Anglo-Boer WarAnglo-Boer War also known as the also known as the

South African WarSouth African War1899-19021899-1902

Causes of the WarCauses of the War

Two groups of white imperialists Two groups of white imperialists set up colonies in South Africaset up colonies in South Africa British British called the Rooineks called the Rooineks DutchDutch called the Boers called the Boers

Dutch (Boer) miners find Dutch (Boer) miners find diamond and gold in South diamond and gold in South Africa Africa many English many English (rooineks) come to seek fortune(rooineks) come to seek fortune

Tensions rise between English Tensions rise between English and Dutchand Dutch

Two Boer republics, the South Two Boer republics, the South African Republic (Transvaal) and African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State, were not the Orange Free State, were not prepared to be ruled by the prepared to be ruled by the British.British.

They wanted to preserve their They wanted to preserve their independence and to build their independence and to build their own country.own country.

The WarThe War

500,000 British vs. 87,000 500,000 British vs. 87,000 BoersBoers

At first, the Boers were At first, the Boers were winning the war because winning the war because they were determined and they were determined and Britain was slow to send Britain was slow to send troopstroops

Results of the WarResults of the War The Anglo-Boer War was The Anglo-Boer War was

extremely costly for the extremely costly for the British. It was costing the British. It was costing the British taxpayer £2,5 million British taxpayer £2,5 million a montha month. .

British wanted to end the war British wanted to end the war quickly, so they adopted a quickly, so they adopted a scorched earth policyscorched earth policy

Scorched Earth Scorched Earth PolicyPolicy

They decided to sweep the They decided to sweep the country bare of everything country bare of everything that could help the Boers that could help the Boers (cattle, sheep, horses, (cattle, sheep, horses, women women and childrenand children, etc.), etc.)

Scorched Earth PolicyScorched Earth Policy

Destroyed 30,000 Boer Destroyed 30,000 Boer farmhouses and more than farmhouses and more than 40 towns.40 towns.

Thousands of women and Thousands of women and children were removed from children were removed from their homes by force. their homes by force.

They had little or no time to They had little or no time to remove valuables before their remove valuables before their houses were burnt down.houses were burnt down.

They were then taken by ox-They were then taken by ox-wagon or in open cattle wagon or in open cattle trucks to the nearest trucks to the nearest concentration camp.concentration camp.

Implementing Scorched Implementing Scorched Earth PolicyEarth Policy

Concentration CampsConcentration Camps British built the world’s first British built the world’s first

concentration camps concentration camps The camps were not The camps were not

intended to kill, just to keep intended to kill, just to keep the women and children the women and children imprisoned until the end of imprisoned until the end of the war.the war.

Conditions in the camps Conditions in the camps were less than ideal.were less than ideal. Tents were overcrowded. Tents were overcrowded. No meat No meat No vegetablesNo vegetables No fresh milk for the babies No fresh milk for the babies

and childrenand children

AccommodationsAccommodations

Waiting for Food RationsWaiting for Food Rations

Waiting for WaterWaiting for Water

Results of Concentration Results of Concentration CampsCamps

The very poor diet led to:The very poor diet led to: malnutrition malnutrition The rapid spread of diseases such The rapid spread of diseases such

as whooping cough, measles, as whooping cough, measles, typhoid fever, and dysentery typhoid fever, and dysentery especially amongst the children.especially amongst the children.

There was a chronic shortage of There was a chronic shortage of medical supplies, medical staff, medical supplies, medical staff, and food. and food.

Eventually 26,370 women and Eventually 26,370 women and children (children (81% were children81% were children) died ) died in the concentration camps.in the concentration camps.

The Boers ultimately lost the war The Boers ultimately lost the war because of this scorched earth because of this scorched earth policypolicy

Boers came out of the war very Boers came out of the war very bitter towards the British because bitter towards the British because so many women and children died so many women and children died in the concentration campsin the concentration camps

Bloemfontein Bloemfontein Concentration CampConcentration Camp

The War EndsThe War Ends Treaty of Vereeniging in 1902Treaty of Vereeniging in 1902 Boers are forced to accept British rule Boers are forced to accept British rule

under following conditions:under following conditions: Protection of Dutch language (Afrikaners)Protection of Dutch language (Afrikaners) Property rightsProperty rights Promise of eventual self-governmentPromise of eventual self-government Agreement that no rights would be given Agreement that no rights would be given

to blacks until an organized government to blacks until an organized government was set upwas set up

