How far do you agree that the protection of Uitlander rights in the Boer Republics was the
trigger rather than the fundamental cause of the Second Boer War in 1899?
The Second Boer War of 1899-1902 was a time when Britain really questioned whether their
empire was worth this human cost and potential embarrassment, particularly as they
struggled to oppress the guerrilla tactics the Boers used in the final stage of the war. The
Second Boer War was caused by a range of complex factors. Some believe that the
protection of Uitlander rights, largely ensuring they gained the franchise, was its
fundamental cause. However, others believe that imperial rivalry, personalities and
resources were the actual fundamental causes and the Uitlander rights were simply a
convenient trigger that meant that Britain could justify invading the Transvaal and Orange
Free State and unifying South Africa under the crown.
The protection of Uitlander rights could certainly be regarded as a fundamental cause as it
had been an issue for some time with recent rising tensions. Since the Gold Rush beginning
in 1886 many British citizens had moved to the Transvaal to earn their fortune, these were
the Uitlanders. As they settled more permanently they naturally wanted the franchise. This
would also give the British government more influence over affairs in South Africa as these
people were often also influential British business men. However, president Kruger and the
ruling Boers decreed that the Uitlanders must wait 15 years, which seemed particularly
excessive and clearly had the motive of retaining Boer influence over the Transvaal, even
though British Uitlanders now outnumbers the Boers. Things had already come to a head
during the Jameson Raid in 1895-1896 when a group of Uitlanders, encouraged by Rhodes
and led by Jameson, tried to takeover Johannesburg and overthrow the Boers. The raid
failed but it showed just how stifled the Uitlanders were feeling and what lengths they
would go to. The British government became increasingly involved until in the late 1890s
they were in direct discussions with Kruger and the Boers over the franchise for the
Uitlanders. It was the breakdown of these discussions and the inability of either side to
compromise, that led to an ultimatum which then caused the Second Boer War. Surely this
shows that the Uitlander rights were a fundamental cause of the Second Boer War.
Nevertheless, some would argue that the Uitlander rights were only a trigger and regard
other causes as being the real fundamental reason for the Second Boer War. One of these
causes was the increase in imperial rivalry, especially with Germany. Germany, which had
only unified in the 1870s was a new imperial power, who were directly competing with
Britain not only in acquiring imperial possessions but also militarily as they were building
great battle ships, the dreadnoughts, to intimidate the British. Germany had become
increasingly close to the Boers; the Boers felt at the time that the Germans were there
natural racial ally as the Boers were originally Dutch. This had culminated in the Germans
sending a battle ship to celebrate the opening of a new railway linking together South
Africa. This sent the message to Britain that Germany had real interests it may assert there,
especially as the Boers preferred them to the British. As the Germans had already acquired
Tanganyika (on the Northern border of the Transvaal) and areas of modern day Namibia
Britain were worried that Germany may try to unite a great influence over South Africa,
especially under the intentions of Bismark who wanted to make Germany incredibly strong.
This problem was exacerbated by the resources which were in South Africa, largely the
diamond mines in Kimberley and the Gold in the Witwatersrand. Clearly the British wanted
to retain influence over this, especially as it had been British money that built these mines,
whilst the Germans also wanted access to this promise of resources. It would appear that
these were the actual fundamental reasons and that the British government remained so
steadfast in their negotiations over the Uitlander franchise as they wanted to go to war with
the Boers and establish a direct influence to ensure Germany did not fulfil this role.
Furthermore, it would seem that Uitlander rights were only a triggering factor, as the role of
personalities became fundamental causes of the Second Boer War. Cecil Rhodes, who was
an extremely successful businessman in South Africa, directly agitated for the Uitlander
votes, especially in his role as Prime Minister of the Cape. It was him who pushed Britain
and the Uitlanders towards war. Kruger also had an important role, as president of the
Transvaal he was known to be particularly stubborn and intransigent. It was his lack of
negotiation on any issues which led the British government to believe that the only way to
gain what they wanted was by direct action. Finally, Milner, who was the British
Commissioner of South Africa had a huge role. He was a very strong imperialist who wanted
South Africa to come completely under British control. It was him who led the negotiations
and delivered the ultimatum. However, he wanted the ultimatum to be refused so that
Britain could take South Africa by force, whereas Chamberlain (the colonial secretary) hoped
that the ultimatium would nudge Kruger back to the negotiation table to grant the
Uitlanders the franchise after a shorter period of time. The fact that Milner had his own
agenda and he was leading the negotiations suggests that he, as well as the stubborn
Kruger, had a strong role in forcing the British and Boers into war.
In conclusion it would seem that Uitlander rights were a fundamental cause of the Second
Boer War, as this was what had become the issue of the negotiations, drove the breaking of
the ultimatum, made the new natural resources such an issue, and caused Rhodes, Kruger
and Milner to stick so steadfastly to their views. Imperial rivalry and the appeal of new
natural resources were another fundamental cause. It would be treating Uitlander rights to
lightly to simply regard them as only a trigger for the Second Boer War.