The First Boer War

20 December 1880 – 23 March 1881

The war came about by the British annexing the Boer state of the Transvaal, against the will and the wishes of the majority of the boers.

The Boer leaders tried to resolve the matter by peaceful means, but they got nowhere. Hostilities broke out against the British, and with help from Boers from the Orange Free State, bloodied the nose of the British.