UK Citizenship Practice Test 2026 - Free Citizenship Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary objective of the Boer War was to establish British control over South Africa. The conflict, which primarily took place between 1899 and 1902, was fought between the British Empire and two Boer republics: the South African Republic (also known as the Transvaal) and the Orange Free State. The British aimed to consolidate their power in the region, driven by various factors, including economic interests in the rich gold and diamond resources, strategic considerations regarding trade routes, and the desire to unify the fragmented states of southern Africa under British rule.

This military engagement was a significant moment in the history of British imperialism, as it highlighted the lengths to which the British would go to secure their dominance in a region where they faced resistance from the local Boer settlers. The war also had lasting impacts on the political landscape in South Africa, leading to subsequent conflicts and changes in governance in the years that followed.

The other options do not align with the primary objectives of the Boer War. Ending apartheid and liberating South Africa from colonial rule are concerns that arose much later, particularly in the 20th century, and increasing the British population in Africa does not encapsulate the strategic and resource-based motivations driving the war at the time.