Apartheid

ApartheidLiterally means apartness in Africaans A policy of racial segregation introduced by the National Party after its electoral victory in 1948. It created a highly stratified society in which whites dominated politically, economically, and socially at the expense of blacksThe Population Registration Act1950: law classified people into three racial groups: white (European)Colored (mixed race or Asian)Native (African/black)Marriages between races are outlawed in order to maintain racial purity.Background History1867 Diamonds are discovered at Kimberley and mining begins. Africans are given the most dangerous jobs, are paid less than white workers, and are housed in fenced, patrolled barracks. 1908 A constitutional convention is held to establish South African independence from Britain. The all-white government decides that non-whites can vote but cannot hold office.1914 The all-white Afrikaan National Party was founded.Background History1948 Urbanization and economic growth during World War II fuels white fears that South Africas racial barriers would collapse.The National Party introduces apartheid measures against blacks, Indian immigrants and those of mixed race.Apartheid officially BEGINS!How Did Apartheid Begin?

From the House of Assembly Debates, 3/15/1950The white man is the master in South Africa, and the white man, from the very nature of his origins, from the very nature of his birth, and from the very nature of his guardianship, will remain master in South Africa to the end.

Defined a "white person" as one who "in appearance is obviously a white person who is generally not accepted as a colored person; or is generally accepted as a white person and is not in appearance obviously a white person." Classifications were based on:Characteristics of the person's head hairCharacteristics of the person's other hairSkin colorFacial featuresHome language and especially the knowledge of AfrikaansArea where the person lives, the person's friends and acquaintancesEmploymentSocioeconomic statusEating and drinking habits

The Group Areas Act1951: Specific communities were set aside for each of the races (white, colored, mixed race or Indian) and native (African/black). The best areas and the majority of the lands were reserved for whites. Non-whites were relocated into reserves.Mixed-race families were forced to live separately.Bantu Homelands Act 1951: the white government declares that the lands reserved for black Africans were independent nations.Government stripped millions of blacks of their South African citizenship and forced them to become residents of their new homelands. Blacks considered foreigners in white-controlled South Africa; needed passports to enter. Blacks only entered to serve whites in menial jobs. The homelands are too small to support the many people in them. In Soweto, for example, seventeen to twenty people live in a four-room house. Amounted to 13% of the country's land13BantustansApproximately 3.5 million black South Africans (overall 11 million) were herded onto reserves between 1960 and 1980.55% of South Africa's population lived in the Bantustans; the remainder lived in South Africa proper, in townships, shanty-towns and slums on the outskirts of South African cities.

Colored refers to a racially heterogeneous ethnic group who possess ancestry from Europe, Asia, and various tribes of Southern Africa; highest levels of mixed ancestry in the world16

The Preservation of Separate Amenities Act 1953: established separate but not necessarily equal parks, beaches, post offices, and other public places for whites and non-whites.

Bantu Education Act 1953: states that white government supervises the education of all blacks. Schools condition blacks to accept white domination. Non-whites cannot attend white universities.Africans were taught only in Afrikaans.

Classroom in a complex of old horse stables on the Orange Farm in 1990.Resistance1951: Nelson Mandela along with other Africans form the African National Congress (ANC) with the goal of passive resistance 1963: ANC leader, Nelson Mandela, was jailed and one year later was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Biography of Nelson MandelaSharpeville MassacreMarch 21st, 1960 A large group of blacks in the town of Sharpeville refused to carry their passes. The government declares a state of emergency, and responds with fines, imprisonment, and whippings.South African police opened fire on the crowd69 black demonstrators are killed. 187 people were wounded.

Soweto Protests1970s The all-black South African Students Organization, under the leadership of Steven Biko, helps unify students 1976 Thousands of students in the black township of Soweto stage protests to demand they be taught in English rather than the Afrikaans. Police fire on the demonstrators, sparking nationwide riots and more repression. Police kill more than 500 protesters within a year, including leading activist Steven Biko.

Hector Pieterson (1964 June 16, 1976) became the iconic image of the 1976 Soweto Uprising in apartheid South Africa when a news photograph by Sam Mzima of the dying Hector being carried by a fellow student, was published around the world. He was killed at the age of 12 when the police opened fire on protesting students.

Ending Apartheid1980s People and governments around the world launch an international campaign to boycott South Africa. An act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protestSome countries banned the import of South African products and citizens of many countries pressure major companies to pull out of South Africa. Crippling effect on the South African economy and weaken the government.

Ending Apartheid1990 Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years.1991 President F.W. de Klerk repeals apartheid laws and calls for the drafting of a new constitution.1993 A multiracial, multiparty transitional government is approved. 1994 Elections are held. The United Nations sends 2,120 international observers to ensure the fairness of the elections. Mandela wins 63 percent of the vote in elections and on May 10 Mandela is sworn in as president of the new South Africa.

Nelson Mandela Sworn in as President