ABSTRACT
In 1899 the British became involved in a war in southern Africa with the Transvaal, which had reestablished its independence in 1881 after a brief period of British rule, and the Orange Free State, which had gained its independence from Britain in 1854. At the beginning of World War I in 1914, obviously no one could have foreseen the exact nature of the war and its consequences, although more people than are generally acknowledged anticipated that it was likely to have catastrophic effects. Many historians have treated the assassination as the immediate cause of the war, tracing the events that followed as a chain reaction that ultimately led to World War I. Most citizens of the warring nations, however, remained supportive of their governments throughout the war, despite the high costs, tremendous loss of life, and deprivations at home. The effects of the war transcended large-scale national politics and affected the lives of millions of people.
