DISCUSS THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OFTHE JAMESON RAID OF 1895.

5. DISCUSS THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OFTHE JAMESON RAID OF 1895.
• Background of the Jameson raid.
• Explain its causes and effects
• Conclude
Back ground to the question
• The Jameson raid was an invasion of the British forces on the Boer province of Transvaal on the 28'" December 1895.
• Cecil Rhodes, the chief architect of the scheme hoped to use the marginalized Utilanders in Transvaal to revolt against Paul Kruger governments and the British would use this as a escape goat to join the struggle.
• The raid was commanded by Jameson and involved 500 British forces.
• .However the raid turned out to be a boomerang/ backfire to the British because the Boer authority had prior knowledge of the scheme and were adequately prepared forit.
• Jameson, who defied last minute orders from Cecil Rhodes to abandon the raid, was captured together with his 500 men at Doornkop thus a triumph to the Boers.
Causes of the raid
1. The continued Boer mistreatments of the Utilanders despite the directive the Pretoria convention not to do so.
2. Cecil Rhode's ambition to defeat the Boers once and for all and take up Transvaal.
3. Desire by the British to revenge on the Boers over the defeat at Majuba hills in 1881 during the first Anglo- Boer war.
4. The suspicion and negative attitude of the Transvaal government towards the Utilanders, the Utilanders had successfully amassed wealth and grew in number and Boer authority suspected that in future they would collaborate with the British government at the Cape colony. Thus their continued mistreatment of the Utilanders and preparation to challenge the raid.
5. The continued demand by the Utilanders for political recognition in the Transvaal government which the Boers refused to grant, thus the British intervention.
6. The long standing differences between Cecil Rhodes of the cape and Paul Kruger of the Boer republic of Transvaal
7. The ambitions of Jameson who defied Cecil Rhodes orders to withdraw.
Effects of the raid.
1. It was a humiliation to the Cape government and Cecil Rhodes in particular. He then resigned his office as prime minister.
2. It increased hostility between the British and the Boers.
3. It made the peaceful solution to the difference between the two parties almost impossible and pushed further.
4. The raid unearthed the British imperialistic ambitions on the Boer territories which strengthened Boer alliance e.g. that of 1897 between Transvaal and Orange Free State.
5. Paul Kruger grew more popular which enhanced Boer nationalism.
6. Dr. Jameson was arrested by Paul Kruger forces though later he was released.
7. A commission of inquiry was formed in 1897 which blamed Chamberlain who claimed to have not known the raid arrangements.
8. The two Boer states of Transvaal and Orange Free State were drawn closer as they agreed to work together against the British.
9. The raid unearthed the British imperialistic ambitions on the Boer territories which strengthened the Boer alliance for example in 1897 the Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State entered an alliance to assist each other in case their independences were threatened.
10. The Boers became complacent (over confident) and they thought they would defeat the British even in future; hence they fought in the second Anglo-Boer wars.
11. The Utilanders were mistreated by the Boers even the more because it was found out that they were part of the conspiracy i.e. secret move of the British attack on Transvaal
12. The British defeat in the raid encouraged Africans to rebel against the British e.g. the Chumulenga rebellion among the Ndebele and Shona in 1896.
13. The British secretary of colonies Joseph Chamberlain apologized to Paul Kruger in writing regretting the incident.
14. It led to the formation of the' British race patriot' which was a league that advocated for the consolidation of the British power in South Africa.