Days 1-3 Vocab/Ideas
Coloured
Was an official term for used to label people of mixed descent
Be able to describe the early African National Congress.
The South African Native National Congress (SANNC) later named the African National Congress (ANC) was established in 1912.
Its main goal initially was to overcome ethnic, language, and regional differences between different South Africans so they could have a united front against discrimination.
The early ANC was mostly moderate that supported nonviolent protests such as petitions and as a result did not have mass support. Its initial leaders were mainly moderates who did not want confrontation with the authorities.
Most of its early members were educated, middle-class, and urban Blacks who did not want to support more forceful methods of resistance
Be able to explain the impact of the classification of the population on the people of South Africa.
One's "racial classification" impacted everything in life to who you could marry to which toilet you could use to which school you could attend and which curriculum you would receive in school.
National Party (NP)
South African political party, founded in 1914, which ruled the country from 1948 to 1994. Its following included most of the Dutch-descended Afrikaners and many English-speaking whites. The National Party was long dedicated to policies of apartheid and white supremacy.
What did boycotts, and in particular the Alexandra Bus Boycotts, teach the growing anti-apartheid movement?
The government tried to stop the boycotts by arresting pass offenders among the walkers, and banning processions or meetings of more than 20 people.
But the boycotts continued and were successful in keeping the bus fares down, because the government finally approved a subsidised fare system.
These events demonstrated the potential power of boycotts as an economic and political weapon.
Be able to explain the impact of the segregation of population.
Areas were designated for certain races. If people lived in an area that was designated to a race that was not their own, they would lose their homes.
Pass Laws
Controlled where people could live and work - forced to carry a “pass” or (reference book) that stated where he lived and worked. People caught without passes could be arrested and jailed.
Define and explain the significance of the Defiance Campaign.
The Defiance Campaign in 1952 was the first large-scale, multi-racial political mobilization against apartheid laws under a common leadership – by the African National Congress, South African Indian Congress, and the Coloured People’s Congress. More than 8,000 trained volunteers went to jail for “defying unjust laws,” laws that had grown worse since the National Party came to power in 1948. Volunteers were jailed for failing to carry passes, violating the curfew on Africans, and entering locations and public facilities designated for one race only.
Be able to explain the segregation of amenities.
Everything was segregated so much to the extent that it was normalized.
Townships
Townships were established during apartheid, a political system in place from 1948 to the early 1990s. The government forced people who were not legally considered white to live in townships, while keeping them out of cities
Congress of the People (Congress Alliance)
The COP was an anti-apartheid political coalition formed in South Africa in the 1950s. Led by the African National Congress, the COP was multi-racial in makeup and committed to the principle of majority rule.
Segregation of education
South African government wanted the Black other non-whites educated enough to work for the white man but not educated enough that they might take over their positions.
"Colour Bar"
The "color bar" in South Africa was a series of laws, practices, and regulations that prevented Black people from competing for certain jobs and opportunities.
Africanists/ Africanism
Was the view that Africans should rely on their own efforts to achieve freedom and equality; it stressed the assertion of African identity and rejected the influence of “foreign” ideologies and leaders.
Townships and forced removals
Townships - made it so the workers were close enough to their place of work but far enough that they were not living in the same areas and using the same amenities. Forced removals applied when people were living in a certain area but then forced out of that area because their race was not allowed to live there.
Apartheid
Apartheid, or “apartness” in the language of Afrikaans, was a system of legislation that upheld segregation against non-white citizens of South Africa. After the National Party gained power in South Africa in 1948, its all-white government immediately began enforcing existing policies of racial segregation.
Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)
South African organisation and later political party pursuing “Africanist” policies in South Africa (which they would rename Azania) for black South Africans, in contrast to the non racial or multiracial policies of other organisations, such as the African National Congress (ANC).
In an attempt to make the SA gov look good to the rest of the world, they initiated the Bantustan system where each individual tribe had their own reserve where they had "complete political control" over that area and therefore didn't need rights in SA.
Afrikaners
South Africans of Dutch (Netherlands) and French Huguenot (Protestant) descent who speak Afrikaans
Freedom Charter
Freedom Charter, document outlining the aspirational principles of freedom and democracy in South Africa. The charter was adopted in June 1955 in opposition to the apartheid regime of the time by the Congress Alliance, a broad coalition consisting of the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Indian Congress (SAIC), the South African Coloured People’s Organisation, and the South African Congress of Democrats.
Suppression of communism
SA wanted to destroy communism and their political opposition therefore they simply labeled anyone a communist who spoke out against them and then silenced them.
What was the significance of the 1948 election?
Although many of the segregationist policies dated back to the early decades of the twentieth century, it was the election of the Nationalist Party in 1948 that marked the beginning of legalized racism's harshest features called Apartheid.
What was the Sharpesville Massacre and what happened as a result of the massacre?
About 69 Blacks were killed and more than 180 wounded, some 50 women and children being among the victims. A state of emergency was declared in South Africa, more than 11,000 people were detained, and the PAC and ANC were outlawed. The African National Congress started armed resistance against the South African government.
Define/explain "Petty Apartheid"
"Boss Rule"
Associated to the first years after 1948
Goal: ensure complete white domination
Brutal subjugation of the black majority
the firm and decisive manner the government dealt with opposition.
Straight forward racial discrimination
Define/explain "Grand Apartheid"
Began in the late 1950s
More ideologically “sophisticated”
Goal: complete territorial segregation of South Africa - Different Peoples = different jurisdiction
By arguing that Africans would be allowed to achieve their full independence, it sought moral legitimacy for the apartheid system due to the hostile global community
Explain the following acts and the impacts that they would have on individuals. 1) Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act (1949) and 2) Immorality Act (1950)
These first laws set out to prevent social and sexual contact between the races. These laws made marriage and sexual relations between whites and other races illegal. (Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act - 1949)
“The Police went to extraordinary lengths to convict people… using binoculars, tape recorders and cameras to obtain evidence, and even bursting into bedrooms. By the time time Act was repealed in 1985, more than 11,000 people had been convicted of offences under the Immorality Act.” (Immorality Act - 1950)
Define and explain the impact of the "Population Registration Act (1950).
Classified all South Africans into race groups - white, coloured, Indian, and African.
Everyone had to have identity cards that stated their racial classification.
The racial classification on an identity card determined what opportunities people had in life. It determined where they could live and what sort of work they could do, as well as which schools or hospitals they could attend. This classification into racial categories affected many aspects of people’s private lives and caused misery for families and relationships. Some mixed families were torn apart when members of the same family were classified in different race groups.
South African Communist Party (SACP)
After the forced disbanding of the Communist Party, the SACP formed an underground organization in 1953.
African National Congress (ANC)
One of the organizations that formed to lead resistance to early segregation laws, the ANC was established in 1912.
How did the Suppression of Communism Act of 1950 impact both the Communist Party of South Africa and other opposition groups, including the African National Congress (ANC)?
The Suppression of Communism Act of 1950 was used to justify the silencing of any opposition to the South African government. Once individuals were placed under restrictions they were banned from attending meetings and even their quotes could not be placed in newspapers.