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who won the boer war

The Boer War most people mean—the Second Boer War (1899–1902)—was won by the British Empire, which defeated the Boer republics and annexed them.

Quick Scoop

  • The Second Boer War (1899–1902) was fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics: the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State.
  • It ended in a British victory , with both Boer republics annexed by Britain and later folded into what became the Union of South Africa.
  • The war formally ended with the Treaty of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902, in which the Boers accepted British sovereignty in return for certain concessions and promises of reconstruction aid.

But there were actually two “Boer Wars”

If you’re being precise, there were two separate conflicts:

  1. First Boer War (1880–1881)
    • Fought between the British and Boer forces in the Transvaal.
    • Result: Boer victory ; Britain recognized the internal self-government (effective independence) of the South African Republic, under British suzerainty.
  1. Second Boer War (1899–1902) – the famous one
    • Started after tensions over gold-rich territories and political control in southern Africa.
 * Result: **British victory** ; the Boer republics were absorbed into the British Empire, laying groundwork for a unified South Africa under British rule.

Who “won the Boer War”? – Different angles

  • In a straight military sense , the British Empire won the Second Boer War and achieved its main strategic objectives: control over the Boer territories and political dominance in the region.
  • The Boers, however, gained significant political concessions even in defeat , and later Afrikaner leaders dominated the politics of the Union of South Africa, which Britain granted dominion status in 1910.

Simple takeaway

  • If someone asks “who won the Boer War?” and means the big, later conflict:
    • Answer: The British Empire won the Second Boer War (1899–1902).
  • If they include both wars:
    • First Boer War: Boers won.
* Second Boer War: British won.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.