Politics and war, 1899-1902
Journal: Manchester University Press eBooks
Year: 2024

The South African conflict was Britain's first serious war against a power of European standing since the Crimea, and it proved more prodigal of blood and treasure than any armed quarrel in which it had been engaged since Waterloo. This chapter examines the political effects in Britain of the conflict in the southern hemisphere. The Unionist administration of the day was arguably as incompetent in managing a war as any British government in modem times, yet for various reasons it survived and ev