The United Nations
An international organization formed after WWII in 1945 to bring people together, keep the peace and improve the lives of the poor
HQ in New York
Started with 51 countries, now 193
The Atlantic Charter (1941)
A joint proclamation by the United States and Britain declaring that they were fighting the Axis powers to ensure that everyone in the world should have the right to 4 freedoms
4 Freedoms of the Atlantic Charter
Freedom from want Freedom of speech Freedom from fear Freedom of religion
Main objectives of the UN
maintain peace and security in the world
work together to reduce poverty, disease and reduce illiteracy to encourage respect for each other's basic rights
develop friendly relations among nations
be a centre to help nations achieve these goals
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
A document that outlines the basic human rights that all people in the world should have, regardless of nationality, gender, age, color, religion, wealth, ability or any other discriminating factor.
Some Articles in the UDHR
Everyone has the right to: Education Take part in Democratic Government A healthy standard of living Freedom of though and religion Life, freedom and safety Travel and live anywhere in their country
Racism
The belief that one's own race is better than another, and the unfair treatment of these other races
Apartheid
The official system of segregation or discrimination on racial grounds formally enforced in South Africa (Afrikaans 'separateness')
The National Party
came into power in 1948
introduced a policy of racial segregation (Apartheid)
The foundations for Apartheid were laid long before the NP came to power. Why?
Racial segregation had been introduced by the previous governments in the following areas:
land ownership
the labor market
access to cities, towns
administrative systems segregation
Land Act (1913)
Black people could only own land in the 'reserves'. These reserves covered only 7% of the country and became overcrowded very quickly
extended in 1936, many more people forced off their land , reserves increased from 7% to 13%
Reserves
Areas that were set aside where black South Africans were allowed to own land. These land reserves would later become the 'homelands' during Apartheid
Color Bar Act (1926)
Skilled Jobs on the mines were reserved for white workers only, Black workers could only get unskilled or semi-skilled jobs.
black workers were not allowed to strike o be members of a trade union
part of the civilized labor policy
Civilized Labor Policy
Policy designed to raise the standard of living of white workers, but make sure that black workers could never rise above a low level in the workplace
Pass System
government of the 1920s and 1930s tried to limit the movement of black South Africans from the reserves to the towns
form of influx control because blacks were seen as only temporary residents of a town
The Native Representation Act (1936)
Management of the reserves was handed over to traditional leaders in the form of tribal councils.
those leaders who refused to become a part of this segregated system were sidelined, and another leader was appointed
Group Areas Act (1950)
South Africans were only allowed to live and own property in areas of the city that had been set aside for their race
urban areas were divided up according to race
Consequences of the Group Areas Act (1950)
Inconvenient Cost to work Loss of community Drugs and gangs in new areas
Native Abolition of Passes Act (1952)
This law forced every black person over the age of 16 to carry a pass when in white only areas
if a person did not produce their passbook when requested they were fined/imprisoned
Population Registration Act (1950)
All South Africans had to be classified as European, Indian, Coloured or African
race was recorded in ID books
Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act (1949)
Prohibited marriages between "Europeans" and "non-Europeans"
marriages between white and black people were illegal
Immorality Act (1950)
Prohibited all sexual relations between whites & non-whites.
Seperate Amenities Act (1953)
Separated public facilities according to race.
Bantu Education Act (1953)
Created a separate, inferior education system for black students
schools were divided according to race
less funding was given to black schools
Bantustans
The name given to the 10 Homeland 'reserves' created by the Apartheid Government.
Bophuthatswana
consisted of seven pieces of land located in three different provinces in SA
received its "independence" from South Africa in 1976
Apartheid government made sure that they retained control over many aspects of Bophuthatswana
people lived mostly in extreme poverty as a result of the overcrowding and lack of jobs
Suppression of Communism Act (1950)
Banned the SACP, and made it possible for the government to arrest anyone they suspected of being a communist
1 May 1950
May Day Strike (SACP)
national 'stay at home' protest organized by the SACP
police opened fire on protesters, killing 18 and wounding 30
ANC
formed in 1912
Youth League established in 1944; aim was to encourage young people to fight against the segregation of races within the country
Albert Luthuli
Zulu chief who became the president of the ANC in 1952 known for his commitment to non-violence. He was a strong advocate for peaceful protest and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960.
Defiance Campaign (1952)
A non-violent form of protest against the Apartheid Laws
Aim of the Defiance Campaign (1952)
For thousands of people to purposely break the law and be arrested, because so many people were involved, South Africa would become ungovernable and the government would be forced to end Apartheid
Response of government to the Defiance Campaign (1952)
The declared states of emergency, arrested its leaders and passed new laws to stop resistance
Positive Consequences of the Defiance Campaign (1952)
8000 people arrested
support for ANC + increase in membership
led to international solidarity movement (Civil Rights Movement - Martin Luther King)
Negative Consequences of the Defiance Campaign (1952)
NP creation of new and harsher laws
people could be arrested for no reason
newspaper censorship
people banned
public safety act
Public Safety Act (1953)
Allows government to declare a State of Emergency at any time
Freedom Charter
adopted in 1955
the statement of core principles of the South African Congress Alliance, which consisted of the ANC and its allies: the South African Indian Congress, the South African Congress of Democrats and the Coloured People's Congress.
