Notes
SOUTH AFRICA AND APARTHEID
Apartheid and South African Human Rights Violations
• All-white National Party comes to power in 1948
• Apartheid (separate or apart) was their main agenda
• A doctrine of white supremacy and separate development
• Non-whites South Africans could no longer:
• Marry outside of their own race
• Choose where to live
• Travel where they liked
• The whites made up 15% of the population yet owned 87% of the land
• Non-whites were forced to live on Bantustans
• Enforced by the army and police force
African National Congress (ANC)
• The most prominent resistance to Apartheid
• Leaders were often jailed
• Wanted to create a non-racial democracy
• The National Party portrayed the ANC as a Communist organization
• “The Soviet Union did provide education and military training, but were never really interested in S.A.”
Nelson Mandela
• Became the leader of the African National Congress
• Was arrested in 1964 and put in prison for life
• Was let out in 1990
• Won a nobel peace prize in 1993
• Elected as President of South Africa (first black ever) in 1994 (F.W. de Klerk his jailer was his deputy president)
Role of the United Nations (UN)
• In 1952 the UN condemned the apartheid system
• They continued to oppose it every year in the General Assembly
• 1962 UN tried to organize economic sanctions against S.A.
• Many leading industrial nations refuse to participate
• In the 1980’s they declared apartheid to be a crime against humanity
• 1961 Many in the British Commonwealth wanted to expel S.A., instead they withdrew
Pass Laws
• Pass laws controlled the movement and employment of blacks
• They were forced to carry “reference books” of identity papers
Sharpeville Massacre, 1960
• In 1960 blacks formed outside a police station in Sharpeville to protest the pass laws
• They burnt their reference books
• The police opened fire on the crowd
• 67 demonstrators were killed
• The ANC was outlawed
• This ended the non-violence movements
• An underground organization sprung up that engaged in terrorist attacks against symbolic targets
• SA gov’t passed a law where police could arrest without warrant
• 1964, Nelson Mandela, leader of the ANC is arrested for life in prison
Soweto Massacre, 1976
• 1976 black students protested that they had to be educated in Afrikaans
• Revolt in Soweto and other townships resulted in as many as 575 deaths
• Prominent youth leader Steve Biko was beaten to death by police
• Youth became very active in the ANC after this
• “Total Strategy” was devoloped where they sabotaged SA cities
• Civil disobedience, strikes, boycotts and even more violent measures continued and increased
The End of Apartheid: 1980s and 1990s
• 1978 Prime Minister P.W. Botha made reforms
• Blacks could marry whom they pleased, mix in certain places and join unions
• External reasons:
• 1985 Canadian P.M. Brian Mulroney urged the Americans to impose limited sanctions
• Botha responded by restricting freedom of foreign press
• British Commonwealth called for sanctions, but G.B. did not join they were pretty hollow threats
The End of Apartheid (Con’t)
• Internal reasons:
• Resistance movement began calling for a revolution
• Trade unions had won the right to bargain and began protesting apartheid
• The economy imploded
• The Dutch Reformed Church began to oppose apartheid
• 1990 Mandela released from prison
• 1994 democratic election with all races voting takes place
Apartheid and South African Human Rights Violations
• All-white National Party comes to power in 1948
• Apartheid (separate or apart) was their main agenda
• A doctrine of white supremacy and separate development
• Non-whites South Africans could no longer:
• Marry outside of their own race
• Choose where to live
• Travel where they liked
• The whites made up 15% of the population yet owned 87% of the land
• Non-whites were forced to live on Bantustans
• Enforced by the army and police force
African National Congress (ANC)
• The most prominent resistance to Apartheid
• Leaders were often jailed
• Wanted to create a non-racial democracy
• The National Party portrayed the ANC as a Communist organization
• “The Soviet Union did provide education and military training, but were never really interested in S.A.”
Nelson Mandela
• Became the leader of the African National Congress
• Was arrested in 1964 and put in prison for life
• Was let out in 1990
• Won a nobel peace prize in 1993
• Elected as President of South Africa (first black ever) in 1994 (F.W. de Klerk his jailer was his deputy president)
Role of the United Nations (UN)
• In 1952 the UN condemned the apartheid system
• They continued to oppose it every year in the General Assembly
• 1962 UN tried to organize economic sanctions against S.A.
