In the Boer War, Dutch and English settlers fought each other for control of part of the region that is now South Africa. This war, also known as the South African War, lasted from October 11, 1899, to May 31, 1902.

Background

In 1652, the Dutch East India Company sent soldiers and officials to set up a shipping station on the Cape of Good Hope in what is now South Africa. In the early years, the company encouraged Dutch immigrants to settle the area. These settlers used African slaves on their farms. The settlers were known as Boers.

Britain took over the Cape of Good Hope in 1806. At first, the Boers accepted British rule. However, they became angry when Britain put an end to slavery in 1833. Between 1835 and 1843, about 12,000 Boers left the Cape. They set up two independent republics called the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. There was peace between the Boers and the British for some time. But the discovery of diamonds and gold in the Boer republics caused a problem. The British wanted to control the wealthy South African republics.

Britain was also concerned because the Boers did not give civil rights to the Uitlanders, or outlanders. The outlanders were non-Dutch immigrants to the Boer gold and diamond fields. Many of the outlanders were British. When the outlanders revolted against the Boer government, the British helped them. Although the revolt failed, it angered the Boers. They attacked the British colonies of the Natal and the Cape. This led to the beginning of the Boer War.

Events of the war

The war can be divided into three parts. In the first part, the British were not prepared and had little military power. This helped the Boers win almost every battle. For example, during the “Black Week,” December 10–15, 1899, the Boers took three key British towns.

In the second part, the British brought in a large number of troops and won back the captured towns. The Boer armies were pushed back. British troops then took over many Boer cities.

The war then entered its third and most destructive part. The Boers starting using guerrilla warfare because they were so outnumbered. Guerrilla warfare is the use of unusual military plans to fight a war. In response, the British burned Boer farms and set up war camps for Boers. More than 20,000 people, including women and children, died in these camps. By 1902, Britain destroyed the Boer army. The war ended when both sides signed the Treaty of Pretoria in May 31, 1902.

In 1902, the Boer republics became British colonies. Both Dutch and English became the official languages. Britain gave these colonies 3 million pounds to rebuild the farms that had been destroyed. The colonies became provinces of the Union of South Africa in 1910 and the Republic of South Africa in 1961.