Changes

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

The war was caused by the treatment of British commercialists within the states, who were denied voting rights. This caused the mine owners and British nationals to pressure the authorities into toppling the Boer government. In addition the republics were an economic threat to the established British colonies in the region. An attempted coup - the 'Jameson Raid' (Dec 29 1895-Jan 2 1896) - backed by the Prime Minister of the Cape colony, Cecil Rhodes, failed, which let the Boers know that war was to follow.  

The war was caused by the refusal of the government of teh Transvaal to grant equal voting rights to the many thousands of (largely British) settlers who had flocked to the area to exploit the gold mines of the Rand, while the mine owners sought to replace the government of President [[Paul Kruger]] with one more compliant to their interests. This caused the mine owners and British nationals to pressure the authorities into toppling the Boer government. An attempted coup - the 'Jameson Raid' (Dec 29 1895-Jan 2 1896) - backed by the Prime Minister of the Cape colony, Cecil Rhodes, failed, which let the Boers know that war was to follow.  

In September 1899 the British Colonial Secretary [[Joseph Chamberlain]] issued an ultimatum demanding equal rights for the British within the republics. They retorted with an ultimatum of their own; if the British did not withdraw troops from the border within 48 hours they would declare war.  

In September 1899 the British Colonial Secretary [[Joseph Chamberlain]] issued an ultimatum demanding equal rights for the British within the republics. They retorted with an ultimatum of their own; if the British did not withdraw troops from the border within 48 hours they would declare war.

==The war==

==The war==