8.'THE BRITISH OR BOERS WHO GAINED MORE FROM THE VEREENIGING TREATY OF 1902

8.'THE BRITISH OR BOERS WHO GAINED MORE FROM THE VEREENIGING TREATY OF 1902


Approach
• Brief background of the Vereeniging treaty.
•Basing on the original interests of the two parties analyze and show which party benefited more
• Conclude.
Background to the question.
• The Vereeniging treaty was a peace settlement signed between the British and Boers after the second Anglo-Boer war. It was signed at Vereeniging on May 31 * 1902
• Whereas the British were the victors of second Anglo-Boer war, a correct analysis indicates that the Boers gained more from the Vereeniging treaty than British.
How and why tire Boers gained more?
1The British agreed to restrict citizenship of the Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State to whites only. This satisfied the racial thirsty of the Boers.
2. There was to be enfranchisement for Africans, the Boers were given theright to choose whether or not to allow Africans to vote and then immediately denied the Africans this right.
3. Afrikaner (Boers) soldiers were allowed to keep their rifles (guns) for defence against their African neighbours.
4. Africans were disarmed thus making them vulnerable to Boer hostilities. A full police led by Baden Powell was set up to disarm Africans, who had acquired guns during the war,
5. Dutch language was accorded the same status like English i.e. the two were to be the official languages of South Africa while African languages like Xhosa, Zulu etc were side lined.
6. The British compensated the Boer people who had lost property during the war with a sum of3 million pounds and an additional 3 5 million pound loan was made available for the development of white states
7. Later in 1906 -1907 self governance was granted to Transvaal and Orange Free State.
8. The British dropped the idea of protecting Africans and promoting equality of all races.
9. The treaty benefited the Boers in the sense that despite their defeat hi the war it indicated that they were still being respected by the British
10. The treaty guaranteed protection of the whites especially the Boers in the interior. .
11. The results of the treaty enhanced Boer nationalism even the more i.e. Boer military leaders like JC Smuts, Botha and others were hailed as heroes and even in subsequent elections Boers voted under one party the Vereeniging. Het Volt (the peoples union) party in Transvaal and won the British who were divided.
12. Boer prisoners of war were released without any condition as stipulated by the treaty.
13. The Boers remained the most dominant political force in South Africa.
14. Africans remained slaves to the whites just like the Boers had wished right from the time of the great trek.
The British had insignificant gains as shown below:
15. The Boers accepted to halt their hostilities towards the British thus peace prevailed.
16. The Boers accepted the king of England Edward Vlt as their sovereignleader.
17. The Boers accepted an economic integration of whites’ republics which the British had wished all along.
18. The British gained temporary over lordship over Boer republics until 190- when elections were held and Boer republics granted self governance.
19. The treaty laid foundation for the federation of white states as British agent like George Grey had wished no wonder the act of union was finally sign in 1910.
20. The British dropped the Idea of protection of Africans and racial equality
21. The British did not totally impose their authority over the Boers, after 190 Boer republic became independent.
22. The British paid war indemnity to the vanquished Boers, etc
In conclusion, the terms offered by the British ill the treaty of Vereeniging were perhaps the most generous ever offered in history to a defeated enemy. Thus the saying that the Boers lost the battle but won the war.