Table of Contents
Inaugural remarks
Childhood
Contributions for South Africa
The war fought between the British and the Boers in the late 19th century
Kruger Becoming President
In conclusion
Bibliography
Inaugural remarks
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger also known as Paul Kruger played a key role in shaping South Africa’s History with his contributions and involvement during Angelo-Boer War. He was also a fighter for Transvaal independence from the British. Not only was he a military leader, but he was also a brilliant politician. If we look at his early history, his contributions in South Africa, and what happened in South Africa around that time frame, we will be able to understand the contexts and circumstances which shaped his life into an historical icon.
Early lifeStephanus Johannes Paulus Krugerwas born on October 10th 1825 at his grandfather’s farm located in Bulhoek, Cape Colony. Kruger did not have much education other than learning the Bible as was the norm amongst Boers. Father Casper Jan Hendrik Kruger. Kruger, his mother and family joined Hendrick Potgieter’s Voortrekkers in 1836 when he was 10 years old. During that time, he learned the strict Dutch Calvinism because Boers were so religious. Boers had another tradition that young men were required to build a home on a farm at 16 years old. Kruger went to Waterkloof and bought it in 1842.
Kruger fought alongside the Boers at Vegkop and witnessed the Zulu warlords’ massacre of the Laagers. The family then moved to Rustenburg (Transvaal) and started farming. Kruger and Maria Du Plessis had a child together. Sadly, both Maria and the child died. Kruger then wed Du Plessis’ cousin Gezina Du Plessis. The couple had 17 kids, of which some died infancy. Gezina died in 1901.
Contributions to South AfricaAs stated previously, Kruger’s character was shaped by the numerous battles fought in South Africa at that time. He was involved in many battles, and he “fought three battles prior to the age of thirteen”. Kruger, like many young Afrikaners, became a fieldcornet at 17 years old and participated in the Battle Dimawe against the Tswane. Kruger, at such a tender age, already had leadership qualities and was developing characteristics. Kruger was promoted from lieutenant to commandant general in 1852. Kruger, who was also chosen to join the Volksraad was given the job of helping write the constitution for Transvaal. Kruger had already established himself as a leader in the military and had a promising political future.
The Anglo-Boer WarThe Anglo-Boer War is the first war between Britain and South Africa. It was caused by British Expansion as well as problems in the Transvaal’s government. Boers faced financial troubles and also fought against the Pedi. The British took advantage of this opportunity to take over the Transvaal. The British sent Theophilus Hepstone to Transvaal for a meeting with the Boers. Then, they annexed Transvaal. The British began taxing Boers which led to increased tensions.
On 8th December, 1880 there was a gathering of Boers on a small farm. They had discussions and held meetings about how to remove the British from the Transvaal. Kruger became Vice President in this period. The Boers prepared for the attack after the meeting concluded on 16th December. The Boers launched their first attack when they ambushed British troops, killing or injuring the majority. The Boers won the Battle of Bronkhorstpruit.
The Boers won the battle. This battle was known as Laignsnek. British troops were so badly injured and killed that they called a ceasefire to care for the wounded and bury their dead.
Kruger tried a passive approach which also had a negative outcome. The passive approach also failed, so the Boers fought the British in the brutal battle of Majuba. They won the battle.
This caught the British’s attention, and Kruger was allowed to negotiate and gain independence. It was a great step forward for Boers. The British stopped funding the Transvaal’s government as a result of Transvaal independence. This led to a rapid economic decline, which Kruger had to deal with. Kruger had to come up with a new revenue source. The Boers were victorious in the Anglo-Boer War.
Kruger becoming PresidentKruger assumed the presidency of the Transvaal region on April 16, 1883. He was driven to do so by his desire for an independently South Africa. A massive was born in 1886. Gold was found near Witwatersrand and attracted many uitlanders. This is known as The Gold Rush. “Kruger considered this a threat to his distinct national identity, God’s children”.
Kruger tried to limit this number. Kruger, however, was unable stop the influx of uitlanders. By 1884 there had been a Scramble for Africa which resulted in South Africa being overrun by foreigners. Rail tariffs were considered too high by many uitlanders. The Transvaal used it to increase revenue and keep uitlanders out of Transvaal. Cecil Rhodes was angry at this time and ordered the Jameson Raid.
Leander Jameson led the Jameson Raid which was a total disaster and embarrassment for the British. Jameson, accompanied by 600 men and Rhodes’ request to begin an uprising in Johannesburg on December 29, 1895, was met by Transvaal soldiers blocking the road. The British soldiers, despite their best efforts, were unable get through the Transvaal soldiers and surrendered on the second of January 1896. This further strained the relationship between Boers & British. Rhodes, Jameson, and a soldier involved in the Jameson attack were all jailed.
The British were wary because Kruger had concerns about the uitlanders. Some Uitlanders believed that they had a right to be heard in the running of the country and contributed to its exploitation.
Kruger recognized that this was to some extent true and called for the Second Volksraad to be held in 1890. New laws were passed allowing uitlanders who had lived in South Africa for at least five years to apply for citizenship. The First Volksraad was still the most influential in the Transvaal. The British were determined to regain control of the Transvaal after being embarrassed by the Jameson Raid. They used this opportunity to try to influence the voters. Lord Milner went to South Africa in order to stop Boer expansion. This was something that the British feared. Milner knew war was the only option to stop Boers expansion.
In October 1899, the first battle in Tulane took place. The British defeated the Dutch in the second Elandslaagte battle. During this period, many battles took place. In ‘black weeks’, the Boers won the battles of Vaalkrans and Sponsor. In 1900 the Transvaal Free State (now known as Orange Free State) and Transvaal united to change their attack methods using Guerilla Warfare. The British were intimidated by the Boers and therefore called in more troops to help them. Bloemfontein and Johannesburg were eventually taken by the British. Many Boers surrendered at this stage, believing that they had no reason to fight the British as the British controlled the majority of Boer colonies. Kruger had telegrammed Marthinus Steyn the President for the Orange Free State to express his desire to surrender. Steyn as well as other Boers did not agree. Kruger’s declining health meant that he was no longer able to fight in war and he had to flee South Africa. He then left South Africa by ship for exile in The Netherlands. Although he wasn’t physically in South Africa, he continued to try and get other countries to help the Boers.
The British thought that after many Boers had surrendered that the war would end quickly and easily. However, those Boers who continued to fight were ready to continue the war and persisted. Boer soldiers were admirable because they fought to the end and never gave up. The ‘bitter Einders’ were the soldiers. The war was over in 1902. The British victory was bittersweet, because both sides had lost many lives. It was a costly and lengthy war.
After living in exile for two years in the Netherlands, Kruger died in Clarens in Switzerland. The body of Kruger was returned to South Africa, where he died on the same soil he had fought for all his life. South Africa honored the legendary leader Paul Kruger with a statue on Church Square located in Pretoria. It also preserved his house, and turned it into an museum, both in Pretoria.
ConclusionStephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger occupied a prominent position in South Africa’s past. It is admirable that he was determined to regain South Africa’s freedom despite all the challenges. Kruger’s lack of education, and his exposure to battles when he was very young, contributed to his becoming a strong political and military figure. Kruger was, therefore, one of South Africa’s greatest leaders.
Bibliography
The Encyclopaedia Britannica is a well-known source of information. South Africa 2020
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/second-anglo-boer-war-1899-1902
MvA. The Story of South Africa’s 2nd Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902-Part. https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=iUyDhr7QTY (Accessed 04 October 2020)
Statham, F.R. Paul Kruger’s Times T.F. Unwin, London,1898.
www.reformationsa.org/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/346-president-paul-kruger
