The First Boer War (1880-1881) was sparked by tensions between British colonial authorities and the Boers, descendants of Dutch settlers. The Boers, led by Paul Kruger, sought to defend their independence and resist British rule. The conflict ended in 1881 with the signing of the Peace of Pretoria, granting the Boers self-governance under British dominion.
The Second Boer War (1899-1902) erupted due to economic, political, and territorial disputes. It was marked by guerrilla warfare and brutal British tactics, including the use of concentration camps, leading to significant civilian casualties. In 1902, the war concluded with the Treaty of Vereeniging, granting the Boers full independence within the British Empire.
These wars sowed the seeds for a united South Africa, which eventually emerged in 1910, incorporating British colonies and Boer republics, and setting the stage for the apartheid era and the country's complex history of racial and political struggles.
