Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for "farmer.

Descendants of the Dutch,German,French-

speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in
Southern Africa during the 18th century.

 Left the Cape Colony during the 19th century.

Formed two Republics

 Orange Fee State
 Transvaal

Together known as the Boer Republic

One of the dominant character of Boer was
being trekgees, i.e. having the desire to
wander. Thus named, Trekboeren, the
wandering farmers.

 Boers were known for their independent spirit,

resourcefulness, hardiness, and self-sufficiency.

Their political notions verged on anarchy but

had begun to be influenced by republicanism.

They were also skilled with the use of guns as

they would hunt and also were able to protect
their families with them.
 Descended from the Dutch, Germans, and French
Huguenots, who migrated to South Africa during the
17th, 18th and early 19th centuries.
 They revealed a distinct Calvinist culture and the
majority of Boers today are still members of
a Reformed Church.
 The Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk was the national
Church of the South African Republic
(Transvaal) (1852–1902). Typical Boer Family

 The "Orange" in Orange Free State (1854–1902) was named after the Protestant House
of Orange in the Netherlands.
 Due to Calvinist influence, Boers see their role in society as abiding by the national laws
and accepting calamity and hardship as part of their Christian duty.
 A small number of Boers may also be members of Baptist, Pentecostal or Lutheran
Churches.
 A combination of factors:
 the Anglicization policy,
 the introduction of English law
 seemingly unending wars with the Xhosas
created the dynamo which became known as the Great Trek.
The dangers and epic of the great Trek alone
were enormous, such as:
 the effort of having to cross the highest
mountain range in Southern Africa, called
the Drakensberg (the Dragon Mountains – a
deserved name) in ox wagons;
 the necessity of having to create much of
their raw material and many supplies along
the way;
 and the trials and tribulations of doing all of
this with entire families in tow, was a truly
remarkable achievement,
 the trek itself came to assume almost
superhuman status and symbolism in the
White Boer psyche.
BOER GUERRILLA SOLDIERS
Women Boorish And Traditional
Costume During The Centennial Boer Household Women
Ceremony
The Trekboeren Women, Men & Children in their traditional farm-wear with
guns & Ox-wagons
 The two new republics (Boer Republics) lived peaceably with their British neighbors
until 1867, when the discovery of diamonds and gold in the region made conflict
between the Boer states and Britain inevitable.
 Minor fighting with Britain began in the 1890s, and in October 1899 full-scale war
ensued.
 By mid June 1900, British forces had captured most major Boer cities and formally
annexed their territories, but the Boers launched a guerrilla war that frustrated the
British occupiers.
 Beginning in 1901, the British began a strategy of systematically searching out and
destroying these guerrilla units, while herding the families of the Boer soldiers into
concentration camps.
 By 1902, the British had crushed the Boer resistance, and on May 31 of that year the
Peace of Vereeniging was signed, ending hostilities.
 The treaty recognized the British military administration over Transvaal and the
Orange Free State and authorized a general amnesty for Boer forces. In 1910, the
autonomous Union of South Africa was established by the British. It included
Transvaal, the Orange Free State, the Cape of Good Hope, and Natal as provinces.
http://www.wikiwand.com/fr/Boers

http://www.boerwararchive.com/boers.html

http://www.slideshare.net/mrdarrenterry/the-boer-war-and-diamonds

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/boer-war-begins-in-south-africa

http://www.britannica.com/topic/Boer-people

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/south-african-boer-war/the-boers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boer