Who was appointed the new British high commissioner in 1897
Sir Alfred Milner
33
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.
34
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
35
What did Kruger believe Milner was actually after
Not the franchise, but the country.
36
What did Britain do after they rejected the offers given to them
They prepared for war by sending for more troops.
37
Who wS the president of the orange free state
Marthinus Steyn
38
What did Kruger and Steyn decide to do
They decided to attack the British before the troops arrived
39
What did Kruger and Steyn present Britain with
An ultimatum
40
Did Britain accept the ultimatum
No
41
In what way did the ultimatum suit the British
It made it look like the boers were to blame for the war.
42
When did the war begin
11 October 1899
43
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
44
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
45
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
46
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
47
What would happen if Britain lost the war
This would set a very bad example throughout its empire
48
What were the two phases of the South African war
Conventional warfare and guerrilla warfare
49
What was the first phase of the war
Conventional warfare
50
What were the two parts of the conventional warefare phase
Boer victories and British advances
51
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.
52
When did the main British troops arrive
November 1899
53
Who was in control of the troops
General sir Redvers Buller
54
What was black week
It was one week where Britain suffered three significant defeats
55
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)
56
Who arrived in 1900 to take over the troops
Field Marshal Lord Roberts
57
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
58
What happened on the 20th of October
President Kruger went into exile
59
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
60
What was the second phase of the war
Guerrilla warfare
61
Was the war actually over
No, it moved into a long phase of guerrilla warfare
62
Which side used guerrilla warfare
The boer side
63
How did the boers use the guerrilla tactics
They organise themselves into small groups and used hit and run tactics. This surprised the enemy and they were unable to fight back.
64
What places did the boers target
They targeted railway line, supply columns and depots, bridges, and telegraph wires
65
Who became among the most famous leaders of guerrilla warfare
General Koos De La Ray, Christiaan de Wet, Jan Smuts and Louis Botha
66
Who became the new British commander in chief
Lord Kitchener
67
How did Lord Kitchener decide to deal with the threat
He introduced a policy of collective punishment for the civilians who supported the guerrilla tactics. He would burn farms, seize livestock and destroy farm dams and driving the woman and children out int the veld to fend for themselves
68
Why did Kitchener use a scorched earth policy
Not so much to punish the boers, but to deprive them of food supplies and help and support they got from the women.
69
What were the refugee camps later named and why
Concentration camps because of how many people would stay in one area.
70
What were the refugee camps originally for
Just holding the woman and children left without homes
71
What were block houses
They were placed at strategic points in the countryside. They were armed with guards and equipped with telegraph, telephone or other communication methods. They were linked to each other with barbed wire barricades. They were used to trap the boer guerrillas
72
How did the strategic tactics of the British affect the boers
The number of boers in the field decreased and it began to wear down the resistance of the remaining boers.
73
What were the conditions in the concentration camps like
They were very poor. They were overcrowded and were often on an open veld with no shelter. There was little food, not enough water, no soap, sanitations were basic, little medical attention available
74
Where were woman, children and elderly housed
They were put in bell tents with whatever furniture they had brought with them.
75
What did people in the concentration camps die from
Disease such as measles, dysentery, typhoid, pneumonia and whooping cough. Many also dies of malnutrition.
76
What did other people think about the conditions in the concentration camps
The conditions were not generally known until Emily Hobhouse investigated the camps and saw the terrible conditions.
77
Who was Emily Hobhouse
She was a middle-aged English woman
78
What did Emily do to try and improve the conditions in the concentration camps
She conducted a campaign in Britain to make the horrific conditions in the camp public. She succeeded in winning the support of some liberal politicians who took the matter to the British parliament
79
Who was the leader of the opposition
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
80
What did Henry Campbell-Bannerman say in his speech
He accused the British troops in South Africa of using 'methods of barbarism'
81
Who was one of the other politicians
David Lloyd George
82
What did David Lloyd George say in his speech
He accused the British troops in South Africa of using a 'policy of extermination' against the boer women and children
83
What was the outcome of Emily Hobhouse's efforts
Ten camps were put under civilian control. Conditions improved greatly and the death rate in the camps dropped significantly
84
How many boers died in the concentration camps from disease or malnutrition
Around 29 000 ( most of them children under the age of 16 ). This was 10% or the population of the two Boer republics before the war.
