The Second Boer War 1899-1902 Flashcards
In what year did Britain acquire the cape colony from the Netherlands
1815
In the 1830s, how many boers disliked aspects of British rule
5000 boers
What aspects of British rule did the boers dislike
The abolition of slavery
Where did the boers originally migrate towards
Natal
In what year did Britain annex natal
1843
Where did the boers migrate after the annexation Of natal
The orange free state and Transvaal
What state did the orange free state and Transvaal antagonise with their diaries for land
The Zulu’s
In what year did Britain decide it wanted to unite its South African colonies with the boer republics
1877
In what year did Britain take control of Transvaal and the zulu
1879
Who’s government decided to recognise Transvaal and the orange free state as autonomous nations following Britain defeat in the first boers war
Gladstone’s government
In what year did the Transvaal discover their gold deposits
1886
What was the economic causes for Britain to go to war with the boer republics
The gold deposits made Transvaal the richest colony in South Africa which threatened the economic balance of power.
With a strong economy, the boers may attempt try to take over the whole of Southern Africa
Who we’re the uitlanders
The Transvaal lacked the manpower and the industrial base to develop its goldmines
Many fled from the British colonies hoping to make their fortune in mining
Who long did the uitlanders have to reside in Transvaal before they could apply for naturalisation
14 years
What did the denial of voting of uitlanders provide the British government with
A pretext for interference in Transvaal
Who became the prime minster in 1885
Lord Salisbury
What were the priorities of lord Salisbury
Protecting the essential interest of Britain
Sercurity in the empire
Who did lord Salisbury appoint as colonial secretary
Joseph chamberlain
What did Joseph chamberlain advocate for
A more cohesive British empire, bound together by economic interest with a viable imperial parliament
What year did Cecil roads arrive in cape colony
1870
In what year did Cecil roads establish a powerful gold-mining company in Transvaal
1887
In what year did Cecil Rhodes become the prime minister of cape colony
1890
What famous quote did Cecil Rhodes say regarding Britain
Britain were “the first race in the world and that more the of the world that they inhabit, the better for the human race”
In 1895, what did Rhodes encourage
Uitlander’s to agitate for voting rights in Transvaal
What was the aim of the Jameson raid 1895
Rhodes would seize Johannesburg, trigger an uprising of the Uitlander s and overthrow Kruger
Did the Jameson raid succeed
No, after a brief skirmish, Rhodes surrenderd
What was the outcome of the Jameson raid 1895
Rhodes had to resign as prime-minister
Transvaal and the orange free state signed the military pact of 1897 being a bigger threat to the British empire
Kruger started to arm the Transvaal with the best European weaponry
In what year did Britain sent Alfred Milner as a high commissioner of South Africa
1897
What was the ultimatum that Alfred Milner have to the boers
Uitlander’s must be granted for citizenship
When did limber and Kruger met at the Bloemfontein conference
31 may 1899
What did Kruger do in response to milliners demands
Rejected giving the uitlanders full citizenship and stuck to his gun
What ultimatum did Kruger send to the British government on the 9th October 1899
That all British troops be withdrawn from the Transvaal boarder within 48 hours
What date did Kruger declare war in the British empire
11th October 1899
How many troops did Britain have in 1899
135,000 men
(the small amount was the result of the professionalisation of the army being its main aim since the 1870’s and not to bolster numbers)
What were the problems facing the British army in 1899
There was a shortage of ammunition
It had an inadequate supply of khaki uniforms (only suitable colour for conflict in South Africa)
Intelligence and staff were inadequate
How many troops did the boer army have in 1899
60,000 men
How was the boer army structured
It was a civilian militia
All male adults in a district were expected to form a commando bringing their own horses and weapons to battle.
Those who couldn’t afford a weapon were given a rifle by the state
What was the excellent rifle that the Boer were armed with
The smokeless missed rifle from Germany