The Effect of Boer War on the British Control: African Empire
How far did the Boer War affect the British control of its African Empire?
The Boer War was fought between the British and white Dutch settlers in South Africa 1899-1902. It had many effects, and led to the growth of anti-imperialism within British politics and society, and highlighted the incompetence of the British military. It also resulted in the formation of the union of South Africa and to the formation of a Dominion in South Africa. The whole idea of imperialism had changed – the meaning of it went from being positive to negative. The war would turn attention away from social reform. As Lloyd George put it “Every shell fired amounted to the cost of a pension for an old person in Britain.”1 It re-focused priorities upon domestic issues. However Lloyd George could have been exaggerating the cost of the war as he was not in the government at the time but wanted to win votes. Zara Steiner said that the war was a catalyst in changing the way Britain looked at itself. For example, it led to reforms and the strengthening of the British navy, which would help Britain maintain its colonies in Africa. This fits alongside the increased popularity of Eugenics, which was belief that the human race needed to be protected from the “unfit” “degenerates”, and which while vile in tone did ultimately lead to the recruitment of healthier soldiers. Therefore there was still continuity. Andrew Marr said that the “British Empire still stood tall but was wobbling on a feet of clay”2 which implies that Britain still maintained its African empire but was weakened as a result of the Boer war. C.C Eldridge goes further. He says that the British Empire not only survived all the traumas produced by the Boer war but expanded as a result of its victory and became even more important for British trade and investment than it had ever been before. Between 1903 and 1914 British exports to the empire in Africa increased by 31 per cent.
It was a very costly war for Britain. They won through
The Boer War was fought between the British and white Dutch settlers in South Africa 1899-1902. It had many effects, and led to the growth of anti-imperialism within British politics and society, and highlighted the incompetence of the British military. It also resulted in the formation of the union of South Africa and to the formation of a Dominion in South Africa. The whole idea of imperialism had changed – the meaning of it went from being positive to negative. The war would turn attention away from social reform. As Lloyd George put it “Every shell fired amounted to the cost of a pension for an old person in Britain.”1 It re-focused priorities upon domestic issues. However Lloyd George could have been exaggerating the cost of the war as he was not in the government at the time but wanted to win votes. Zara Steiner said that the war was a catalyst in changing the way Britain looked at itself. For example, it led to reforms and the strengthening of the British navy, which would help Britain maintain its colonies in Africa. This fits alongside the increased popularity of Eugenics, which was belief that the human race needed to be protected from the “unfit” “degenerates”, and which while vile in tone did ultimately lead to the recruitment of healthier soldiers. Therefore there was still continuity. Andrew Marr said that the “British Empire still stood tall but was wobbling on a feet of clay”2 which implies that Britain still maintained its African empire but was weakened as a result of the Boer war. C.C Eldridge goes further. He says that the British Empire not only survived all the traumas produced by the Boer war but expanded as a result of its victory and became even more important for British trade and investment than it had ever been before. Between 1903 and 1914 British exports to the empire in Africa increased by 31 per cent.
It was a very costly war for Britain. They won through