Apartheid Unit Test Flashcards
Apartheid
“The systematic policy of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa, divided into grand (overall separation) and petty (everyday segregation) apartheid.”
Dutch East India Trading Company
“Established in 1602; initiated European presence in South Africa by using the Cape as a supply post.”
Bantu
“A term for African peoples, often used pejoratively under apartheid to enforce racial distinctions.”
Great Trek
“The migration of Boer farmers into South Africa’s interior beginning in 1834 to escape British rule, fueling Afrikaner nationalism.”
Covenant
“The alleged pact between God and the Boers in 1838, used to justify Afrikaner land claims.”
Second Boer War (South African War)
“The conflict (1899–1902) between Britain and the Boers over mineral wealth, deepening divisions that later influenced apartheid.”
Boers (Afrikaners)
“Descendants of early Dutch settlers whose nationalist ideologies laid the foundation for apartheid.”
Pass books
“Mandatory internal passports that Africans were forced to carry to restrict their movement.”
Homelands
“Territories designated for Africans based on tribal affiliation, used to limit political rights and mobility.”
Townships
“Segregated urban areas where non‑whites were forced to live under harsh apartheid conditions.”
Department of Native Affairs (NAD)
“The government body responsible for administering and enforcing apartheid policies affecting Africans.”
Natives Land Act (1913)
“Legislation that restricted African land ownership to 7% of South Africa.”
Natives (Urban Areas) Act (1923)
“Legislation that controlled where Africans could live and work in urban areas.”
Mines and Works Act (1911)
“Legislation that reserved most skilled mining jobs exclusively for whites.”
Natives’ Labour Regulation Act (1911)
“Legislation regulating African labor and helping enforce pass laws.”
Industrial Conciliation Act (1924)
“Legislation that limited African workers’ rights to organize and bargain for better conditions.”
Representation of the Natives Act (1936)
“Legislation that disenfranchised Africans in the Cape by removing their voting rights.”
Abolition of Passes and Co-ordination of Documents Act (1952)
“Legislation that standardized the pass system, intensifying movement control for Africans.”
Union of South Africa (1910)
“The political entity uniting Boer republics and British colonies into a self‑governing dominion.”
Native Trusts and Lands Act (1936)
“Legislation that expanded African land reserves to 13.6% of South Africa.”
Baaskap
“An Afrikaner term meaning ‘boss‑ship,’ reflecting the ideology of white supremacy underpinning apartheid.”
J.G. Strijdom
“A National Party leader and Prime Minister known for his fervent support of apartheid.”
Nasionale Jeugbond
“The Nationalist Youth Association that promoted apartheid ideals among young Afrikaners.”
African Nationalism
“The movement demanding independence and civil rights for African peoples.”
Africanism
“The belief that Africans should lead their own liberation struggle without external assistance.”
Josiah T. Gumede
“An early ANC president influential in mobilizing African political activism.”
Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA)/SACP
“The party that organized African labor and later operated underground in support of the liberation struggle.”
South African Indian Congress (SAIC)
“The organization representing South African Indians in the anti‑apartheid movement.”
ANC Youth League (ANCYL)
“The radical wing of the ANC that mobilized young activists for a more militant resistance.”
Walter Sisulu
“A key ANC leader and founder of the ANC Youth League, instrumental in organizing resistance.”
Anton Lembede
“The first president of the ANC Youth League, symbolizing the start of radical African protest.”
Robert Sobukwe
“A prominent Pan Africanist Congress leader who argued that Africans, as the majority, should govern South Africa.”
Oliver Tambo
“A central ANC leader who later led the party in exile and internationalized the anti‑apartheid struggle.”
Charlotte Maxeke
“A pioneering African woman leader who organized the ANC Women’s League.”
Alfred Xuma
“An ANC leader known for building alliances among oppressed groups.”
Basic Policy (ANCYL, 1948)
“A document proposing the unification of Africans beyond tribal lines in the struggle against apartheid.”
Programme of Action (1949)
“The formal strategy of the ANC, including direct action, boycotts, and strikes against white domination.”
Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU)
“A union that organized African labor and played a significant role in early labor protests.”
Alexandra Bus Boycott (1943)
“A successful protest in Alexandra, Johannesburg, against a fare increase by the Putco bus service.”
African Mineworkers’ Union (AMWU)
“A union representing African mineworkers that organized major strikes for better wages.”
Council of action (ANC)
“A body established by the ANC to implement its direct‑action strategies.”
Meadowlands
“A township built outside Johannesburg where forcibly removed Africans were resettled.”
Eiselen Report
“A report on African education that influenced the Bantu Education Act.”
Extension of Universities Act 1959
“Legislation that barred African students from English‑language universities, leading to segregated higher education.”
Forced removals
“The policy of forcibly evicting non‑whites from areas designated for whites.”
Population Registration Act 1950
“Legislation requiring every South African to be classified by race with identity cards that determined rights and privileges.”
Race Classification Board
“The body responsible for determining individuals’ racial categories under the Population Registration Act.”
Immorality Act 1950
“Legislation that made interracial relationships and marriages illegal.”
Group Areas Act 1950
“Legislation that designated specific geographic areas for each racial group and enforced forced removals.”
