Cecil Rhodes and the Boer War
I can recall that the British government along with individuals like Cecil Rhodes took control of southern Africa after the Boer Wars.
Cecil Rhodes and the Boer War
I can recall that the British government along with individuals like Cecil Rhodes took control of southern Africa after the Boer Wars.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Cecil Rhodes made a fortune from gold and diamond mines in South Africa and gained political power there.
- Between 1860-1890 Britain invaded the Boer states in southern Africa due to the discovery of gold and diamonds.
- A peace settlement was reached in 1902 after Britain's use of a scorched earth policy and concentration camps.
- In 1910 the Cape Colony, Natal and Boer states merged to form South Africa, extending British control over Africa.
- The British government introduced social reforms in Britain due to the poor health of the troops that fought.
Common misconception
Cecil Rhodes was Prime Minister of South Africa.
Cecil Rhodes was Prime Minister of the Cape Colony - the British colony in the region of southern Africa.
Keywords
Cape Colony - British colony in southern Africa
Boer - a member of the Dutch population which settled in southern Africa in the late 17th century
Scorched earth - the strategy of destroying crops and other resources to prevent their falling into enemy hands
Concentration camps - a camp for detaining prisoners, usually political prisoners
Social Darwinism - the theory that the concept of natural selection applies to human societies and race
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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