The second boer war: 1899-1902

• When did Britain formally acquire Cape Colony from the Netherlands?

  1815
• Who were the Dutch colonists in South Africa known as?

  Boers
• How many Boers migrated north in the 1830s due to dissatisfaction with British rules?

  5000
• What was the initial destination of the Great Trek before the Boers moved into the interior?

  Natal
• What two republics did the Boers found after moving into the interior?

  Orange Free State and Transvaal
• What was the main reason for the antagonism between the Boers and black Africans?

  The Boers' desire for land
• In what year did Britain take control of the Transvaal?

  1877
• What was the outcome of Britain's defeat of the Zulus in 1879?

  The Transvaal asked Britain to restore independence
• What was the significance of the discovery of gold in the Transvaal in 1886?

  It made the Transvaal a very rich nation and threatened the economic balance of power
• What was the problem of uitlanders in the Transvaal?

  They outnumbered the Boer population and were denied voting rights
• Who was the President of the Transvaal during the time of the uitlanders issue?

  President Kruger
• What did the Transvaal government require of uitlanders before they could naturalise?

  They had to live in the Transvaal for 14 years
• Who became Tory Prime Minister in 1895?

  Lord Salisbury
• What were Lord Salisbury's aims as Prime Minister?

  To protect Britain’s essential interests, including security, India, and the empire
• Who was promoted by Salisbury as colonial secretary?

  Joseph Chamberlain
• What was Chamberlain's vision for the British Empire?


  To forge a more cohesive Empire bound by economic interest
• How did Cecil Rhodes contribute to the situation in southern Africa?

  He established a gold-mining company and aimed to expand Britain's African empire
• What was the purpose of the Jameson raid in 1895?

  To seize control of the Transvaal and trigger an uprising
• What happened to Dr. Jameson during the raid?


  He surrendered after a brief skirmish with Boer militia
• What was the consequence of the Jameson raid for Rhodes?

  He resigned as Prime Minister of Cape Colony
• How did the Transvaal and Orange Free State respond to the Jameson raid?


  They drew closer together and signed a military pact in 1897
• Who was sent as high commissioner of southern Africa in 1897?

  Alfred Milner
• What was Milner's stance regarding the uitlanders?

  He demanded full citizenship for the uitlanders
• What was the outcome of the conference in Bloemfontein on 31st May 1899?

  Milner's demand for voting rights was rejected by Kruger
• What did Kruger issue on October 9th, 1899?

  An ultimatum demanding Britain withdraw troops from the Transvaal border
• When did the Boers declare war on Britain?

  11th October 1899
• What did Salisbury say about Kruger's actions?

  They liberated Britain from explaining why they were at war
• What was the British public's expectation regarding the war with the Boers?

  Most expected an easy win
• What was the size of the British army in 1899?

  Less than 135,000 men
• What were the main aims of military reformers in the late 19th century?

  To bring the army to a high level of professionalism
• What obstacles did military reformers face?

  The government was not ready to spend money on the army
• Who replaced the Duke of Cambridge as commander in chief in 1895?

  Lord Wolseley
• What did George Wyndham claim about the army in October 1899?

  It was more efficient than at any time since Waterloo
• What were some issues faced by the British army during the war?

  Shortage of ammunition and inadequate supply of khaki uniforms
• How did the Boer army compare to the British army on paper?


  It looked very weak with fewer than 60,000 men
• What was the composition of the Boer army?

  It was primarily a civilian militia with adult male citizens forming commandos
• What advantages did the Boers have despite their smaller numbers?

  They had excellent horsemen, familiarity with the terrain, and strong morale
• Who led the British forces in Natal in October 1899?

  Sir George White
• What was the situation at Ladysmith during the war?

  It was surrounded by Boers who bombarded it with siege guns
• What was the outcome of the battle at Talana Hill?

  British forces drove the Boers from the hill but suffered heavy casualties