The Second Boer War 1899-1902 Flashcards
(51 cards)
What were the causes of the Boer War?
- The discovery of gold had led to disagreements between the Boers and the British government over the control of the mines
- Political disagreements on the rights of foreigners.
- The Boers wanted complete independence from the British.
- War eventually broke out on 11th October 1899. Most British people believed this would be an easy win and heavily underestimated the Boers.
Who was Cecil Rhodes and why were his actions in South Africa significant?
- Established a powerful gold-mining company in Transvaal and in 1890 became Cape PM
- Dreamed of greatly expanding the British empire.
- Rhodes sent men out to find gold to cancel out the Transvaal advantage. Led to the annexiation of North and South Rhodes
What was the Jameson Raid and why was it significant?
-In the early 1895, Rhodes hatched a plan to take control of Transvaal. Several hundred men (mainly Rhodesian policemen) would infiltrate and overthrow Kruger’s government.
- Planned by Jameson, he led 600 armed men into the Transvaal. However, Boer authorities had advanced warning of the raid and four days later they were surrounded and Jameson’s men surrendered.
What were the outcomes of the Jameson Raid?
-Chamberlin and Salisbury denied any knowledge of the raid(Chamberlin apparently approved the plans)
-Rhodes was severely censured at the cape inquiry and London inquiry forced to resign. Due to Rhodes accepting full responsibility, Chamberlin’s career survived.
- The Transvaal government handed their prisoners over to the British authorities. Jameson was sentenced to 15 months.
-The raid drew the Transvaal and the Orange free state together and both signed a military pact against British threat.
-Kruger ordered the best weapons because he believed the war was highly likely.
Explain British actions leading up to the outbreak of war in 1899?
-In 1897 the British government sent Alfred Milner as High commissioner. A passionate imperialist, he worked to mobilise pro- British elements in South Africa.
-There was a meeting held between Milner and Kruger. Milner made several demands like uitlanders to be given the right to vote, which Kruger denied leading to Milner walking out the talks.
- The British attitudes at home was that the Boers needed to be taught a lesson which lead to the Boers demanding all British troops will be withdrawn from Transvaal or it would lead to war. War was declared.
Who was the first, second and third phase led by and what was each phase called and when?
Phase 1- Boer offensive led by General Buller. Oct 1899-Dec 1899.
Phase 2- British response led by Roberts. Jan 1900 to Sep 1900
Phase 3- Guerrilla War- Led by Kitchener. Jan 1901-May 1902.
What happened at Ladysmith?
-Boers struck first at Kraapin on 12th October, an attack that heralded the invasion of Cape colony and the natal.
- Sir George White with 10,000 men from India arrived in the nick of time to stop the Boers marching unopposed on Durban but the Boers still outnumbered the British.
- Where the first battle began, where Boer guns shelled down on the British camp.
- Penn-Symes responded immediately pushing back the Boers with the cost of 446 casualties.
- White feared the Boers were going to attack so he retreated to Ladysmith which was surrounded with Boers and their siege guns.
What happened at Mafeking and Kimberley?
-Colonel Baden- Powell raised 1,200 local men at Mafeking hoping to lead raids against the Boers.
- Instead they were forced on the back foot as they were met with 7000 Boers. They tried to starve the British out however were unsuccessful.
- 7500 Boers men laid seige on Kimberley, defended by 5000 British. Let the British recover.
What is the Black Week?
-The British response was run by General Buller in December 1899
- Response was a disaster with losses at Stormberg, Magerfontein, Colin’s and Spion Kop.
- Called black week and caused outrage and grief in Britain
- Bueller sent several troops out to take back the town.
The Third Phase- When was the third phase and who was the leader of the British?
-1900-1902
- Lord Kitchener was the leader and used barbaric tactics in achieving the victory.
What were the Boers tactics and how many men were still fighting?
- 20,000 hard-core Boer men still fought
- Went into hiding and used guerrilla warfare to strike fast and hard against the 250,000 British soldiers
What was Kitcheners response to the Boer attacks in the third phase?
- Kitchener used blockhouses, scored earth and concentration camps to destroy the Boers.
