Second Boer War

From 1899-1902

The Second Boer war was a conflict between the British colonies and Afrikaner settlers (also known as ‘Boer’) on the southern tip of Africa. The British and Boer colonies shared the tip of Africa, but the relationship between the two groups was rocky and not healthy. There was an initial war that started in 1880. This war was called the ‘First Boer War, which resulted in the Boers having to move northeast of the tip of Africa, to settle on new land away from British rule. In this new land that the Boer had now settled on, there was suddenly a large discovery of diamonds and gold in the area. The British became angry by this sudden rise in wealth among the Boer community, and a war broke out, known as the ‘Second Boer War.’ The Second Boer war involved Australian troops being sent to help the British Army. Australian troops were sent in five waves of attack which resulted in the capture of the Boer capital. The war ended in 1902 when the British made the Boers sign a Treaty of Vereeniging.