African Nationalism (1948-1959) Flashcards
When did the Defiance Campaign begin?
1952
What was the initial stage of the Defiance Campaign?
Local protests where Africans broke the law by refusing to carry passes and invite themselves for arrest hoping to overwhelm the authorities ability to carry on apartheid.
What was the first sign of nationwide strikes or support for the Defiance Campaign?
Over 10,000 people attended the inaugural meeting in Durban led by the ANC which showed the size of ANC support and influence.
What happened to ANC membership following the Defiance Campaign?
Rose from over 4,000 to 100,000.
East London Case Study:
1. How many people lived in East London?
2. What a big issue in the area?
3. How did the Defiance Campaign begin there?
4. Who was the head of the local ANC branch?
5. What did the local leader want from the campaign?
6. How were ANC activists distinguishable?
7. What happened at the large meetings in July 1952?
8. How were youths involved?
9. What did the Minister of Justice do in November 1952 to help stop meetings?
10. What happened on 9th November 1952?
- 35,000 people
- Poverty was high and infant mortality was high (with 37% of babies died in their first year)
- A rally of 1,500 people in June 1952 with people chanting ‘Let Africa be returned’ and ‘God Bless Africa’
- Alcott Gwentshe
- The overthrowing of white domination and rejection of white rule
- They wore khaki uniforms
- Protesters were willingly arrested in hope to overwhelm the authorities and sat on white only benches, used white only toilets, facilities, and refused to pay fines
- Street gangs became involved
- Banned all public gatherings and sent armed reinforcements
- A meeting of 800 occurred where they threw stone and sticks at police, who shot at the crowd and apparently killed 7 and injured 18 (though it was likely there were more). 2 whites were killed but weren’t targeted.
When did the Defiance campaign end?
January 1953
How many Africans were arrested during the Defiance Campaign?
8,500 out of the 8 million Africans
What did the government do to prevent a repeat of the Defiance Campaign?
They made civil disobedience illegal and arrested those involved in organising the campaign
Where was there little participation for the Defiance Campaign?
Rural areas
How did the campaign affect the ANC?
Made the ANC a mass organisation and the ANC realised it could embarrass the government by tactics of protest and non-participation, but not topple it
What was the Freedom Charter and when was it created?
The Freedom Charter was agreed on in June 1955 after key meetings in 1954 where it was decided to create a set of universal rights based on what Africans wanted. A committee (Peoples Congress/Congress Alliance) drew the charter up and 3000 representatives of different anti-apartheid groups attended the reveal.
What was the Black Sash?
A white women’s protest against pass laws which supported Africans. They arranged a group of lawyers which would represent African women for minimal fees and built up a strong amount of trust in African people.
Rural Resistance: What the Potato Boycott (1957-59)?
A ANC-sponsored boycott on buying potato’s due to the harsh conditions potato workers endured. As potato’s rot quickly and stock piles grew which led to farmers improving the conditions in August 1959.
Rural Resistance: What was the Zeerust Uprising (1957)?
Caused by women being forced to carry passes in Zeerust under the Native Laws Amendment Act (1952) but the local chief refused and was dismissed by the government. Men and women charted buses and were arrested by the security forces and following the uprising a special police force ensured women carried passes.
How did rural unrest affect the ANC?
Rural unrest and the lack of ANC influence in non-urban areas helped garner support for the PAC.
