Causes of the Boer War

The causes of the Boer War (aka Second Anglo-Boer War, South Africa War, and Second War of Freedom, 1899-1902) stretched back to the early 19th century and competition for land and resources between British and Boer settlers. The rivalry turned to animosity as the century progressed, accentuated by discoveries of diamonds and gold, and further fuelled by mutual suspicions of uncontrolled imperialism and nationalism. A brief war in 1880-81 and a failed coup d'etat in 1895 pushed the two sides even further apart until the coming of a second, much larger conflict proved unstoppable.