The conflicts, occurring from 1880-1881 and 1899-1902, represent a struggle between the British Empire and the Boers (also known as Afrikaners), descendants of Dutch settlers in South Africa. The initial clash arose from Boer resistance to British annexation. The subsequent and larger conflict was primarily fueled by British desire to control the gold and diamond resources discovered in the Boer republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. These wars involved guerilla tactics from the Boers and scorched-earth policies from the British.
These confrontations hold significance in the study of global history because they illustrate the expansion of European imperialism and the resistance it engendered. The outcome of the struggle solidified British dominance in South Africa, leading to the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Furthermore, the strategies employed during the war, as well as the treatment of Boer civilians in concentration camps, sparked international controversy and contributed to evolving perspectives on warfare and human rights.