Government response to the Freedom Charter
They believed that it promoted treason and arrested 156 members of the Congress of the People (the Treason Trial)
Woman's March
9 August 1956
march by women to the Union Buildings
to protest against the pass laws for women
Formation of PAC (1959)
Pan African Congress
led by Robert Sobukwe
broke away from ANC
rejected the ANC's policy of non-racialism
saw the struggle as a national struggle against white domination
Sharpeville Massacre (1960)
21 March 1960 In order to get ahead of the ANC, the PAC organized the anti-pass demonstration 10 days before the ANC's
Events of the Sharpeville Massacre (1960)
protests happened at Sharpeville townships, near Vereeniging and Langa in Cape town
people went to the pass station and demanded arrest for not carrying pass books
they chanted, challenged officers, a few threw stones but unarmed
300 policemen opened fire, 69 killed, 186 injured
many shot in the back
Short term consequences of Sharpeville Massacre (1960) and response by Resistance movements
Massive stay away from work organized Anti-pass demonstrations continued
Short term consequences of Sharpeville Massacre (1960) and response by Apartheid government
Over 18 000 demonstrators attested, including much of ANC and PAC leadership + Sobukwe Verwoerd declared a state of emergency
detention without trial
gatherings of over 10 people banned ANC and PAC banned 1 month later
Long term consequences of Sharpeville Massacre (1960) and response by Resistance movements
Many went into exile to avoid arrest Others took the struggle underground ANC and PAC decided to adapt violent methods of struggle Formed secret armed resistance groups
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Spear of Nation Military group of ANC Commander in Chief : Nelson Mandela Attacked government buildings, power lines and railways
Poqo
We go alone Commander in Chief: Robert Sobukwe Assassinated Transkei chiefs and Langa and Paarl policemen
Sabotage Campaign (1961-1963)
Led by Spear of the Nation
destruction of government installations and buildings by means of bombs
aim: overthrow government
200 acts of sabotage orchestrated in the first 18 months
Long term consequences of the Sabotage Campaign (1961-1963) and response by the Apartheid government
Intensification of oppression an police brutality Police were given more power to crush resistance
arrested thousands of people
crushed poqo
90 days detention act, renewed to 180 days
Rivonia trial
The Rivonia Trial (1963)
Leaders of ANC's underground movement were designing Operation Mayibuye, a plan to overthrow the government
arrested in July 1963 at their HQ Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia
arrested for 221 acts of sabotage
Mandela + 7 colleagues sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island
World Response to the Armed Struggle
saw that the Apartheid government was violent and that 'separate development' was not equal
April 1960: UN Security COuncil demanded an end to apartheid
International Demonstration
International anti-apartheid organizations
Factors that led to the Soweto Uprising
A growing sense of pride in being black, which began with the rise of BCM The successful strike action by workers in Durban The liberation of Angola and Mozambique Bantu Education and the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction
Black Consciousness Movement (1969)
Founded by Steve Biko All non-white South Africans should work to achieve their aims without the help of whites
this was to restore confidence and pride in being black
The successful strike action by workers in Durban
Wages dropped and working hours increased. In response, over 200 000 workers went on strike
wages increased
working hours decreased Inspired anti-apartheid activists; resistance can be successful
The Liberation of Angola and Mozambique (1975)
White, majority rule was overthrown after many years of struggle
set amazing example to anti-apartheid activists that change was possible Samora Machel (new leader of Mozambique) became a great hero to South African youth
Bantu Education and the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction
South African high school students rejected Bantu Education Different student organizations across the country connected and organized boycotts Afrikaans as a medium of instruction for some subjects was the catalyst for the Soweto Uprising
black students saw it as the language of the oppressor and neither teacher nor students could speak or understand it very well
Short term consequences of the Soweto Uprising (1976)
Politicization of the youth Worker's stay away 6 July: government backed down on AMI Uprising spread to the rest of SA Police brutality
Long term consequences of the Soweto Uprising (1976)
Beginning of the end of Apartheid 14 000 students joined MK October 1977: government banned BCM organizations International Media Attention 1977: UN full arms embargo
Tricameral Parliament
Gave colored and Indian South Africans their own Parliament Black Africans were disregarded In reality these parliaments had very little power
United Democratic Front (1983)
Several anti-apartheid movements joined together to urge people not to vote for the separate parliaments (tricameral)
Unbanning of political movements (1990)
FW De Klerk became president in September in 1989 In February 1990 he scrapped all Apartheid laws, unbanned parties and released political prisoners
Conflict in the 1990s
1990-1994 : appalling unforeseen violence; 14 000 dead; 22 000 injured ANC - IFP violence
leadership vacuum to be filled and pre-existing ethnic tensions flared up White extremists also making their last stand