Moreover, the anti-imperialist attitudes were strengthened owing to the barbaric methods used in securing a victory in the war, which created an international outcry and gave rise to widespread criticisms. The scorched-earth policy, treatment of women and children in concentration camps, and use of barbed wire sparked controversy. This created a turning point in political and public attitudes. As a result of the methods employed in the war political opinion swung against the Unionist government, causing criticism by radicals in the Liberal Party, the Labour Party and amongst socialist parties of the left wing. Moreover, there followed a wave of public disillusionment with the war and a loss of confidence in the morality of the cause.
Therefore, the Boer War precipitated a series of changes in attitudes towards the empire. The once idealistic and patriotic attitudes came to be replaced by disillusionment, criticisms and a sense of betrayal.
The second turning point concerns the administration of the empire, particularly the self-governing colonies and India. Previous to the Boer War Britain was considered a strong and dominant world power, enjoying military and economic superiority. However, the defeat of the British army by ‘independent-thinking Boer farmers’ changed this opinion, causing Britain to be viewed as weaker than initially perceived. The series of humiliating defeats at the hands of the Boers at, amongst others, Ladysmith, Kimberly and Mafeking, shook British confidence and highlighted Britain’s military weaknesses to the world. This caused the other self-governing colonies to seek a re-definition of their constitutional relationship with Britain in the years that followed the conflict. By 1907 the term ‘dominion’ came to be used to describe all the self-governing areas of the Empire, and an Imperial Conference based on the principle ‘one government, one vote’, was set up to decide future constitutional disputes within the Empire. Thus, the Boer War caused Britain’s control over her colonies to be curtailed, culminating in a situation where the ‘dominions’ could outvote Britain on issues pertinent to their own position. Thus, the Boer War brought independence and decolonisation a step closer.
Furthermore, the Boer War was a turning point in the Empire as it severely decreased British dominance in the African region, owing to the fact that in 1906 the Liberal government restored self-government and free election to the defeated states. Moreover, this can be seen as not only a turning point in empire history but also a turning point in African history as it precipitated the victory of the Afrikaaner Het Volk Party which instigated racial segregation and sewed the seeds for disputes over inequality which followed in later decades.
Moreover, by far the most far-reaching effect of the Boer War was the way in which it affected Britain as a world power, causing changes to her foreign and defence policies, as well as aggravating her relations with Germany. The war highlighted her weaknesses, causing her hold on colonies to be weakened and precipitating the emergence of a threat from other powers, notably Germany. This change created a pressing need for a change in foreign policy and defence tactics.
Prior to the war Britain exercised a policy of “Splendid Isolation” whereby she believed herself to be strong enough to follow and independent foreign policy, characterised by a lack of military alliances and little diplomatic effort to secure favourable relations with other powers. This policy was maintained through Britain’s naval supremacy, extensive industrialisation, a strong economy, a monopoly in trade, and a demand for her products. However, Britain’s failure and weakened position during the Boer War highlighted her military weaknesses, poor organisation and a resultant susceptibility to defeats. This caused Britain to see her position as more vulnerable than was previously thought, and thus made her aware of the possibility of threats from rivalling nations.
Therefore, the difficulties experienced during the protracted Boer War conflict revealed to Britain that her policy of splendid isolation was no longer tenable. As a result of the war, the policy was abandoned and Britain sought diplomatic agreements with imperial rivals in order to minimise the threat they posed to her power. This precipitated the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902, the Anglo-French Entente of 1904 and the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. In addition, differences with the USA over the issue of Venezuela were settled and American domination of the North American continent was accepted.
Therefore, the Boer War was a turning point in Britain’s diplomatic attitudes. The war highlighted Britain’s vulnerability and the unsuitability of splendid isolation, causing her to improve diplomatic relations with other countries and form alliances which would serve as defensive in times of conflict.
Moreover, the war not only caused a change in Britain’s foreign policy but also in her defence policy. The war had contributed to the further souring of Anglo-German relations, owing to Germany’s advance as a world and military power, as well as to British imperialists’ ‘scaremonger’ attitudes towards Germany, forming a range of military and naval pressure groups and exacerbating tensions.
As a result, the war was followed by a series of army, navy and social reforms, such as the Haldane Reforms of the Army (1907) which led to the creation of a fully equipped British Expeditionary Force. Moreover, the Fisher Reforms of the Navy in 1904 led to greater concentration of naval power in Europe, and to the creation of Dreadnought battleships, intended to secure British naval supremacy in the face of increasing competition from Germany. Therefore, Britain intensified her military strength as a result of the war highlighting her weak position and disorganisation. Thus, the defeats and set-backs experienced by Britain in the Boer War triggered a re-organisation and strengthening of her military. This, in combination with her diplomatic alliances, strengthened her position in order to deal with a possible German threat.
Thus, Britain saw her defeats in the Boer War as indicative of the need to establish closer diplomatic links with other powers through the system of alliances, as well as the need to strengthen and re-organise her military and navy. This would enable her to withstand any threat arising from imperial rivalry, particularly with Germany. Therefore, the Boer War was a turning point in Britain’s foreign policy and standing as a world power. Britain no longer saw herself as supreme and thus traded her policy of splendid isolation for one of active diplomatic co-operation with other powers.
Clearly, the Boer War marks a clear turning point in the history of the Empire between 1815 and 1914. It cast a shadow over British attitudes towards Empire and caused a change in attitudes towards foreign and defence policy. The war can be viewed as a catalyst for a series of progressive changes which eventually culminated in the breakdown of the Empire and decolonisation. However, the war was only an ingredient in this, and by no means the sole or primary cause. Moreover, in some respects, the Boer War strengthened and expanded the Empire through increasing its importance in matters of trade and investment, highlighted by an increase of exports and doubling of investments to the Empire.
Nevertheless, economic benefits are not fully indicative of the effects of the war. While trade and investment may have increased, there was widespread disillusionment in both political and social circles, and passionate imperialism was replaced by a loss of confidence and interest in the Empire. The war made the empire a source of criticism, rather than pride and prestige. Moreover, the Boer War precipitated a turn-around in attitudes concerning foreign policy and diplomatic relations, resulting in an increased number of military alliances and a re-organisation of the army and navy. In addition, the war set off a series of changes concerning the status of self-governing colonies, eventually resulting in the weakening of British control over her colonies, which can be seen as a precursor for decolonisation.
Thus, while it is clear that the Boer War could not have by itself precipitated decolonisation, it triggered a series of events which changed attitudes towards, and administration of, empire. In this respect, it can be seen as a significant turning point in the history of the British Empire.
