African Nationalism (1948-59)

Question 1

Define grass-roots support

Answer 1

Backing at a local level

Question 2

When was the South African Indian Congress founded?

Answer 2

1919

Question 3

Define passive resistance

Answer 3

Non-violent opposition

Question 4

What were trade unions?

Answer 4

Worker-based organisations which aimed to improve the working conditions for their members and sometimes became involved in anti-apartheid activities.

Question 5

Define civil disobedience

Answer 5

Refusal to follow the law, such as refusing to carry passed.

Question 6

Who was Alfred Xuma?

Answer 6

President of the ANC (1940-49) and oversaw the formation of the ANC youth league. Increasingly criticised for being out of touch with rank-and-file members, and felt to be too conservative.

Question 7

Who was Walter Sisulu?

Answer 7

Anti-apartheid activist and long-time associate of Nelson Mandela, whom he shared 27 years imprisonment with on Robben island: founder of ANC Youth League.

Question 8

When did the ANC and SAIC form an alliance and what was this called?

Answer 8

March 1947

3 Doctors Pact (as all leaders had doctoral qualifications)

Question 9

When was the Communist Party of South Africa founded and what was their primary aim?

Answer 9

1921

To unite trade unions from all races on a basis of class rather than race.

Question 10

When was the Suppression of Communism Act?

Answer 10

1950

Question 11

How many miners went on strike in 1946?

Answer 11

100,000

Question 12

What was the All African Convention?

Answer 12

A meeting between all non-white groups in 1935 where 400 delegates met in Bloemfontein to discuss loyalty to SA while opposing segregation.

Question 13

What was the Basis Policy and what were the three proposed points of this policy?

Answer 13

The ANCYL response to the National Party electoral victory in 1948.

• That Africans should unite as one group rather than members of different tribes.
• That Africas had the right to the wealth and prosperity of Africa.
• That Africans should accept help from other sympathetic groups.

Question 14

What were the points for the ANCYL Programme of Action and when were these formed?

Answer 14

1949

• The rejection of white domination in South Africa.
• A pro-African policy, which meant supporting African nationalism both within SA and in liberation campaigns against colonialism throughout the continent.
• The assertion of pride in being African in the face of white assertions of racism and African inferiority.
• Demand for mass and direct action to oppose apartheid.

Question 15

When was the Defiance campaign?

Answer 15

1952

Question 16

Describe the two stages of the defiance campaign?

Answer 16

Initial stage: local protests in which supporters would break te law e.g. refusing to carry passes and invite themselves to be arrested. Had the idea that the number of people being arrested would exceed the authority’s ability to cope and show the weight of opposition to apartheid.

Extension: Mass defiance with nationwide strikes and protests.

Question 17

How many people attended the inaugural meeting for the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 17

10,000

Question 18

How did membership of the ANC increase after the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 18

4,000 > 10,000

Question 19

How many people were arrested during the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 19

8500

Question 20

What were the main successes of the Defiance Campaign?

Answer 20

• Allowed the ANC to become a mass organisation lead by committed and experienced activists.
• Allowed the ANC to embarrass the government by tactics of non-participation in their policies and laws and establish a long-term goal to abolish apartheid.

Question 21

When did the Bantu Women’s league join the ANC?

Answer 21

1918 but was formally inaugurated in 1948

Question 22

When was the federation of South African Women formed?

Answer 22

1954

Question 23

How many women marched on Pretoria in 1956 and why were they protesting?

Answer 23

20,000 women bearing 100,000 signatures.

They were protesting against Women’s pass laws.

Question 24

What percentage of African Women had been issued with passes by 1960?

Answer 24

75%

Question 25

What was the Black Sash movement and what did they do?

Answer 25

Radical white protest group

• Supported African women in protesting against pass laws
• Opened advice centres for non-whites
• Arranged for bail for women who were arrested and otherwise would be unable to return home to look after children
• Built pool of lawyers who would represent African women for minimal fees

Question 26

When was the Freedom Charter presented?

Answer 26

1954

Question 27

How many people attended the people’s congress?

Answer 27

3000

Question 28

What was the Intaba Movement?

Answer 28

Resistance movement in East Pondoland.

Intaba is Zulu word for mountain.

Question 29

What was intergrationism?

Answer 29

A belief that all races, including white people, should be involved in the fight against Apartheid.

Question 30

What was the potato boycott and in what years?

Answer 30

1957-59

ANC sponsored boycott on buying potatoes because of the harsh conditions endured by potato workers. As potatoes rot quickly and they stockpiled up as people refused to buy them. In August 1959, farmers began to improve working conditions so boycott was a success.

Question 31

What was the Zeerust uprising and when?

Answer 31

1957

An uprising against the imposition of passes for women during the Native Amendment laws. Businesses in Johannesburg were chartered to join. Many were arrested by security forces and blamed for the unrest. Authorities were enraged when most were deemed not guilty. However, women were forced to carry their passes by a special police squad.

Question 32

What was the East Pondolo uprising?

Answer 32

In 1961, the chief of this region, Chief Botha Sigcau, was accused of corruption by selling mineral rights. Local people insisted on his dismissal and the Instaba movement lead violent clashes. People held protests and boycotted white-owned stores.

Question 33

When was the Pan-Africanist Congress formed?

Answer 33

1957

Question 34

Who was Potlako Leballo?

Answer 34

Radical Africanist who succeeded Sobuke as leader of the PAC.

Question 35

What were the beliefs of the PAC?

Answer 35

• The willingness of the ANC to work with other groups caused its failures.
• Against the Freedom Charter as it emphasised equal rights
• Black Africans could only act successfully by themselves

Question 36

How many more members did the PAC have in 1959 than the ANC?

Answer 36

25,000 more

Question 37

What were the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act and when were they passed?

Answer 37

1953 (in response to the Defiance Campaign)

Increased penalties and allowed for stricter enforcement of the law for those who purposely went against it.

Question 38

What was the Suppression of Communism Act and when was it passed?

Answer 38

1950

Outlawed the South Africa Communist Party and all other groups which could be identified by the government as communist.

Question 39

What was the Ritious Assembly Act and when was it passed?

Answer 39

1956

Banned gatherings if they were deemed by the Minister of Justice to endanger Public Peace.