Anglo-Boer wars

Two wars fought in South Africa (1881 and 1899- 1902). In the first, the Boers demanded the independence of the Transvaal, annexed by Britain in April 1877. They routed a British force at Majuba Hill and recovered their independence by the Convention of Pretoria (August 1881). The second war arose from plans by Cecil Rhodes and his supporters to overthrow Paul Kruger, president of the Transvaal. Initial Boer successes were eventually reversed by hugely outnumbering British forces. In the final stage of the war, the British general Kitchener defeated Boer commandos with blockhouses, barbed wire and concentration camps. Peace was signed at Vereeniging (1902).