Ultimate Outcomes Ultimate Outcomes of the Warof the War

British lost 5,000 soldiers; British lost 5,000 soldiers; Boers only lost 3,700 soldiers Boers only lost 3,700 soldiers plus over 26,000 women and plus over 26,000 women and childrenchildren

British are not the majority British are not the majority group in South Africa even group in South Africa even though they have the political though they have the political powerpower

Impact of WWIIImpact of WWII The outbreak of WWII in 1939 The outbreak of WWII in 1939

deepened the divide between the deepened the divide between the Boers and Rooineks in South AfricaBoers and Rooineks in South Africa The Boers (Dutch) wanted to help Germany and the The Boers (Dutch) wanted to help Germany and the

Axis powers because Germany had lent them aid Axis powers because Germany had lent them aid during the Boer war and many Boers agreed with during the Boer war and many Boers agreed with Hitler’s ideas.Hitler’s ideas.

The Rooineks (British) wanted to help the Allied The Rooineks (British) wanted to help the Allied power defeat Hitlerpower defeat Hitler

Because the British held the political power, Because the British held the political power, South Africa sent troops to help the Allies South Africa sent troops to help the Allies

1948 Election1948 Election Two main political parties: United Two main political parties: United

Party and Herenigde (reunited) Party and Herenigde (reunited) National Party (HNP)National Party (HNP)

United Party argued that because of United Party argued that because of the poverty among the black African the poverty among the black African tribes, total segregation was tribes, total segregation was impossible. They suggested that impossible. They suggested that blacks be used as manual labor in blacks be used as manual labor in factories in the cities.factories in the cities.

HNP argued that only total separation HNP argued that only total separation of blacks and whites would prevent a of blacks and whites would prevent a move toward equality and the move toward equality and the eventual overwhelming of white eventual overwhelming of white society by black.society by black.

The population of South Africa was 87% The population of South Africa was 87% black and 13% white, but the blacks were black and 13% white, but the blacks were broken up into hundreds of tribes so they broken up into hundreds of tribes so they lacked the unity to overthrow the whites in lacked the unity to overthrow the whites in power.power.

HNP wins the election, renames HNP wins the election, renames itself the National Party (NP) itself the National Party (NP) and holds political power in and holds political power in South Africa until 1994.South Africa until 1994.

ApartheidApartheid – the legal segregation – the legal segregation of blacks and whites – officially of blacks and whites – officially becomes the law in 1948.becomes the law in 1948.

Under Under Apartheid…Apartheid…

Separate but Separate but unequalunequal – blacks were – blacks were not given the same rights because they not given the same rights because they were considered inferiorwere considered inferior

Government forced all blacks to move Government forced all blacks to move out of citiesout of cities

Prohibited mixed marriagesProhibited mixed marriages Blacks were not provided education Blacks were not provided education

and were not permitted to attend and were not permitted to attend white schools white schools

Workers rights:Workers rights: Blacks were denied some jobs entirely Blacks were denied some jobs entirely

because it resulted in “unfair competition” because it resulted in “unfair competition” for whitesfor whites

Whites got paid more to do the same jobs as Whites got paid more to do the same jobs as blacksblacks

Blacks could not remain in urban Blacks could not remain in urban areas more than 72 hours without a areas more than 72 hours without a special permit saying they were special permit saying they were legally employedlegally employed

Government banished blacks to Government banished blacks to rural landsrural lands Similar to the Indian Similar to the Indian

reservations created in Americareservations created in AmericaThe land provided was not The land provided was not

enough for the blacks to live a enough for the blacks to live a comfortable life:comfortable life:Not enough land to grow sufficient Not enough land to grow sufficient foodfood

OvercrowdingOvercrowding

Board of Censors was created to Board of Censors was created to censor books, films, and other media censor books, films, and other media imported into or produced in South imported into or produced in South Africa Africa anyone who disagreed with anyone who disagreed with Apartheid was silencedApartheid was silenced

Blacks had to carry passbooks at all Blacks had to carry passbooks at all times times 500,000 blacks were 500,000 blacks were imprisoned in the 1950s alone for imprisoned in the 1950s alone for pass-law violationspass-law violations