Why was the Boer War fought and how did it start in 1899?

MAP SHOWING THE REGION OF THE SECOND BOER WAR - CLICK TO ENLARGE



CARTOON FROM THE PUNCH MAGAZINE SHOWING CECIL RHODES EXTENDING OVER AFRICA - THE MESSAGE BEING THAT HE WISHED TO EXPAND AND COLONISE ACROSS AFRICA. THE MID TO LATE 19TH CENTURY SAW THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA WITH EUROPEAN NATIONS TRYING TO INCREASE THERE CONTROL/TERRITORY.

KEY REASONS

LONG TERM
Napoleonic Wars - Britain gained Cape Colony
Clashes over slavery with Boers
Boers forced to migrate north forming new states
First Boer War
Discovery of Gold

SHORT TERM
British ambitions on Transvaal and Orange Free State
Resources in region
Boers purchased arms from Germany
Jameson Raid
Uitlander Problem
British sent reinforcements to Cape
Ultimatum to Britain from Boer Republics to withdraw troops which British ignored

Road to war – Final Stages

As tensions escalated .
Issue of "uitlander rights" and control of the gold mining industry .
British wanted control -Transvaal and the Orange Free .
British demanded rights for Uitlanders – including civil and franchise(vote).
Boers realised eventually they would be overrun by Uitlanders and would lose control especially if gave them the vote.
Negotiations held and failed.
September 1899 Joseph Chamberlain (the British Colonial Secretary) sent an ultimatum - full equality for uitlanders
Kruger – issued own ultimatum - British 48 hours to withdraw all their troops from the border of the Transvaal
If not would declare war against the British along with allies OFS.
British rejected ultimatum.
Boers declared war.
1899
Boers initially seiged key towns.



MAP SHOWING THE MAJOR CITIES PUT UNDER SIEGE BY THE BOERS MAFEKING, LADYSMITH AND KIMBERLEY