Who is who
Joseph Chamberlain - British Colonial Secretary
Cecil John Rhodes - British Mining Magnate
Paul Kruger - South African Politician
Leander Starr Jameson - Scottish Colonial Politician
Transvaal - Independent South African Republic State
Events leading up to the raid
Britain by 1895, got more confident in taking action in South Africa. Joseph Chamberlain was appointed Colonial Secretary. He joined forces with Rhodes to try to develop and promote British Empire in South Africa. During September and October of 1895, the Drift crisis between Cape Colony and Transvaal developed. Cape finished building the railway line to Johannesburg and tried to get as much as Transvaal’s traffic it could by reducing the rates. The Transvaal government raised the rates of the railway that ran through the Transvaal once it had crossed the Vaal River. Goods were taken to the Vaal River by train and carried further by wagons to avoid higher prices in the Transvaal. Kruger, in turn, reacted by blocking access to Transvaal by closing the Drifts. The British government demanded Kruger open the Drifts and used the situation to involve itself in Transvaal’s affairs.
Apart from the Drift crisis, there was a Reform Movement started by miners and business personalities in the early days of Johannesburg with the support of Rhodes. Kruger’s government was putting pressure on mining companies by raising taxes, high transport tariffs and they maintained control over firepower needed for deep level blasting. As no attempt was made to solve these issues by peaceful discussion, Rhodes began to plan an uprising of foreigners (uitlanders’) in Johannesburg and, the Reform Movement decided to overthrow the government by taking up arms. The uprising was timed to coincide with the invasion of Transvaal by Jameson. Rhodes in turn wanted to take over the Transvaal government and turn it into a British colony. Chamberlain helped plan the Jameson Raid.
The Raid
On 29 December 1895, Jameson with a small force of around 600 men crossed into Transvaal to support the uitlanders’ uprising. The uitlanders’ failed to materialize. Jameson’s force made the first contact with a small contingent of Transvaal soldiers, who had blocked the road to Johannesburg. Jameson’s men tried to outflank the Boers but were forced to surrender on 2nd January 1896 at Doornkop near Krugersdorp. The raid had become a failure.
Aftermath
The prisoners were handed over to their government and the uitlander leaders who were part of the plot were put on trial. Some of them were condemned to death but later reduced to large fines. Rhodes was forced to resign as the prime minister of Cape Colony. Jameson returned to South Africa in 1900 and after the death of Rhodes in 1902, took the leadership of the Progressive Party. He was elected as the prime minister of Cape Colony in 1904. He retired from politics in 1914 and died in 1917. He was buried next to Rhodes.
So, there it is, a bit of history for this week. Please feel free to share this post and let me know your feedback.
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