British annexation of the Republic of Transvaal 1877

British annexation of the Republic of Transvaal 1877


In 1877, the British annexed the Boer Republic of Transvaal (the South African Republic).
The Boers who did not wish to come again under British control felt insulted by the annexation.
The Boers also regarded it as yet another British attempt to make life difficult for them. Their memories of British rule at the Cape Colony 1795 -1803, 1806 and other events that followed resurfaced and were indeed vivid with vitality.
Why the British annexed the Republic of Transvaal in 1877
The British believed that annexation of Transvaal was important to achieve the idea of Federation of the white states in South Africa, since Transvaal was a crucial Boer state, the British believed that if it approved the Federation Question, other Boers states could also follow suit.
The British also believed by annexing the Transvaal they could make the state stable, improve reforms and stabilize the state with a number of developments.
The government of President Thomas Francois Burghers of Transvaal had instabilities and the British feared this could spill over into the Natal state. Therefore the security of British colonies neighboring Transvaal was very crucial to the British.
The discovery of diamonds in the Boer Republic worried the British and created jealous among them. These minerals had made the Boers flourish in magnificence with to provide their won defense and non- reliance on the British.
By 1877, Transvaal was insolvent or undercapitalized and was susceptible to any colonial power to colonize it. Inflation was nearing with whooping debts.
The British feared that German, Portugal or any European power might join to form a state in the Boers, which would threaten British interests in Southern Africa if not the whole of Africa.
To the British, the Transvaal administration was too weak and poor which needed formal control by the British. The British had feared any African control of any part of the state.
Between 1875-76, Chief Sekhukhuni of the Pedi had made the Republic exhausted militarily during the Bapedi-Boer war.
The Zulu under Cetshwayo had also revived the warrior tradition with over 40,000 regiments, as they threatened to invade the weak Republic of Transvaal. This worried the British who reacted with annexation in 1877.
The annexation of Transvaal Republic in 1877 by the British was' a response to constant appeal by Boer traders and leaders like Paul Kruger to save the Republic from complete disastrous events unfolding.
Annexation was a step towards union of the white states, which would allow them to adopt a common policy towards the African people. The British knew that at anyone time, the Africans could rebel against colonial rule in South Africa.
Annexation of Transvaal by the British was the only solution to bring the Boers under British control at the time.
Boer failure to establish a secure and stable government worried the British. The British feared that the disunity between the disorganized Boers in Transvaal could cause further instability. This forced the British to step into restore order by annexing Transvaal in 1877.