SA civil rights Flashcards
What was the civil rights movement fighting for
Abolition of Apartheid (the government policy of racial separation put in place in 1948)
Sharpeville massacre
March 21st 1960 black people protested by not taking their passbooks when they went out and then turning themselves into the police as they could not arrest all of them
Began peacefully then a small fight broke out, the police opened fire on the crowd
As the crowd tried to run many people were trampled
69 people were killed
A state of emergency was declared and a national day of morning was given
Soweto riots
Minister of Bantu administration and development decree in 1974 made children learn in Afrikaans (a predominantly white language) at school
June 16th 1976 10,000 black students protested
Police used tears gas and gunfire on the children
Children retaliated by throwing rocks, attacking police cars and setting buildings on fire
2 white people were attacked and killed
Over 600 black people were killed and many were arrested
Evidence of success
International boycotts, South Africa was banned from the Olympics between 1964 and 1988
Mandela was released from prison and later became president in 1994
Apartheid legislation was repealed in 1991
Media attention