• Many leading industrial nations refuse to participate
• In the 1980’s they declared apartheid to be a crime against humanity
• 1961 Many in the British Commonwealth wanted to expel S.A., instead they withdrew
Pass Laws
• Pass laws controlled the movement and employment of blacks
• They were forced to carry “reference books” of identity papers
Sharpeville Massacre, 1960
• In 1960 blacks formed outside a police station in Sharpeville to protest the pass laws
• They burnt their reference books
• The police opened fire on the crowd
• 67 demonstrators were killed
• The ANC was outlawed
• This ended the non-violence movements
• An underground organization sprung up that engaged in terrorist attacks against symbolic targets
• SA gov’t passed a law where police could arrest without warrant
• 1964, Nelson Mandela, leader of the ANC is arrested for life in prison
Soweto Massacre, 1976
• 1976 black students protested that they had to be educated in Afrikaans
• Revolt in Soweto and other townships resulted in as many as 575 deaths
• Prominent youth leader Steve Biko was beaten to death by police
• Youth became very active in the ANC after this
• “Total Strategy” was devoloped where they sabotaged SA cities
• Civil disobedience, strikes, boycotts and even more violent measures continued and increased
The End of Apartheid: 1980s and 1990s
• 1978 Prime Minister P.W. Botha made reforms
• Blacks could marry whom they pleased, mix in certain places and join unions
• External reasons:
• 1985 Canadian P.M. Brian Mulroney urged the Americans to impose limited sanctions
• Botha responded by restricting freedom of foreign press
• British Commonwealth called for sanctions, but G.B. did not join they were pretty hollow threats
The End of Apartheid (Con’t)
• Internal reasons:
• Resistance movement began calling for a revolution
• Trade unions had won the right to bargain and began protesting apartheid
• The economy imploded
• The Dutch Reformed Church began to oppose apartheid
• 1990 Mandela released from prison
• 1994 democratic election with all races voting takes place
Subjunctive Question
If it wasn't for the rebellion against Apartheid, how much longer would have the racial discrimination in Africa gone for?
Quote
"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity." - Nelson Mandela
Political Cartoon
Video
essay
To what extent was violence necessary for the end of Apartheid in South Africa?
Apartheid was undoubtedly one of the most horrific times of the South African history, as a result of inequality. This was an era where the white people had completely diminished the rights of the blacks. They were stripped from everything — their family, their property, their life. After years and years of discrimination, they decided to make a change and stand up for what they believed in, with force. At the end of the day, violence was the key to end Apartheid; starting with the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, all the way to the Soweto Massacre in 1976. Evidently, violence began this extreme revolution; however, all of these protests were stepping stones that led to the 1994 election where all races voting took place. As a result, Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa, and Apartheid was put to an end.
Therefore, there had to be a start to the violence in order to raise the courage of the people; as a result, the Sharpeville Massacre was initiated in 1960. Countless blacks formed outside a local police station in Sharpeville to protest the pass laws (pass laws controlled the movement and employment of blacks). The whites were furious that the protest was happening – they opened fire. Counts of 67 demonstrators were killed outside the police station on this tragic day. Due to this action, the ANC was outlawed, and the South African government passed a law announcing police could now arrest without a warrant. In 1964, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in order to cripple the ANC. Consequently, the Sharpeville Massacre ended all non-violence movements, and demonstrated to the whites that they would no longer live under Apartheid.
Furthermore, a mass killing event occurred in 1976, known as the Soweto Massacre. This was a protest led by many students, conveying the message that they had to be educated in Afrikaans. Revolts occurred in Soweto and many other townships; however, once again, the whites did not appreciate the revolution – killing as many as 575 people. The Soweto Massacre brought global knowledge to what was happening in South Africa at this time; furthermore, the black youth became extremely active in the ANC as a result. The South African government was under tremendous pressure at this time because, civil disobedience, strikes, boycotts and more violent measures were continuing and increasing day by day. Therefore, these violent measures were key to expressing not only to the South African government, but to the world, that Apartheid was wrong, and will no longer be accepted.
However, although violence was the lead up to end Apartheid, the 1994 election is what truly ended this horrific era. The end of Apartheid was beginning to be in sight when the Prime Minister P.W. Botha made substantial reforms in 1978. These reforms allowed blacks to marry whomever they please, mix in certain places, and join unions – the ANC was growing stronger and stronger. By 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and continued to persevere towards complete equality. Four years later, the first democratic election took place where all races were allowed to vote freely and independently. As a result, Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa – the tables had been turned.
