Boer War
Also called: South African War · Topic: The Making of a Global World · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Boer War, or South African War, was fought from 1899 to 1902. Britain fought against two Boer republics, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The Boers were settlers of Dutch origin in South Africa. A major cause was control of the rich gold mines of the Witwatersrand in the Transvaal. Britain won. During the war it put Boer women and children, and many Africans, into concentration camps, where large numbers died.
Example
By the 1890s, after gold was discovered in the Witwatersrand, South Africa produced over 20% of the world's gold. During the war, Gandhi, who was then living in South Africa, organised an Indian Ambulance Corps to help the British side.
Don't confuse with
- First Boer War (1880–81): this was a short, earlier war in which the Transvaal Boers defeated Britain and won back self-rule.