In 1652 the Dutch also known as Boers established their colonies in Cape Colony which lay in the extreme south of Africa. They were very staunch in their religious attitude and looked down upon the Britishers.

Near about 1815 the Britishers also started to inhabit Cape Colony. Gradually a great number of the Britishers and the Dutch settled there.

In the beginning the relations between the two remained cordial but a feeling of suspicion arose among the Dutch due to the increasing number of the Britishers and feeling of bitterness began to develop between the two.

At last the Dutch left the Cape Colony and began to live in Orange Free State, Transvaal and Natal. But in 1879 the Britishers conquered Transvaal which created bad blood between the Boers and the Britishers and a war started among them.

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The Britishers had to face defeat in this war and at last the freedom of the Boers was accepted and Transvaal was declared independent.

Some gold mines were discovered in Transvaal in 1881 which attracted the Britishers to rush to Transvaal and at many places they outnumbered the Boers. It endangered the safety of the Boers.

The Boers had no affinity with them and called them outlanders. The chief leader of the outlanders was Cecil Rhodes. He was born in the family of a British priest and was educated at the University of Oxford.

He had amassed great wealth by working in the gold mines. He was giving too much importance to the establishment of the British Empire in South Africa in a very short period, England occupied a great portion of Africa, and country came to be known as Rhodesia after his name.

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He was elect Prime Minister of Cape Colony in 1890 and continued to work on the post up to 1896. He wanted that the Britishers should establish the control over Orange Free State and Transvaal but he was defeated by the Boers.

It created bad blood between the Boers and the Britishers. William Kaiser sent a telegram of congratulations to the Boer leader President of Transvaal, Krugger on their success, the relations between Germany and England worsened.

At last a war broke out in 1899 between England and the Orange Free State and Transvaal. In the beginning Boers achieved success but they failed to maintain their victory for a long time and were ultimately defeated.

A treaty was concluded between the two in 1902, according to which Transvaal and the Orange Free State were merged as under the British possession. The Dutch language was accepted to be the national language and autonomy was promised.

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After the treaty various facilities were granted to the Boers but their discontent did not diminish. At last the liberal government of Great Britain granted autonomy to Transvaal and Orange Free State, Colony and Natal which were constituted as the Union of South Africa.