ANTI-Apartheid movements and people Flashcards
What was the African National Congress (ANC), and when was it founded?
Founded in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress (SANNC).
Became the leading anti-apartheid organization. Advocated for equality and the rights of Black South Africans. Key early figures: Pixley ka Isaka Seme, John Dube.
What was the Defiance Campaign (1952), and what was its significance?
A mass civil disobedience campaign led by the ANC against apartheid laws.
Marked the ANC’s shift to more militant tactics. Key figures: Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Albert Luthuli. Significance: Mobilized thousands of South Africans and drew international attention to apartheid.
What was the Freedom Charter (1955), and what did it call for?
Adopted at the Congress of the People in Kliptown.
Called for a non-racial, democratic South Africa with equal rights for all. Key phrase: “South Africa belongs to all who live in it.” Later became the foundation of the ANC’s vision for a post-apartheid South Africa.
What was the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and how did it differ from the ANC?
Founded in 1959 as a breakaway group from the ANC.
Advocated for Africanist policies, emphasizing Black leadership and self-reliance. Key figure: Robert Sobukwe. Differed from the ANC by rejecting multi-racialism and focusing exclusively on Black liberation.
What was the Sharpeville Massacre (1960), and how did it impact resistance movements?
Police killed 69 protesters during a PAC-led demonstration against pass laws.
Led to the banning of the ANC and PAC. Forced resistance movements to go underground and adopt armed struggle.
What was Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and when was it formed?
The armed wing of the ANC, formed in 1961.
Engaged in sabotage campaigns against government infrastructure. Key figures: Nelson Mandela, Joe Slovo, Chris Hani. Slogan: “The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight.”
Who was Steve Biko, and what was the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM)?
Steve Biko: A leader of the BCM, which emphasized Black pride, self-reliance, and psychological liberation.
BCM inspired the Soweto Uprising (1976). Biko was arrested and died in police custody in 1977, becoming a martyr for the movement.
What was the Soweto Uprising (1976), and why did it occur?
A student-led protest against the imposition of Afrikaans as the language of instruction in schools.
Police responded with violence, killing hundreds of students. Key figure: Hector Pieterson, a 12-year-old boy whose death became a symbol of the uprising. Significance: Galvanized international opposition to apartheid.
What was the United Democratic Front (UDF), and when was it formed?
Formed in 1983 as a coalition of anti-apartheid organizations.
Opposed the apartheid government’s reforms, which excluded Black South Africans. Key figure: Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Played a major role in organizing mass protests and strikes in the 1980s.
What was the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM), and what was its role?
A loose coalition of anti-apartheid groups that emerged in the late 1980s.
Organized large-scale protests, strikes, and civil disobedience campaigns. Worked alongside the UDF to pressure the apartheid government.
Who was Albert Luthuli, and what was his role in the anti-apartheid struggle?
President of the ANC from 1952 to 1967.
Advocated for non-violent resistance and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960. Banned by the apartheid government and placed under house arrest.
Who was Oliver Tambo, and what was his contribution to the anti-apartheid movement?
President of the ANC in exile from 1967 to 1991.
Played a key role in mobilizing international support against apartheid. Helped rebuild the ANC’s underground networks and armed struggle.
What was the Rivonia Trial (1963-1964), and who were its key defendants?
A trial of ANC leaders for sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government.
Key defendants: Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada. Mandela’s speech from the dock, declaring his commitment to equality, became iconic.
What was the Role of Women in the Anti-Apartheid Struggle?
Women played a crucial role in organizing protests, strikes, and boycotts.
Key figures: Lilian Ngoyi, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Albertina Sisulu.
What was the 1956 Women’s March, and what was its significance?
A protest by 20,000 women against pass laws.
Marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Key slogan: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock.” Highlighted the role of women in the anti-apartheid struggle.
What was the Role of International Solidarity in the anti-apartheid movement?
Global campaigns for sanctions, boycotts, and divestment pressured the apartheid government.
Key organizations: Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) in the UK, United Nations. Cultural boycotts: Artists and athletes refused to perform or compete in South Africa.
What was the End Conscription Campaign (ECC), and what was its goal?
A movement in the 1980s opposing compulsory military service for white South African men.
Highlighted the moral and political opposition to apartheid within the white community. Contributed to growing dissent against the apartheid regime.
What was the Significance of Nelson Mandela’s Release (1990)?
Mandela was released after 27 years in prison.
Symbolized the beginning of the end of apartheid. Mandela led negotiations for a democratic South Africa, becoming the country’s first Black president in 1994.
What was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and what was its purpose?
Established in 1995 to address human rights violations during apartheid.
Chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Aimed to promote reconciliation by allowing perpetrators to confess in exchange for amnesty.
What was the Role of Trade Unions in the anti-apartheid struggle?
Trade unions like COSATU organized strikes and protests.
Played a key role in mobilizing workers against apartheid. Allied with the ANC and UDF in the struggle for democracy.
