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The Second Boer War, 1899-1902 Flashcards

1
Q

What were the names of the two Boer Republics?

A

The Transvaal and the Orange Free State

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2
Q

When did Britain go to war against the Boers (for the 2nd time)?

A

1899

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3
Q

Where had men and officers gained experience before the 2nd Boer War?

A

In Colonial Wars

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4
Q

What were 3 problems in the army’s preparation for the 2nd Boer War?

A

Ammunition shortage
Understaffed departments
Intelligence work was inadequate

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5
Q

How many men were in the Boer Army in 1899?

A

<60,000

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6
Q

What was any adult male Boer citizen expected to join?

A

A Commando unit (with their own weapon and horse)

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7
Q

When was the first Boer War?

A

1880-81

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8
Q

What rifle did the Boers use?

A

the Mauser rifle

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9
Q

Who established a base at Ladysmith in October 1899?

A

Sir White

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10
Q

who was besieged in Mafeking with 1200 men?

A

Colonel Baden-Powell

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11
Q

How many Boers besieged Mafeking?

A

7000 Boers besieged Mafeking

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12
Q

When was the diamond-mining town of Kimberley besieged?

A

November 1899
(by 7500 Boers)

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13
Q

How many Boers besieged Kimberley?

A

7500

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14
Q

Who arrived in Cape Town at the end of October 1899?

A

General Sir Redvers Buller

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15
Q

Who led each of the 3 detachments of Buller’s army?

A

General Lord Methuen
General Gatacre
General Sir Redvers Buller

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16
Q

How many men did Lord Methuen take to attempt to relieve Mafeking and Kimberly?

A

20,000 men

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17
Q

How many men did Buller’s main force have - heading to relieve Ladysmith?

A

30,000 men

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18
Q

When did Methuen win two small but costly battles at Belmont and Graspan? On his way to relieve Kimberley and Mafeking

A

Belmont - 23rd November 1899
Graspan - 25th November 1899

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19
Q

When was Methuen defeated and where?

A

Methuen was defeated at Modder River on the 28th November 1899

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20
Q

When was Black Week?

A

10-15th December 1899

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21
Q

What happened on December 10th 1899?

A

General Gatacre lost more than 700 men trying to take Stormberg railway junction

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22
Q

What happened on December 11th 1899?

A

Lord Methuen suffered 900 casualties at Magersfontein. He also failed to relieve Kimberley as this was postponed

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23
Q

What happened on December 15th 1899?

A

Buller tried to cross the Tugela river at Colenso - he faced 8000 Boers and had 21,000 men yet his force suffered 1400 casualties to only 8 Boer casualties

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24
Q

How many men were in the British Army in South Africa in December 1899?

A

84,000

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25
Who replaced Buller as commander in 1900?
Lord Roberts
26
Who was appointed as Lord Roberts Chief of Staff in 1900?
Lord Kitchener
27
How many troops were in the British Army in South Africa in January 1900?
180,000
28
What are two parts of Lord Roberts' tactical guidelines?
- That careful reconnaissance would occur before any attacks - that frontal attacks would be avoided, with the use of cover encouraged instead
29
When did Roberts relieve Kimberley?
15th February 1900
30
Who was captured at Paardeberg on the 27th February?
Boer General Cronje
31
When did Buller relieve Ladysmith?
28th February 1900
32
When did Roberts capture Bloemfontain?
13th March 1900
33
When did Roberts capture Pretoria?
5th June 1900
34
When was Mafeking relieved?
18th May 1900
35
How long had Mafeking been sieged in total?
217
36
When was the Orange Free State annexed?
May 28th 1900
37
When did Roberts capture Johannesburg?
31st May 1900
38
When was Kitchener appointed as Roberts' successor?
November 1900
39
Who was president of the Transvaal Republic? What did he do once the British advanced on the Transvaal in August 1900?
President Kruger was president. He fled to Europe.
40
How long did Boers keep fighting as guerrillas for?
2 years
41
How did the British respond to the Boers' guerrilla warfare?
Building blockhouses Destroying farms, confiscating food Concentration camps
42
When did the last of the Boers surrender?
May 1902
43
What is the name of the treaty which ended the Boer war?
The Treaty of Vereeniging
44
How many British troops died in the war?
22,000
45
How many Boer civilians died in the war?
20,000
46
What were the terms of the treaty of Vereeniging?(3)
Ended the existence of the Transvaal and Orange Free State (absorbed into the British Empire) Boers were given £3 million compensation The Boers were promised self-government.
47
When did the promise of self-government come true for the Boers?
1910, when the Union of South Africa was established.
48
How many concentration camps were there?
45 camps
49
How many women and children died in the concentration camps?
over 20,000 (1 in 4)
50
How many fortified blockhouses were built?
8000
51
How many Boer soldiers died during the war?
7000
52
How many of the British soldiers that died were caused by conflict?
7/22,000 died in conflict, the rest died of disease
53
How much did the Boer war cost the British?
£217 million
54
What was 'khaki fever'?
in 1899-1900 khaki fever was popular support for the war including celebrations, men volunteering and voting in the 'khaki election'
55
Did the press support the war?
yes
56
Why was Winston Churchill in South Africa?
He was war correspondent for the 'morning post'
57
Did the press like Buller or Roberts more?
Roberts as he made an effort to butter them up
58
Who were the main 3 opposition to the Boer War?
Individuals who opposed imperialism such as critics and socialist journals Radical Liberal opposition (Lloyd George) Irish Nationalists
59
When did Emily Hobhouse start a fund to provide aid and supplies to Boer families?
in 1900
60
When did Hobhouse arrive in South Africa?
December 1900
61
When did Hobhouse submit a report to the government?
June 1901
62
What did Emily Hobhouse reveal about the conditions of the concentration camps? (4)
They lived in overcrowded tents Food rations were scarce and malnourishment was common Water supply was scarce Insanitary conditions caused frequent typhoid outbreaks
63
When did Kitchener say Boer families should no longer be moved to camps?
December 1901 (this was tactical as well as a response to the Fawcett commission)
64
What was the Fawcett commission introduced as a response to?
The Hobhouse Report

History (15 decks)

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