The war was begun by the treatement 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 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 begun by the treatement 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 backed by the Prime Minister of the Cape colony, Cecil Rhodes, failed, which let the Boers know that war was to follow. |