The Second Boer War: 1899-1902

• Tension between British colonies and bordering Boer republics, The Transvaal, had been increasing for decades

  ▪ Boer leaders resented the encroaching British influence in the region

  ▪ They resisted British aim to unify South Africa into one colony
• The First Boer War, 1881, had forced Britain to recognise the Boer independence ▪ Due to the discovery of gold in the Transvaal the Boers were more likely to resist further colonisation
• After the discovery of gold many foreigners travelled to the region to take advantage of the discovery of gold

  ▪ These people were called ‘uitlanders’ and many were British

  ▪ When President Kruger of Transvaal restricted voting rights for these people
• In 1895 Cecil Rhodes, a British imperialist, and Chamberlain organised a uitlander uprising known as the Jameson Raid which was unsuccessful and convinced the Boers that their independence was under threat
• In 1899 the British continued their conflict with the Boers after they refused to improve conditions for uitlanders

  ▪ With superior military resources the British expected a quick victory, however, this was not the case as the Boers used guerrilla tactics:

  
  

  This meant they used ambushes and set traps instead of meeting their enemy using traditional tactics

  ▪ As war dragged on, Lord Kitchener resorted to desperate measures:

  The use of concentration camps to contain Boer civilians was condemned by other European powers
• Kaiser Wilhelm II was quick to capitalise on Britain’s difficulties in the region by sending a telegram, the Kruger Telegram, to President Kruger

  ▪ It congratulated the President on resisting the British in South Africa

  ▪ The Kaiser went on to make his support for the Boers clear

  ▪ This intensified Anglo-German rivalry