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In 1877, Britain annexed the (bankrupt) Transvaal Republic in southern Africa. This annexation was followed by successful military expansion in Natal (the Zulu War). In December 1880, the Boers of the Transvaal revolted against British rule, defeated an imperial force and forced the British government, under Gladstone, to recognise their independence. Gold was found in Transvaal in 1886 and, ten years later Cecil Rhodes backed the abortive Jameson Raid to overthrow the Transvaal government. A failure to secure rights for British citizens in Transvaal led to a second Boer War in 1899-1902. The Boers invaded Cape Colony and besieged towns such as Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberley.
Massive British and imperial forces were deployed and, under the leadership of Kitchener, concentration camps were used to house Boer resisters and their families. In oppressive conditions, many died from disease provoking a national scandal back in Britain. The peace of Vereeniging in May 1902 annexed the Boer Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State to the British Empire (which, in 1910, became part of the Union of South Africa).
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