Sophiatown
“A culturally vibrant, multiracial suburb of Johannesburg that was demolished under apartheid.”
Triomf
“The new, all‑white name given to Sophiatown after forced removals.”
Bantu Authorities Act 1951
“Legislation that confined Africans to tribal reserves and established government‑appointed chieftains.”
Anti‑pass protests
“Demonstrations against the requirement that Africans carry pass books.”
Separate Representation of Voters Act 1951
“Legislation that removed voting rights from Coloured people, leading to a constitutional crisis.”
Reservation of Separate Amenities Act 1953
“Legislation that legally sanctioned unequal public facilities for Africans.”
Native Labour Act 1953
“Legislation that prohibited Africans from joining trade unions or striking.”
Bantu Education Act 1953
“Legislation transferring control of African education to the state and establishing a curriculum for subordinate roles.”
Stayaway
“A form of protest where workers deliberately abstain from going to work.”
Mission schools
“Church‑run schools that provided early education for Africans before state takeover.”
Tomlinson Commission
“A commission that assessed the viability of African homelands, influencing the development of Bantustan policy.”
M Plan
“An underground communication network established by ANC leaders after the party was banned.”
Black Pimpernel
“A nickname for Nelson Mandela during his underground period, reflecting his ability to evade capture.”
Liliesleaf Farm
“The Rivonia farm where Mandela and other ANC operatives hid and planned armed actions.”
Denis Goldberg
“A white militant activist involved in sabotage planning during the Rivonia Trial.”
Integrationalist
“A term describing the belief in including all racial groups in one political system; used pejoratively by critics of the ANC’s approach.”
Proportional representation
“The idea that political power should reflect the population’s racial proportions, as argued by Sobukwe.”
Radicalization
“The process by which prolonged oppression leads groups to adopt more extreme measures.”
Sharpeville massacre
“The 1960 incident in which police opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing 69 people and marking a turning point in the anti‑apartheid struggle.”
Wessels Commission of Inquiry
“A government-appointed commission that investigated the Sharpeville massacre and largely exonerated the police.”
Security Council Resolution 134
“A UN resolution condemning South Africa for the Sharpeville massacre and calling for an end to apartheid violence.”
Attempted assassination of Verwoerd
“The 1960 incident in which a farmer shot at Prime Minister Verwoerd; his survival was interpreted as a sign of divine favor by supporters.”
General Laws Amendment Act (Sobukwe Clause)
“Legislation that allowed extended detention without trial, used to suppress opposition.”
Wind of Change speech
“A 1960 speech by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan acknowledging the rise of African nationalism and decolonization.”
African Resistance Movement
“A militant group representing a radical wing of the opposition that engaged in bombing and sabotage.”
Luthuli’s Nobel Peace Prize (1961)
“International recognition awarded to Chief Albert Luthuli for his non‑violent struggle against apartheid.”
Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)
“The armed wing of the ANC formed in 1961 to conduct sabotage and guerrilla warfare against the apartheid state.”
Security Police
“The repressive police force tasked with enforcing apartheid laws through brutal measures.”
John Vorster
“Minister of Justice from 1961 whose policies intensified state repression against opposition groups.”
Bureau for State Security (BOSS)
“A secretive state security organization formed to coordinate covert operations against anti‑apartheid activists.”
Sabotage Act 1962
“Legislation imposing the death penalty for acts of sabotage and shifting the burden of proof onto the accused.”
Bantu Laws Amendment Act 1964
“Legislation empowering authorities to deport Africans from urban areas and impose labor quotas.”
Bantu Self‑Government/Promotion of Self‑Government Act 1958
“Legislation that laid the foundation for the creation of Bantustans by preparing African homelands for eventual independence.”
Transkei
“The first Bantustan established in 1963 as a self‑governing territory for Xhosa speakers, though its independence was unrecognized internationally.”
Kaiser Matanzima
“A Transkei leader who maintained dictatorial control over the Bantustan through coercion.”
Proclamation R400
“A regulation in Transkei allowing unlimited detention, used to suppress dissent.”
Poqo
“The militant military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress known for terror‑oriented tactics; later re‑emerged as the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA).”
Intaba Resistance
“A resistance movement in East Pondoland opposing apartheid measures (with ‘Intaba’ meaning ‘mountain’).”
State of Emergency (1960)
“A government‑declared emergency following Sharpeville that allowed extended detention and suspension of civil liberties.”
Conscription (for whites)
“The compulsory enlistment of white South Africans into the armed forces, introduced amid rising internal security concerns.”
Guerrilla warfare
“Irregular, hit‑and‑run tactics employed by armed opposition groups against the apartheid state.”
Rivonia Trial
“The landmark trial (1963–1964) in which key ANC leaders were prosecuted for sabotage and conspiracy, resulting in long prison sentences.”
Percy Yutar
“The prosecutor at the Rivonia Trial who argued that Mandela had committed acts of sabotage.”
John Harris
“A militant activist from the African Resistance Movement who bombed Johannesburg railway station and was executed in April 1965.”
Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA)
The group that emerged from Pogo in 1968 as the rebranded armed wing of the PAC, known for its terror tactics.
