HIST: Defiance Campaign, Freedom Charter & Treason Trial

What was the ANC Youth League (1949)?

A group within the African National Congress that brought new, younger leadership and more active resistance ideas.

Who were key leaders from the ANC Youth League?

• Nelson Mandela

• Walter Sisulu

• Oliver Tambo

What did the ANC Youth League change?

It pushed the ANC toward stronger, more active resistance against apartheid.

How did Mahatma Gandhi influence South African resistance?

His idea of non-violent resistance (satyagraha) inspired peaceful protest strategies.

What is satyagraha?

A method of non-violent resistance using civil disobedience and moral pressure.

Why was Gandhi important to the Defiance Campaign?

His ideas encouraged mass, peaceful breaking of unjust laws to challenge apartheid.

What was the Defiance Campaign?

A mass protest by the African National Congress and other groups where people deliberately broke apartheid laws.

What laws did protesters break?

• Pass laws

• Whites-only benches

• Whites-only entrances

• Railway segregation rules

• Curfew laws

What was the goal of the Defiance Campaign?

To get arrested in large numbers and overwhelm the prison system.

How successful was the Defiance Campaign?

Over 8,000 people were arrested, showing strong mass resistance.

What was the significance of the Defiance Campaign?

• Increased ANC membership

• Showed power of mass protest

• Strengthened unity across groups

• Marked shift to more militant resistance

• Increased non-racial cooperation

What was the Congress of the People?

A meeting where different anti-apartheid groups gathered to create a shared vision for South Africa.

What is the Freedom Charter?

A document created in 1955 that outlined demands for a democratic, equal South Africa.

Who was involved in creating the Freedom Charter?

The Congress Alliance, including:

• ANC

• SAIC

• Congress of Democrats

• SACTU

• Coloured Peoples Congress

When was the Freedom Charter adopted?

26 June 1955 at Kliptown, Soweto.

Why was the Freedom Charter important?

It became the foundation for future anti-apartheid goals and democracy in South Africa.

What was the Treason Trial?

A trial where 156 anti-apartheid leaders were arrested and charged with treason.

Who was accused in the Treason Trial?

Leaders like:

• Nelson Mandela

• Walter Sisulu

• Albert Luthuli

Why were they charged?

The government claimed they were plotting to overthrow the state through the Freedom Charter.

What was the outcome of the Treason Trial?

All accused were found not guilty by 1961.

Why was the Treason Trial important?

It weakened apartheid’s legal case and increased global attention against the government.