What were the blockhouses in the third phase?
- Kitchener aimed to restrict Boer movements and protect his supply routes
- He built 8000 blockhouses which could contain 6-8 soldiers.
- They were costly to construct and maintain and then eventually added barbed wire
What did Lord Kitchener do to scorch earth?
How many farms were burned?
- Initially introduced by Roberts, Kitchener continued the scorched earth policy.
- Kitchener burned 30,000 Boer farms to the ground during to suspicions of helping the commandos.
- They completely destroyed the countryside, killing animals and families.
What were the effects of Kitchener’s concentration camps on the Boers and on attitudes at home?
Who was the reporter?
- Kitchener used concentration camps and led to the deaths of 26,000 Boer women and children and deliberately neglected camps.
- It undermined the Boers will to rebel.
- 12,000 Africans died in other camps.
- Caused outrage at home by Emily Hobhouse reports that caused social uproar in Britain.
What were the problems with military reform?
Who was a stubborn defender of traditions?
- The British army remained small as the main aim of reformers was to improve professionalism rather than increase the size but did face obstacles:
- Anxious not to spend more money on the army
- Army had performed well in colonial wars in 1880s and 90s therefore was little pressure for change.
- The Commander in Chief was the Duke of Cambridge who was a stubborn defender of traditional practices.
- He was later replaced by Lord Wolseley who was younger with desire for reform. however had little money to act.
What was the size of the British army?
- Had around 250,000 soldiers with half being overseas(70,000 in India)
- Khaki had proved effective so many swapped from the usual red uniform.
- A disproportionate amount of soldiers came from working class especially Ireland and Scotland.
- Officers still had the private incomes to live a comfortable lifestyle.
- General Buller and Roberts had each won a Victoria Cross and Kitchener’s victory in Sudan made expectations high.
- Boers at first outnumbered the British 50,000 to 27,000 but by end of 1854 there was 84,000 British soldiers.
What were the importance of railways?
- Was planned to be able to move troops and supplies however were vulnerable as Boers found it easy to block or cut tracks.
- British were able to take Boer railways and use them as their own.
- Kitchener’s aim by 1900 was to stop the Boer raids on the railway system with armoured trains and fortifying stations.
Who were the Boers?
- Were skilled farmers and trackers who were familiar with the terrain and most could shoot.
- 50,000 of them
- They used Mauser Rifles that were smokeless
- They were constantly supplied through the locals while the British sometimes struggled.
- Commandos who used guerrilla warfare was especially effective.
- Most countries were reluctant to support them due to chance of British hostility.
What was Boer organisation and tactics compared to the British?
- Boer Generals, such as Christian de Wet planned their own guides and assisted by expert guides.
- Boer residents were unwilling to help the British and contributed to the British lack of knowledge.
- Main problem for British was its outdated tactics who used artillery and cavalry which were ineffective on the hard terrain and guerrilla tactics.
- What were the attitudes between the Boers and the British?
- On the whole was a mutual respect, with humane treatment of white prisoners. Though some Boers were scornful of the British due to the quality of them.
- The British belief that they were pro-German and a barrier to British imperialism.
What were the three besieged towns?
- Ladysmith
- Mafeking
- Kimberley
What happened at Ladysmith and when?
- 12th October 1899
- Sir George White had his 10,000 army at Ladysmith.
- White had sent a brigade out which led to the besiegement of and shelling of the British camp.
- Penn-Symons counter attacked and drove the Boers back but suffering 446 casualties.
- White instead of pushing forward decided to retreat back to Ladysmith in fear of Boer counter attack.
- Was a massive mistake as Ladysmith was surrounded by Boers and heavy shelling which led to 140 dead and 1000 captured.
- Boers only made one attempt to attack the town but were driven back.
What happened at Mafeking and Kimberley and when?
- 1899
- Robert Baden-Powell had raised 1200 soldiers who he thought would be used on the offensive but was pushed back by 7000 Boers as they attacked Mafeking, hoping to starve it out.
- Despite the Boers shelling constantly, Ladysmith was well supplied and instead gave time for the British to recover and made no real attempt to attack the British. 5000 men defended the town against 7500 Boers.
