The South African War, also known as the Second Boer War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and two Boer states, the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State. The war lasted from 1899 to 1902 and was primarily driven by tensions over British imperialism and the Boers' desire to maintain their independence and control over the gold and diamond mines in the region.
The war began with the Boers launching pre-emptive strikes against British forces, resulting in initial victories for the Boers. However, the British, with their superior resources and manpower, eventually gained the upper hand. The war was marked by guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the Boers, which posed significant challenges for the British forces.
The conflict resulted in significant loss of life, with both military personnel and civilians being affected. The British implemented a scorched-earth policy, destroying Boer farms and imprisoning Boer civilians in concentration camps, resulting in thousands of deaths due to disease and malnutrition.
The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging in 1902, which brought the Boer republics under British control. The aftermath of the war led to the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910, which unified the former Boer republics and British colonies into a single self-governing dominion within the British Empire.