South Africa and Apartheid

History of South Africa

(pre-20th century)

Colonized by Dutch settlers called Boers in 1600’sBritain invades and controls coast (1800’s)

Forces Boers north, come into conflict with BantuBritain gives South Africa self-rule in 1910

Controlled by British and Dutch• “Afrikaners” were a small minority of the population (16%)• Blacks comprised a majority of the population (70%)

Origins of ApartheidEarly 1900’s – Laws passed to legalize separation of races1948 – Nationalist Party (Afrikaners) established legal system of apartheid

“the rigid separation of races”Classify people according to 3 races

Black, white, “colored” (mixed, Indian, or Asian) Passed laws to keep people separated

Took away rights of non-whites

Major Apartheid LawsPopulation Registration Act

Required all S. Africans to be classified into 3 categories: Bantu, White and colored (mixed)

Bantu Authorities Act Established separate areas based on raceBlacks were made citizens of one homeland

“Pass Laws”Required blacks to have a pass to move into the white areas

Required Passbook

Segregated beaches…

…and segregated benches

Bantustans (Homelands)Officially designated in the 1950’s

Means “land” (stan) of the “bantu” (tribe of S. Africa)Originally were “reserves” for separating blacks from whites before 1948As many as 3.5 million black South Africans were forced to move to these areas during 60s, 70s and 80s

Bantustans were encouraged to be independent states; blacks would be citizens of these instead of S. AfricaGoal was to make whites the majority in the territory of South Africa

Bantustans

Apartheid Statistics

The Struggle Against ApartheidThe African National Congress (ANC)

South African group dedicated to ending apartheidUsed non-violent tactics Umkhonto we Sizwe – • A more militant group within the ANC

The Struggle Against ApartheidAnti-Apartheid leaders

Desmond Tutu – early leader; preached non-violenceNelson Mandela – imprisoned for 27 years;