1. The Boer War 1899-1902

2. Background ● The Boers were people of Dutch descent. ● They lived in and controlled Southern Africa. ● Britain controlled around South Africa, and wanted to control all of it. ● Gold was discovered in South Africa, so British miners began to arrive. ● Boers feared they would be outnumbered and absorbed to the British Empire.

3. Background ● Boers passed discriminatory laws against the British. ● The British sent troops to demand the rights of British subjects, and the Boers demanded they leave. ● War broke out when they refused to leave. ● Boers used guerilla tactics aginst the British, who were unfamiliar with the land.

4. Canada's Connections ● Britain called on its colonies for support in the war. ● The French and English differed on what to do. ● The differences between the English and French Canadians were shown dramatically by their reactions to the Boer War.

5. French Canadians ● Felt no connection with the British empire ● Did not want to be involved in a “British War” halfway across the world ● Sympathized with Afrikaners ● Thought: The war did not threaten Canada, and could lead to further participation in larger wars

6. English Canadians ● Had a strong connection with the Empire ● Felt it was their duty to help Britain, seeing as they were a member of the Empire

7. Laurier's Compromise ● No conscription ● Have Canadian units fight alongside the British ● This made it so that the English could help, and the French were not forced to go to war, and if they did, they were considered Canadian soldiers.