2.5.3
Challenges in South Africa
Causes of the Second Boer War
Causes of the Second Boer War
The Second Boer War lasted for three years between 1899 and 1902. The war was caused by tensions between the Boer and British settlers in southern Africa.
Role of Rhodes
Role of Rhodes
- Rhodes drove British expansionism in southern Africa.
- Rhodes had a strange relationship with different groups in Africa and had earlier been elected to represent a Boer-dominated community in Africa.
- He sought to create a South African Federation, which alienated the Boer communities.
- Rhodes also had a personal rivalry with Paul Kruger, President of the Transvaal (a Boer).
Economic motives
Economic motives
- In 1886, the discovery of gold on the Rand in the Transvaal encouraged Britain's private chartered companies to seize control of the region.
- After the defeat at the hands of the Boers in 1881, the British were forced to sign the Convention of Pretoria in 1881 and the Convention of London in 1884. The British and Boers disputed the terms of the peace (thus why two different conventions were signed). As of 1881, the Transvaal was independent again, although the exact details were disputed.
- This ambiguity was helpful for claims to the Transvaal's economic resources.
Uitlanders
Uitlanders
- The voting rights of Uitlanders (Boer for 'outsider') in the Transvaal caused tensions.
- Uitlanders were denied the vote unless they were over 40 or had lived in the Transvaal for over 14 years.
- There were over 50,000 British Uitlanders living in the Transvaal, leading to tension between the Brits and the Boers.
Role of Milner
Role of Milner
- Milner, the High Commissioner of southern Africa from 1897, pursued a vigorous and expansionary policy.
- This alienated the Boers.
Trigger for war
Trigger for war
- In 1899, the British and Boer settlers met at the Bloemfontein Conference.
- Kruger refused to grant voting rights to the Uitlanders. In response, the British mobilised for war.
- Kruger issued an ultimatum for Britain to stand down, however, the British did not acquiesce.
- This led to the outbreak of war.
Historical interpretations
Historical interpretations
- Historian Van Jaarseveld (1975) argues that British motives were twofold – remove the threat of Afrikaner nationalism and gain access to the gold mines. Sees the Boers’ actions as preventative.
- Historian Cammack (1990) argues that the roots of the war are found in Rand’s social and political instability – the labour unrest, prostitution, alcoholism and high unemployment.
- John A Hobson (1902) saw the war as a ‘capitalist plot’ by British mine-owners to secure access to the mines, clouded in a false cover of political justice about voting rights.
Consequences of the Second Boer War
Consequences of the Second Boer War
The Boer War exposed the limits of the British Empire and the British Army. Despite Britain's eventual victory, their poor performance led to serious questions being asked of the Empire.
The cost of war
The cost of war
- Britain's victory in 1902 came at an incredible cost.
- Kitchener had to pursue a scorched earth policy to defeat the Boers.
- The British established concentration camps during the Boer War. Many Boers and black Africans died from disease and malnutrition.
- 16,000 British soldiers died from diseases (this was three times more than from enemy fire) and 1/3 of British recruits to the war effort were found to be unfit for war because of conditions like malnutrition.
Criticism of the British Empire during the war
Criticism of the British Empire during the war
- The Empire was criticised by figures such as Emily Hobhouse and John A. Hobson.
- Thousands of children died in poorly and cruelly administered British concentration camps for 'refugees'.
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Exposed shortcomings of the Empire
Exposed shortcomings of the Empire
- Although the Boers did surrender, the resounding feeling was one of British moral and military shortcoming:
- The war shook Britain's confidence. The war lasted for three years, using 400,000 troops and costing £230 million.
- 22,000 British troops were killed vs. 6,000 Boers.
- National pride was damaged because of the woeful state of the health of the British citizens who fought for Britain in the war.
The Treaty of Vereeniging, 1902
The Treaty of Vereeniging, 1902
- The Treaty of Vereeniging settled the Second Boer War.
- The Boers were granted £3 million in compensation.
- British and Boer colonies were integrated.
- The Transvaal became a self-governing colony in 1906.
- The Orange River Colony became a self-governing colony in 1907.
- In 1910, Cape Colony, the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Natal voted to establish a Union of South Africa and for it to be an independent Dominion.
The Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa
- Kitchen (1996) states ‘The New Union was deplorably racist’ and only people of European descent were allowed in parliament.
- According to Kitchen (1996), ‘South Africa was a constant reminder that the British Empire was held together by expediency and compromise, not by principles’.
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
Jump to other topics
1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914
1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890
1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890
1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890
1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890
1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890
2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914
2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914
2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914
2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914
2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914
3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967
3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947
3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947
3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War
3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914
3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947
4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967
4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967
4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967
4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967
4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967
4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967
4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967
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