Resistance to Apartheid: PAC, Black Consciousness, Rivonia, and the Soweto Uprising

Flashcards covering key anti-apartheid campaigns, organizations, trials, and figures from 1959 to 1977, including the PAC, Sharpeville Massacre, Black Consciousness Movement, Steve Biko, Rivonia Trial, MK, and the Soweto Uprising.

Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)

An organization formed in 1959 by Robert Sobukwe and his supporters who broke away from the ANC to pursue Africanism and ensure African blacks led the liberation movement.

Robert Sobukwe

Former ANC leader who formed the PAC in 1959, argued that blacks should dominate discussions because they formed the majority, and led the 1960 Anti-Pass Campaign.

Africanism

The political philosophy of the PAC asserting that African blacks should lead discussions and the struggle rather than participating in multi-racial alliances.

Anti-Pass Campaign

A PAC campaign launched on 21 March 1960 where supporters marched unarmed to police stations without passes to violate unjust laws, overcrowd prisons, and gain publicity.

Sharpeville Massacre

The event on 21 March 1960 where police opened fire on a large, unarmed, and peaceful anti-pass crowd, killing 72 people and wounding approximately 200.

Unlawful Organisations Act

Apartheid legislation passed in response to the Sharpeville Massacre to ban liberation groups like the ANC and PAC, pushing them toward armed struggle.

Steve Biko

University of Natal student leader influenced by Marcus Garvey, Robert Sobukwe, and Nelson Mandela who founded SASO, led the Black Consciousness Movement, and died from police torture in 1977.

Black Consciousness Movement (BCM)

A psychological and cultural movement defining 'black' to unite all groups discriminated against by apartheid, aiming to liberate minds and foster black pride.

South African Students' Organisation (SASO)

An organization formed by Steve Biko after rejecting NUSAS to actively drive the Black Consciousness ideology among students.

Principle of Separatism

A Black Consciousness principle advocating that oppressed non-white groups must liberate their own minds and work independently rather than forming alliances with others.

Donald Woods

The journalist who exposed the truth that Steve Biko was brutally tortured and beaten to death by police, refuting the government's false claim of a hunger strike.

Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)

The armed wing ('Spear of the Nation') of the ANC, commanded by Nelson Mandela from 1960 to 1990, created after Sharpeville to target government installations and communications.

Poqo

The armed wing of the PAC, translated as 'The Hammer,' operating armed struggle campaigns in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

Liliesleaf Farm

The underground MK headquarters in Rivonia purchased by Arthur Goldreich, where police arrested top MK leadership following a tip from the CIA.

Operation Mayibye

The operational armed struggle plan developed by MK leaders to overthrow the apartheid government using force.

Rivonia Trial (1963–1964)

The legal trial where Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Denis Goldberg, and other leaders were charged with treason and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island.

Oliver Tambo

The ANC President in exile from 1960 to 1990 who coordinated the external mission and international support during the armed struggle.

Afrikaans Medium Decree

The government mandate forcing all African learners to be taught in Afrikaans, which sparked mass student outrage in Soweto in 1976.

Orlando Stadium

The planned destination for Soweto students marching on 16 June 1976 carrying placards with slogans such as 'Down with Afrikaans' and 'Afrikaans is a tribal language.'

Soweto Uprising (1976)

A student-led protest against Afrikaans instruction and apartheid conditions on 16 June 1976, resulting in police killing 8,000 learners, injuring 6,000, and widespread international backlash.

State of Emergency (1976)

The government decree following the Soweto unrest that authorized the deployment of the army into townships to suppress protests and re-establish law and order.