85
What was the main role of women during the war
They supported the men on the field. They provided them with food, clothing, footwear and medical treatment when they were ill or wounded. They also encouraged the men and gave them important information about the movements of the British troops.
86
Whose attitude was most determined
The women, they refused to allow their men to give up the were giving the nickname, bittereinders, which meant that they were more willing to fight to the bitter end.
87
Where did the women and children go when their houses were burned down
They would wander about the veld throughout the war or until the British came and sent them to one of the concentration camps.
88
What were the conditions in the veld like
They were harsh and dangerous. Finding food was often difficult and illness was a serious problem.
89
What happened in the last 6 months of the war
Women's suffering increased because the British were no longer sending women and children to the camps and the cultivated land was now almost completely destroyed.
90
What was put up to remember the role played by boer women
A women's monument
91
What role did the British women play in the South African war
They were generally supportive of the men. Hundreds of women from Britain and some from Australia volunteered to work as nurses to the many ill and injured soldiers. They served under very difficult conditions and were not able to cope with the casualties on the scale of the South African war
92
Where did the majority of the deaths occur
In the overcrowded and insanitary field and base hospitals. Most were from diseases such as typhoid, rather than from injuries sustained on the field.
93
Which British woman probably played the most significant role in the South African war
Emily Hobhouse. She worked tirelessly to improve the conditions in the camps. She also helped the farmers start growing new crops.
94
What were the intentions of the boers (and British) when it came to the black South Africans fighting in the war
They did not want to involve them directly. They were afraid that it would give the black people too much power and they would not stay inferior.
95
What did the boers find especially important
That the black people not be allowed to carry arms
96
What roles did the black people play in the South African war on the boer side
Gun loading, gun maintenance, carrying reserve ammunition, looking after horses, repairing saddle equipment, carrying rations, tending and carrying the ill and wounded, dispatch-riding (carrying messages), scouting cooking and even brewing coffee
97
Under what circumstance would the boers break their rule about black people being able to carry arms
They broke their own rule when they under extreme pressure, they allowed black men to be involved in direct combat
98
How many agterryers were there per boer soldier
One to every 4-5 boer soldiers
99
How many agterryers were there in total
More than 10 000
100
What would the boers do to the black if they found out they were collaborating with the british
They would brutally punish the blacks
101
What does flogged mean
It means beaten with whips or sticks
102
What happened when a british convoy of supplies was ambushed
More than 20 black drivers were either executed or flogged to death
103
Who is an example of being executed for collaborating with the british
Esau
104
Who were black people generally more supportive of
The british
105
Why were the black people more supportive of the british
Because the British promised that once the war was ver, the black peoples' lives would improve by means of human rights
106
How did the black people support the British
As scouts, spies, guards, labourers, in supplying crops, livestock, horses transport-riding and providing other goods or services
107
Under what circumstances where the black people fighting on the british side given arms
To perform certain military roles, particularly in defence of isolated villages and towns in the cape
108
What are two examples of when black troops protected isolated villages and towns in the cape
At the siege of Mafeking about 500 armed black troops protected the black quarter of the town and provided cover for white troops defending other parts of the town.
The Transkei was secured by 4000 black troops.
109
When did the black people especially start turning on the boers
Towards the end of the war when the boers were taking desperately needed food supplies from them
110
What raid took place on a Boer camp in Holkrantz
The Zulu night-raid.
