South Africa & Apartheid

US Global Studies 10Mr. Riddlebarger

Apartheid

• Pronounced uh PAHR tayt

• A policy of racial separation in South Africa from during most of the 20th Century.

South African history

• 1652: 1st permanent European settlement (Cape Town) established at tip of South Africa by Dutch settlers.– Supply port for shipping: Europe to East Indies

• Dutch farmers (Boers) settle around the area.– Kill , enslave or oust inhabitants of area.– Used religion to justify view of Africans as inferior.

• Over the years, Boers continue migrated North of Cape Town.

Zulu Nation

• Early 1800’s, Zulu’s, under their leader Shaka, are a major force in Southern Africa– Zulu’s conquer other tribal groups which puts

pressure on the region

• 1830’s: they will clash with the Boers over land

Zulus v. Boers

• Britain had taken over Cape Colony in 1815.– Boers resent British restrictions on laws outlawing

slavery– They pack up and head on a northward migration, “The

Great Trek”

• As they expanded out, ultimately, two cultures will collide: Zulus vs. Boers.– Zulus hold own initially

• Boers are mounted and well-armed and ultimately prevail (fighting until late 1800’s)

Boer War

• Gold & diamonds discovered on Boer lands in late 1800’s– Leads to a clash between Boers and British

• Boer War (1899-1902) is won by the British but at a great cost– Grew unpopular at home- concentration camps

• 1910: British unite Cape Colony and Boer lands into Union of South Africa

Union of South Africa

• Creation of the Union of South Africa after Boer Wars will lay the foundation of a government with complete racial segregation– Run by whites– Lasts until 1993

1910-’s to 1940’s

• Whites will strengthen their hold on South Africa– A system of racial segregation is set up to ensure white

dominance in:• Economics• Politics• Society

– Better paying jobs go to whites– Best lands went to whites; blacks moved to “reserves”– Black had to carry a pass (ID) at all times

– No voting by blacks

• Whites make up less than 20% of the population

Expansion of Apartheid

• Apartheid system becomes more strict beginning in 1948– Separation of the races

• Supporters say it will allow each race to develop its own culture

• In fact, designed to ensure white control of South Africa

• Blacks treated like foreigners in their own country.

Resistance

• A nationalist movement (with some support from Christian churches & newspapers) begins demanding rights for blacks– African National Congress (ANC) is formed

– Builds framework for political action that pays off years later

• No impact is made upon the white South African government initially

Sharpeville• ANC will organize

marches & boycotts to protest apartheid

• 1960- police gun down 69 in peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville (black township)

• Gov. will ban ANC & begins crackdown on those opposed to apartheid.

Impact

• Sharpeville pushes ANC to move toward an armed struggle– Nelson Mandela goes underground

• He had been an organizer of peaceful resistance• Now joins militants for armed struggle

– Arrested, tried and condemned to life in prison for treason against apartheid

– Becomes a symbol for freedom & change.

Mandela on trial (1964)“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

1980’s• International pressure

upon South Africa increases– Demands to end apartheid– Release of Mandela

• Many countries impose sanctions on South Africa

• Bishop Desmond Tutu wins 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for nonviolent position on apartheid

Apartheid Ends

• Pressure forces President F.W. de Klerk to end apartheid – 1990: lifts ban on ANC &

free Mandela– 1994: all races can vote

for the 1st time

Mandela Elected

• Mandela is the 1st president of a truly democratic S. Africa– Helped heal wounds by

bringing former enemies into his government

– “Let us build together”

• Today, large economic gap remains between races

• Many social issues remain