"It Is Necessary to Make A Complete Breach With the Past": How The Failures of the Second Boer War Shaped British Policy, Politics, and Society in the Edwardian Era

This thesis examines the impact of the Second Boer War on the United Kingdom. Focusing mostly on policy and parliamentary inquiry, the piece explores how British military shortcomings during the war led to a major reorganization of the military and a dramatic expansion of the social safety net. Additionally, the thesis touches upon how the war caused the government to begin more systematically collecting data and led to private-sector efforts to improve the physical condition of the British public.