111
How many people died on each side during the Zulu night raid
56 Boers and more than 100 Zulu's were either killed or injured
112
About how many black concentration camps were there
About 70
113
How were the conditions in the black camps compared to the white camps
They were worse than those of the white camps
114
What were the conditions in the black concentration camps
Hard work was expected of camp inmates, very poo housing, food and medical care, food rations smaller and poorer than those at the white camps, had to build their own shelter and if possible pay for their own food
115
What was the death count in the black camps
Around 20 000
116
How were the conditions in the black concentration camps worse than those of the white
The had to build their own accommodation, pay for own food, food was less and poorer than the food in white camps and no public fuss was ever made about the black concentration camps
117
What eventually wore down boer resistance
Kitchener's scorched earth policy and concentration camps.
118
Who were the last determined resisters
The bittereinders
119
How many boers had died/ been captured
7000 boer soldiers died no thousands more were captured and sent to be prisoners of war
120
Where were the boers sent as prisoners of war
To Bermuda, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India and St. Helena
121
Who were the hensoppers
The boers that surrenders
122
Who were the joiners
The boers that joined the British in fighting against the boers
123
How many women and children were said to homeless, looking for boer soldiers to care for them
13000 women and children
124
What did the British allow when boer resistance weakened
They allowed the boer leaders to gather
125
Where did the boer leaders gather towards the end of the war
They gathered ta Klerksdorp
126
When did the boer leaders gather in Klerksdorp
In April 1902
127
Why did the boer leaders gather in Klerksdorp
To decide whether to enter into peace negotiations with the british
128
What were the terms of the boers
They insisted on upon their right to retain their independence.
129
Where were the British and boer terms presented
At a meeting at Melrose house in Pretoria
130
Did the British accept the boer terms
No, they completely rejected them and put forward their own terms.
131
On what date did the boer representatives meet to discuss births proposals
15 may 1902
132
Where did the boer representatives meet to discuss the british proposals
At Vereeniging on the Vaal river
133
What happened when it came time to decide whether to agree or disagree with the therms the british set out
They were bitterly divided
134
What did General de la Ray of the transvaal propose
He said that they should give in.
135
What did the representatives of the Free State say
They were still determined to win and they did not want to give up their independence
136
What was the vote on the boer side
It 54 to 6.
137
How many people agreed with the British terms
54
138
How many people disagreed with the British terms
6
139
What treaty was signed to end the war
The treaty of Vereeniging
140
Where was the treaty signed
Melrose house in Pretoria
141
When was the treaty signed
On the 3 may 1902
142
Who was at Melrose house at the signing of the treaty
Boer leaders and Kitchener and Milner
143
What were the main terms of the treaty of Vereeniging
• the boers were to accept the authority of Britain over the transvaal and the range river colonies
• the transvaal and ORC would eventually be give self- government within the British empire
• the question of the right to vote for black peoples would be left until after the granting f self-government to the transvaal and ORC.
• the British would pay 3 million pounds to help th boers settle their war debts such as for armaments
•
144
What did the british make major concessions on
The question of the franchise for black people
145
What did it mean when the British basically gave the decision on of black franchise to the boers
It meant that the black people were not going to get a vote.
146
What were the intentions of the British when it came to franchise for black peoples
They intended to allow some black people a vote
147
Which black peoples would get a vote
Once they had achieved civilised status, they would have to be basically literate and have a certain economic standing.
148
What did the British sacrifice the black vote for
For peace and reconciliation with the boers
149
What did the boers sacrifice
They sacrificed their feeding fro their independence
150
What were the costs of the british
They deployed nearly 450 000 men and 22 000 died, nearly 2/3 killed by disease and illness and over 200 million pounds
151
What were the losses of the boers
They put 70 000 men into the field, lost more than 7000 men in battle and 29 000 women and children. Nearly 20 % of the boer population (two republics combined) died
152
What happened exactly 8 years after the signing of Vereeniging
On the of may 1910, the union of South Africa
153
Which 4 provinces where joined
The cape, transvaal, orange Free State and Natal
154
Who was the new government led by
It was led by former boer generals
