Boer Wars The Boer Wars ( , literally " freedom wars " ) were two wars fought during 1880 – 1881 and 1899 – 1902 by the British Empire against the Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics , the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic . First Anglo - Boer War . The First Anglo - Boer War ( 1880 – 1881 ) , was a rebellion of Boers ( farmers ) against British rule in the Transvaal that re - established their independence . The conflict occurred against the backdrop of the Pretoria government becoming increasingly ineffective at dealing with growing claims on South African land from rival interests within the country . Second Anglo - Boer War . The Second War ( 1899 – 1902 ) , by contrast , was a lengthy war — involving large numbers of troops from many British possessions , which ended with the conversion of the Boer republics into British colonies ( with a promise of limited self - governance ) . These colonies later formed part of the Union of South Africa . The British fought directly against the Transvaal and the Orange Free State , defeating their forces first in open warfare and then in a long and bitter guerrilla campaign . British losses were high due to both disease and combat . The policies of " scorched earth " and civilian internment in concentration camps ravaged the civilian populations in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State and news of which led to a significant erosion of support for the war in Britain . Controversy and significance . During the later stages of the Second Boer War , the British pursued the policy of rounding up and isolating the Boer civilian population in concentration camps , one of the earliest uses of this method by modern powers . The wives and children of Boer guerrillas were sent to these camps , which had poor hygiene and little food . Many of the children in these camps died , as did some of the adults . A British journalist , WT Stead , wrote : " Every one of these children who died as a result of the halving of their rations , thereby exerting pressure onto their family still on the battle - field , was purposefully murdered . The system of half rations stands exposed , stark and unashamedly as a cold - blooded deed of state policy employed with the purpose of ensuring the surrender of men whom we were not able to defeat on the field . " The German Empire saw this as a clear sign of British weakness as it was struggling to maintain a portion of its empire in Africa , and sent the Kruger Telegram , congratulating the leader of the Boers on his rebellion . This led to a change in approach to foreign policy from Britain , which now set about looking for more allies . To this end , the 1902 treaty with the Empire of Japan in particular was a sign that the British Empire feared attack on its Far Eastern empire and saw this alliance as an opportunity to strengthen its stance in the Far East . This war led to a change from splendid isolation policy to a policy that involved looking for allies and improving world relations . Later treaties with France ( " " Entente cordiale " " ) and the Russian Empire , caused partially by the controversy surrounding the Boer War , were major factors in dictating how the battle lines were drawn during World War I . The Boer War also had other significance . The Army Medical Corps discovered that 40 – 60 % of men presenting for service were physically unfit to fight . This was the first time in which the government was forced to take notice of how unhealthy the British population was . This strengthened the call for the liberal reforms of the first decade of the twentieth century . The United States Army uses several case studies from the Boer War to teach ethics in combat . The Boer War greatly affected the English novelist and poet Thomas Hardy , and he was moved to compose the poem " Drummer Hodge " .