Consequently, violence was extremely necessary in order to reach the 1994 election; furthermore, to end Apartheid in South Africa. The violence began in the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre where 67 demonstrators were killed as a result of protesting the newly placed pass laws. This demonstration outlawed the ANC and allowed police to now arrest without the need of a warrant; however, it also sent a message telling all of South Africa that the blacks will stand up for their true rights. Secondly, the Soweto Massacre brought worldwide attention towards inequality in South Africa, as a result of the 575 deaths of blacks protesting that they must be educated in their native language. Both of these extremely violent incidents were much needed in order to crippled the current South African government, and result in the 1996 election, where the blacks had rightfully won their rights back. Therefore, violence was indeed necessary in the lead up to end Apartheid within South Africa.
Apartheid was undoubtedly one of the most horrific times of the South African history, as a result of inequality. This was an era where the white people had completely diminished the rights of the blacks. They were stripped from everything — their family, their property, their life. After years and years of discrimination, they decided to make a change and stand up for what they believed in, with force. At the end of the day, violence was the key to end Apartheid; starting with the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, all the way to the Soweto Massacre in 1976. Evidently, violence began this extreme revolution; however, all of these protests were stepping stones that led to the 1994 election where all races voting took place. As a result, Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa, and Apartheid was put to an end.
Therefore, there had to be a start to the violence in order to raise the courage of the people; as a result, the Sharpeville Massacre was initiated in 1960. Countless blacks formed outside a local police station in Sharpeville to protest the pass laws (pass laws controlled the movement and employment of blacks). The whites were furious that the protest was happening – they opened fire. Counts of 67 demonstrators were killed outside the police station on this tragic day. Due to this action, the ANC was outlawed, and the South African government passed a law announcing police could now arrest without a warrant. In 1964, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in order to cripple the ANC. Consequently, the Sharpeville Massacre ended all non-violence movements, and demonstrated to the whites that they would no longer live under Apartheid.
Furthermore, a mass killing event occurred in 1976, known as the Soweto Massacre. This was a protest led by many students, conveying the message that they had to be educated in Afrikaans. Revolts occurred in Soweto and many other townships; however, once again, the whites did not appreciate the revolution – killing as many as 575 people. The Soweto Massacre brought global knowledge to what was happening in South Africa at this time; furthermore, the black youth became extremely active in the ANC as a result. The South African government was under tremendous pressure at this time because, civil disobedience, strikes, boycotts and more violent measures were continuing and increasing day by day. Therefore, these violent measures were key to expressing not only to the South African government, but to the world, that Apartheid was wrong, and will no longer be accepted.
However, although violence was the lead up to end Apartheid, the 1994 election is what truly ended this horrific era. The end of Apartheid was beginning to be in sight when the Prime Minister P.W. Botha made substantial reforms in 1978. These reforms allowed blacks to marry whomever they please, mix in certain places, and join unions – the ANC was growing stronger and stronger. By 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and continued to persevere towards complete equality. Four years later, the first democratic election took place where all races were allowed to vote freely and independently. As a result, Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa – the tables had been turned.
Consequently, violence was extremely necessary in order to reach the 1994 election; furthermore, to end Apartheid in South Africa. The violence began in the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre where 67 demonstrators were killed as a result of protesting the newly placed pass laws. This demonstration outlawed the ANC and allowed police to now arrest without the need of a warrant; however, it also sent a message telling all of South Africa that the blacks will stand up for their true rights. Secondly, the Soweto Massacre brought worldwide attention towards inequality in South Africa, as a result of the 575 deaths of blacks protesting that they must be educated in their native language. Both of these extremely violent incidents were much needed in order to crippled the current South African government, and result in the 1996 election, where the blacks had rightfully won their rights back. Therefore, violence was indeed necessary in the lead up to end Apartheid within South Africa.
3,2,1
Inequality, racism, justice
What would have happened to the ANC if it weren't for Nelson Mandela's wife standing up when he was sent to prison?
How much longer would have Apartheid gone for, if it wasn't for the violent protests?
Stepping on ants
What would have happened to the ANC if it weren't for Nelson Mandela's wife standing up when he was sent to prison?
How much longer would have Apartheid gone for, if it wasn't for the violent protests?
Stepping on ants