Why was the union of South Africa not possible before 1910?

• The question of the nature of government the union was to be .The British wanted a federal system while the Boers preferred a unitary government.

• Presence of selfish leaders such as Paul Kruger and Cecil Rhodes who were not willing to iron out their differences.
• Poor relations between the Boers and Basuto under Moshoeshoe. George Grey tried to solve the territory conflict between the Boers and Basuto but he failed
• The discovery of diamond at Kimberly in 1867 made the Boers to suspect that the federation was intended by the British to access diamonds.
• The question of the location of the capital. Both the British and Boers wanted to be in theirs.
• Lack of a common racial policy. while the British protected Africans , Boers discriminated them
• The question of the official language in the union government was a challenge.

• The British continued attacks on the Boer republics. For example the annexation of Transvaal in 1877 hurt the Boers.
• Disagreements of who should be the president of the union government.
• The rich British at the cape did not to share their wealth with the Boers.

• The Boer pride and arrogance could not allow them to unite with the British.
• The outbreak of the 1st Anglo –Boer war and the Jameson raid distanced them from each other.
• It idea was not supported by the British Colonial government at the cape.

• The Boers were still nursing the wound of the Great Trek.
• The British parliament was not supportive. In fact it fired and replaced George Grey for pushing for the union

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