New Liberalism: How the Boer war affected British Politics

• Classes of society all wanted to extract maximum advantage
• Militant feminism and trade unionism seemed to break traditional values and constraints on behaviour
• Social reform seemed more likely to create problems then solutions
• Years of upheaval: 15 years before WW1

Politics and War 1899-1902

• 9th October 1899 two Boer republics in South Africa (Transvaal and Orange Free State) issued ultimatum
• Demanded complete withdrawal of British Troops
• Britain refused and invaded Natal, 12th October
• Britain wanted to stay due to gold deposits in Transvaal
• Boer aggression led Britain to war
• This war exposed Britain's isolation and need for new foreign policy

The Government

• At the time was a coalition with Conservatives and Liberal Unionists
• Salisbury's leadership saw a landslide victory in 1895
• Boer War was called Joe's War as he played a big part

Chamberlain…