southern africa

Question 1

why did Britain want to bring the Boer republic into a British confederation in Southern Africa?

Answer 1

The idea was advocated by the Cape Prime Minister Cecil Rhodes and Joseph Chamberlain was drawn into the idea in the 1890s- largely to counter German territorial gains and Boer confidence derived from the Transvaal gold wealth

In the 1895, gold seeking uitlanders of the Transvaal were being denied citizenship and voting rights by the Boer goverment and Paul Kruger, By 1895 the uitlanders outnumbered the Boers by 4 to 1 and paid 9/10 of the Transvaal taxes. They sought help from Cecil Rhodes and provided an excuse for British intervention.

Question 2

British annexes Bastuoland and establishes a protectorate as it claims people were seeking protecting from the Boers.

Answer 2

1868

Question 3

British annexes Griqualand West

Answer 3

1871

Question 4

British annexes Griqualand East

Answer 4

1874

Question 5

Annexation of the transvaal

Answer 5

1877

Question 6

1885

Answer 6

British annexes Bechuanaland as a response to German territorial expansion in SW Africa and also as a way of preventing the combining of German-Boer colonies.

Question 7

When does Britain take over Zululand, Natal and Mozambique

Answer 7

1885-87

Question 8

BSAC takes over Mashonaland and establishes Fort Salisbury

Answer 8

1890

Question 9

BSAC takes over Nyasaland

Answer 9

1891

Question 10

what was national efficiency and why had it come about?

Answer 10

Across the media and political spectrum, there was a concern that the nation needed to become healthier and better educated. In 1902 it became common for journalists and political commentators to speak of the need for national efficiency as the only way of preventing Britain’s decline. This became a real concern just after the end of the Boer War where 30 000 Boers had held out against British
forces for almost 2 and a half years. Up to 40% of British recruits had been found unfit for military service. Living conditions and diet in Britain had weakened its manpower. British concerns were also heightened given the decline in British industrial power relative to that of the USA and Germany.

Question 11

diamonds are discovered near Kimberly on the Vaal river in West Griqualand created greater friction as it triggered a ‘diamond rush’ attracting both white-settlers and native Bantu-speaking people in the area

Answer 11

1867

Question 12

Gold is discovered near Wiswatersrand which produces instability as it brings a mass of non-Boers and traders into the area

Answer 12

1886

Question 13

Rhodes company established a fort at Salisbury in Mashonaland, home to the Shona people,
bringing yet another area under British control

Answer 13

1890

Question 14

Britain annexes Bechuanaland and why?

Answer 14

The arrival of Germans in South-West Africa in 1884 raised British fears that the Boers might for an alliance
with Germany. Consequently, in 1885, the British annexed a section of territory between German South West Africa and the Transvaal- known as Bechuanaland- in a strategic attempt to prevent the combining of the German and Boer colonies.

Question 15

British propose a federation of the British and Boer territories

Answer 15

The British went on to propose a federation of the British and Boer territories in 1875, but the Boers gave a
firm rejection. The area suffered from extreme instability as the British and the Boers tried to exert greater control in the area which had become valuable for traders

Question 16

First Boer war-when and describe

Answer 16

From 1880, the Boers turned against the British, thinking they had a greater chance of gaining independence
under Gladstone. The British had believed that they would have a quick victory over the Boer farmers, however, the Boers knew the landscape far better than the British, the technology was about the same, the
British were vastly outnumbered (1800 to 7000) and most of the Boers were excellent marksmen. They attacked British army garrisons across the Transvaal and winning a series of victories that culminated in a humiliating British failure at Majuba Hill in February 1881. Gladstone decided not to fight on and granted the Boers their independence – not a popular decision within
Britain. The British were forced to sign the Convention of Pretoria which recognised Boer self-government in
the Transvaal although the British still claimed a right to control external affairs

Question 17

Convention of Pretoria

Answer 17

Signed in 1881 as a result of British failure in first Boer war at Majuba Hill. This recognised Boer self-government in the Transvaal although the British still claimed a right to control external affairs

Question 18

Invasion of Zululand

Answer 18

The British launched an invasion of Zululand in January 1879. The British decisively defeated the Zulus,
despite them being a strong and successful fighting force, at Ulundi in 1879 and Zululand was absorbed into Natal

Question 19

What was the Jameson Raid? What was its consequences?

Answer 19

A raid was launched on the Transvaal from neighbouring British Rhodesia by Dr. Jameson on Rhodes’
orders. The plan was meant to be secret but too many people knew of it and Rhodes kept changing the
plan.
-Jameson’s raid (which consisted of 500 mounted police who were drunken, ill-trained and badly
equipped) was easily defeated as the plan to start an uprising of uitlanders failed and he was forced to surrender after just 4 days
-The whole affair was a fiasco and even though no official support had been given it discredited the British
government and stiffened the Boer’s determination to resist the British
- Jameson and 12 companions were imprisoned and Rhodes was forced to resign from the Cape Premiership
-Kruger became a people’s hero and the Boers still living in the Cape Colony formed an anti-British
‘Afrikaner Bond’ to show their solidarity with their fellow Boers in the Transvaal. Germany sent Kruger a
telegram congratulating Kruger on maintaining the Transvaal’s independence without calling on friendly
powers. This increased hostilities between the British and the Germans

Question 20

What was the Second Boer War (1899-1902)? And what were its consequences?

