Welsh+and+Spence+-+The+Rise+of+Apartheid

Turning Points Series

  • General Editor: Keith Robbins

  • Published by Pearson Education Limited

  • Notable Titles in the Series:

    • The End of the Ottoman Empire, 1908-1923 by L. Macfie

    • The Paris Commune, 1871 by Robert Tombs

    • The Fall of France, 1940 by Andrew Shennan

    • Ending Apartheid by David Welsh and J.E. Spence

Publication Information

  • First Edition, Great Britain, 2011.

  • ISBN: 978-0-582-50598-8

  • Copyright asserted by authors David Welsh and J.E. Spence.

  • Legal and publishing disclaimers included.

The Rise of Apartheid

Historical Context

  • Recognition of the urbanization of Africans and implications for segregation policies.

  • 1948 Natives Laws Commission findings:

    • Total segregation seen as impractical.

    • Urbanization due to economic necessity.

    • Presence of settled Africans in cities recognized.

Political Landscape

  • In the 1948 elections, 80% of Afrikaners supported the National Party (NP).

  • The NP's narrow victory over the United Party (UP) marked a significant shift in power.

  • NP repudiated the Natives Laws Commission findings and reinstated segregationist policies.

Apartheid Legislation

  • Apartheid defined as a political and social system enforcing racial segregation and inequality.

  • Initial enforcement measures included:

    • Natives Laws Amendment Act, denying permanent residency to urban Africans.

    • Group Areas Act, mandating residential segregation.

Key Players in the NP

  • D.F. Malan (first leader of the NP) emphasized a unified Afrikaner nationalism.

  • Hierarchical structures included:

    • Churches (e.g., Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, NGK): provided ideological legitimation for apartheid.

    • Educational institutions: promoted Afrikaner identity and values.

    • Economic power among Afrikaners grew through ownership and establishment of Afrikaner businesses.

Implementation of Apartheid Policies

Classification of People

  • Racial classification established by the Population Registration Act of 1950 determined citizenship and rights.

  • Various laws enforced:

    • Immorality Act: criminalized interracial relationships.

    • Group Areas Act: defined specific geographic areas for racial segregation.

Major Phases of Apartheid (1948-1990)

  1. Consolidation of Control (1948-1958)

    • Legislation to reinforce Afrikaner dominance and tighten segregation laws.

    • Use of propaganda to promote NP's vision.

  2. Verwoerd’s Era (1958-1966)

    • H.F. Verwoerd’s leadership saw a hardening of policies.

    • Promotion of 'separate development' and pseudo-independence of homelands.

  3. Erosion of Apartheid (1966-1989)

    • Increased resistance movements (e.g., ANC, PAC) led to growing unrest.

    • International pressure on South Africa regarding apartheid policies.

Economic Impacts

  • Economic policies favored white businesses; restrictions on black employment.

  • Strikes and uprisings, particularly in the 1970s (e.g., the Soweto Uprising in 1976), marked a growing resistance against apartheid.

Conclusion of Apartheid

  • The NP faced increasing internal and external challenges that ultimately led to the dismantling of apartheid policies, transitioning towards a more equal society.

Summary

  • Apartheid was a complex system of institutionalized racial discrimination in South Africa, rooted in political and societal changes in the early 20th century, particularly through the formation and policies of the NP.