Paper 1 - Apartheid Flashcards
What was apartheid, and when was it introduced?
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation and white minority rule introduced by the National Party (NP) in 1948. It aimed to separate South Africans by race, giving whites political and economic dominance.
What did the Population Registration Act (1950) do?
It classified all South Africans into racial categories (White, Black, Coloured, and Indian), forming the legal basis of apartheid.
What was the purpose of the Group Areas Act (1950)?
It forced racial segregation in residential and business areas, displacing millions of Black South Africans into townships far from city centers.
What did the Pass Laws (1952) require?
Black South Africans had to carry passbooks to travel outside designated areas. Failure to present a passbook could lead to arrest, fines, or deportation.
What was the Defiance Campaign (1952), and why was it important?
Led by the ANC (African National Congress), it encouraged nonviolent civil disobedience against apartheid laws. Though it was crushed by the government, it was South Africa’s first mass resistance movement.
What was the Freedom Charter (1955), and why was it significant?
A document created by the ANC and allied groups calling for racial equality, democracy, and land redistribution. It was seen as treasonous by the government, leading to the Treason Trial (1956–1961).
What was the significance of the Sharpeville Massacre (1960)?
A peaceful protest against pass laws turned violent when police opened fire, killing 69 people. The massacre led to:
- Global condemnation of apartheid
- The banning of the ANC and PAC
- The shift to armed struggle (Umkhonto we Sizwe, 1961)
How did the ANC respond after being banned in 1960?
It formed Umkhonto we Sizwe (1961), a military wing led by Nelson Mandela, which launched sabotage attacks against government infrastructure.
What was the Rivonia Trial (1963–1964)?
Nelson Mandela and ANC leaders were arrested for sabotage and sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island, weakening the resistance movement.
How did the United Nations react to apartheid?
The UN condemned apartheid and imposed an arms embargo (1963).
How did international sanctions impact South Africa?
South Africa was banned from the Olympics (1964–1992), and by the 1980s, the U.S. and UK imposed economic sanctions, pressuring the government to reform.
