Boer War, Second or Great

The Second Boer War, commonly referred to as The Boer War and also known as the South African War (outside of South Africa), the Anglo-Boer War (among most South Africans) and in Afrikaans as the Boereoorlog or Tweede Vryheidsoorlog ("Second War of Liberation"), is fought from October 11, 1899 until May 31, 1902, between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic)

The origins of the war are complex, resulting from over two centuries of conflict between the Afrikaners and the British.

Boers have over the centuries migrated away from the rule of the British Empire in the Cape Colony, first along the eastern coast towards Natal and then, after Natal had been annexed, northwards towards the interior where two independent Boer republics (the Orange Free State, and the South African Republic—also called the Transvaal) had been established.

Initially, the British Empire had recognized the two Boer Republics but had then attempted to annex the Transvaal in 1877 leading to the First Boer War, 1880-1, and the British defeats, particularly at the Battle of Majuba, had resulted in an uneasy peace.However, after massive deposits of gold were discovered in the Transvaal, a huge inflow of uitlanders (foreigners), mainly from Britain, had come to region in search of employment and fortune.

The number of uitlanders in the Transvaal had eventually exceeded the number of Boers and confrontations over uitlander rights had culminated in the failed Jameson Raid of 1895.

The raid led by Colonel Jameson, with the connivance of the Governor of the Cape Cecil Rhodes and a Johannesburg mining magnate Alfred Beit, had been intended to encourage an uprising of the uitlanders in Johannesburg.

However Transvaal forces had surrounded the column and captured Jameson's men before they could reach Johannesburg.

As tensions continued to escalate, there were political maneuverings and lengthy negotiations to reach a compromise over the issue of 'uitlander rights'.

The negotiations eventually failed, however, and in September 1899, Chamberlain sends an ultimatum to the Boers, demanding full equality for the uitlanders resident in the Transvaal.

President Kruger, seeing that war is inevitable, issued his own ultimatum giving the British 48 hours to withdraw all their troops from the border of the Transvaal, failing which the Transvaal, allied with the Orange Free State, would declare war against the British.

The rejection of the ultimatum follows and war is declared.

The war has three distinct phases.

First, the Boers mount pre-emptive strikes into British-held territory in Natal and the Cape Colony, besieging the British garrisons of Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberley.

The Boers next win a series of tactical victories at Colenso and Spion Kop against a failed British counter-offensive to relieve the three sieges.

Second, after the introduction of greatly increased British troop numbers under the command of Lord Roberts, another and this time successful British offensive is launched in 1900 to relieve the sieges.

After Natal and the Cape Colony is secure, the British are able to invade the Transvaal and the republic’s capital, Pretoria, is captured in June 1900.

Finally, beginning in March 1900, the Boers engage in protracted, hard-fought guerilla warfare against the British forces.

This lasts a further eighteen months during which time the Boers raid targets such as British columns, telegraph sites, railways and storage depots.

In an effort to cut off supplies to the raiders, the British, now under the control of Lord Kitchener, respond with a scorched earth policy of destroying Boer farms and by moving civilians into concentration camps.

The campaign had been expected by the British to be over within months, and the protracted war becomes increasingly unpopular, especially after revelations about the conditions in the concentration camps (where thousands die of disease and malnutrition).

A demand for a peace settlement follows and in 1902 the Treaty of Vereeniging is signed.

The two Republics are absorbed into the British Empire although the British are forced to make a number of concessions and reparations to the Boers.

The granting of limited autonomy for the area will ultimately lead to the establishment of the Union of South Africa.

The war will have a lasting effect on the region and on British domestic politics.

Known as the last British imperial war, the Second Boer War is the longest (almost three years), the most expensive (over £200 million) and the most disastrous of all wars for Britain between 1815 and 1914.

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