The Boer Wars (1899-1902)

Question 1

Type of war

Answer 1

Opportunism
Invasion
Between countries- local Dutch farmers, who used guerrilla tactics, vs British Army, who established concentration camps.

Question 2

Examples of war

Answer 2

-1806 - Britain took control of Cape region, pushing Boers back into Orange Free State/the Transvaal
-1867 - diamonds discovered in the Transvaal
-1880 - FIRST BOER WAR between Britain trying to protect its interests from Boer farmers, too busy elsewhere, the British made peace with the Boers.
- SECOND BOER WAR - late 1900-1902
>Boers turned to guerrilla tactics
>Lord Kitchener turned to ‘scorched earth policy’. - With Boer men off fighting, the British gathered Boer women, children, elderly people and placed them in concentration camps
>over 20,000 died in forty camps - not intentionally, but by poor management and neglect of their welfare

Question 3

Attitudes and responses

Answer 3

-The newspapers used censorship to prevent people from finding out about concentration camps.
>also used propaganda presenting pro-British values
-Daily Mail est. 1896 and sold nearly a million copies everyday because it was cheaper

Question 4

Impact on people

Answer 4

-indirect, psychological, cultural
-no fighting in Britain
-public are divided on issue of war
-memorials set up, as 22,000 ordinary soldiers died on the British side —> gave people pride in Army
-Some support for Empire dwindled, but new groups established, including the Boy Scouts (1908) and Girl Guides in 1910 — IMPERIAL PROPAGANDA

Question 5

Impact on government

Answer 5

-Labour Party claimed that war was about making money for those who were already rich.
-David Lloyd George against war as well/against the capitalists
-Britain powerful and industrialised, Boers had no army and only 300,000 population
>many humiliating defeats, so by 1900, 180,000 colonial troops sent to fight and victory seemed inevitable.