Answer 20

Joseph Chamberlain wanted to avoid war if possible but he was not prepared to accept any weakening of British influence so supported war.
-Kruger had begun to import arms on a large scale from Germany and negotiations with the Boers broke down in 1899 and the Boers invaded British territory and besieged Ladysmith in Natal -keen to strike a
blow before the British Army could be reinforced
-Initially, the Boers had some successes in the Second Boer War but the British poured in nearly 400000 imperial troops at the cost of £250 million and
Generals Kitchener used the blockhouse system, scorched earth policy and concentration camps to gain control of the land from the Boers who had switched to Guerrilla war. The concentration camps had appalling hygiene and many people died
of disease. It became a national scandal after Emily Hobhouse made the conditions public and efforts were
taken to improve conditions and the death rates fell dramatically. However, the damage was done and propaganda was published by the Dutch and Germans describing the British soldiers as ‘killers of babies’ because 2/3 of the people who died were children under 10. 1/6 of the Boers died in these camps in
supposed places of refuge.
-The Peace of Vereeniging of May 1902 ended the war – by that the Boer’s acknowledged themselves as
British subjects and the Boer republics became British colonies with the promise of responsible self government. This was finally granted in 1905 and in 1908 the PMs of the Transvaal, Orange Free State,
Cape Colony and Natal drew up a constitution for the ‘Union of South Africa’ This established a single parliament and the union of South Africa became a single British Dominion territory in 1910

Question 21

What was the Peace of Vereeniging 1902?

Answer 21

The Peace of Vereeniging of May 1902 ended the war – by that the Boer’s acknowledged themselves as
British subjects and the Boer republics became British colonies with the promise of responsible self government. This was finally granted in 1905 and in 1908 the PMs of the Transvaal, Orange Free State,
Cape Colony and Natal drew up a constitution for the ‘Union of South Africa’ This established a single parliament and the union of South Africa became a single British Dominion territory in 1910

Question 22

Measures to improve national efficiency

Answer 22

-1902 Education Act raised standards and the extent of education, leading to an extra 1000 secondary schools
opening over the following decade
-Conservative initiated a new phase of battleship development to compete with the Germans. HMS
Dreadnaught was launched in 1906, and many more improved vessels were to follow
-Imperial college was opened in London, concentrating on scientific and technological courses
-Social reforms followed including free school meals (1906), school medical inspections (1907), old age pensions (1908) and National Insurance in (1911)

Question 23

How much trade did Tropical Africa amount to?

Answer 23

1.2%

Question 24

what happened at the 1899 Bloemfontein conference?

Answer 24

Milner demanded that the Transvaal grant voting rights to the Uitlanders. In October 1899, Kruger issued an ultimatum demanding a British withdrawal from the borders of the Boer republics. War broke out when the British rejected this.

Question 25

which party won the general election 1895?

Answer 25

Conservatives- Salisbury elected as leader

Question 26

when was Kruger elected for his 4th term?

Answer 26

1898- This reflected the Boers strong nationalist sentiment and resentment of British interference

Question 27

When was the Kimberley Diamond Syndicate formed?

Answer 27

1890

Question 28

what effect did the Tom Edgar in 1898 shooting have on relations between the British and the Boers?

Answer 28

This prompted Uitlander outrage and pressure on the British government from the Uitlanders for firm action.

Question 29

What was the 1901 Fawcett Commission?

Answer 29

The Fawcett Commission corroborated Emily Hobhouses claims about conditions in the concentration camps in the Boer war.

Question 30

Zululand

Answer 30

The war had began despite the colonial secretary stating that he did not want a war, however Sir Bartle Frere and Sir Shepstone who wanted to create a British confederation in SA. On 22nd Jan 1879, the British were overwhelmed by the Zulus and lost about 1500 men at Islandwana. Despite more defeats, the British invaded Zululand again and won a decisive victory at Ulundi in 1879. Zululand was absorbed into Natal in 1879.

Question 31

Xhosa people

Answer 31

Lived in the Cape and Natal- resented British control over these areas. They were experts in bush warfare and were difficult to defeat. Their independence was erased bit by bit. Xhosa war occurred in 1877-1878.

Question 32

Imperial Conference 1911

Answer 32

Due to concerns over German ambitions, an imperial conference was called to form closer ties between Britain and the dominions. The South African government promised to commit 40,000 men to attack German SW Africa in event of a European conflict.