Setting up apartheid, 1948-54 Flashcards
Segregation in 1948 (before apartheid)
3 laws
69% black, 21% white (half Afrikaners), rest coloured and Asian
Native Labour Regulation Act (1911) - black men required to carry passes to travel, live and work in towns
Native Land Act (1913) - blacks only permitted to own/rent land in certain areas (13% of SA land as of 1936)
Native Urban Areas Act (1923): blacks required permits to enter urban areas, failure to find work = required to leave within 14 days, encouraged councils to build separate black hostels (segregation)
Reasons for increased racial tensions (pre-1948)
WW2 led to increased migration of black workers to towns to work in factories, majority of population
They had poor quality housing on edges of towns
Increasing number of strikes
Rise in Afrikaner nationalism (insecurity as a small ‘white tribe’), determined to maintain control
Sauer report (1948) commissioned by NP recommended increased segregation and ‘separate development’ i.e. apartheid
Why did Malan and NP win the 1948 election
79 seats to 74 seats NP victory
Appeal of apartheid policies
Moderation of republican stance for independence from Commonwealth to appeal to British voters
Well-organised campaign (miner unions’ support)
Propaganda (black strikers = communists)
Propaganda against United Party
Dissatisfaction with UP policies:
Decision to enter WW2 (inflation, food shortages)
Weak UP election campaign
Skewed voting system (less votes yet still won)
Population Registration Act
1950: Required all people to be registered and designated into ‘racial’ categories: white, native coloured - fundamental for other laws
Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act
1949: Forbade marriage between ‘races’
Group Areas Act
1950: Gave gov. power to declare ‘whites only’ areas and move blacks out forcibly
Took away right for blacks to own property in some urban areas
Abolition of Passes Act
1952: Replaced original passes with standardised pass books
Illegal for black men and women to not carry a pass
Bantu Authorities Act
1951: Reiterated that blacks could only own land in ‘tribal reserves’, governed by regional chiefs
Separate Amenities Act
1953: Legalised segregation of public premises, facilities etc.
Bantu Education Act
1953: Provided more gov funding for Bantu schools
But only taught practical subjects fitted for black ‘prospects’
!Black education received only 10% the funding of white education)
Suppression of Communism Act
1950: Banned communism and any political group which promoted ‘disturbances/disorder’
loose definition
Grand apartheid
Overall, fundamental limitation on blacks
e.g. restricted rights to land, political limitations
Petty apartheid
Segregation of facilities and socialising according to race
Name 4 key protest groups at this time
ANC (African National Congress)
SACP (South African Communist Party)
SAIC (South African Indian Congress)
FEDSAW (Federation of South African Women)
Nature of protests at this time
Large scale, non-violent civil disobedience
E.g. Not carrying passes/using segregated transport
Groups worked closely together
Multi-racial protests
Aimed for media attention
Defiance Campaign and significance
1952: On 300th anniversary of arrival of Europeans
Symbolic date, first act of large-scale resistance
Mass refusal to obey segregation signs/carry passes/follow curfews, strikes, marches
8000 arrested, overfilling jails
Organised by ANC and SAIC (unified protest)
ANC membership rose from 7000-100000
International criticism against apartheid
But lead to black and white deaths from riots
Freedom Charter and significance
1955: Via congress of 3000 civil rights delegates
Advocated for non-racial society
Widely published, many arrested for treason
“It captured the hopes and dreams of the people and acted as a blueprint” - Mandela
United vision, symbol of hope
Officially adopted by ANC in 1956
Led to Treason Trial
Women’s Pass Protests
1956: Organised by FEDSAW
Women of all races protested against pass laws
But 75% of women were issued passes by 1960
Alexandra Bus Boycott
1957: Supported by ANC ;
Workers walked up to 20km from Alexandra to Johannesburg daily to avoid buses despite police harassment
Some white employers/activists provided carpools
Highlighted exploitation of black workers
One of few successful protests due to economic pressure on bus companies
Beer Hall protests
1950s: Arson attacks on government beer-halls which generated revenue for apartheid state rather while banning home-brewing (income for many women)
Durban - Black women burned them down
Women at forefront (9 police deaths)
Economic boycott, cultural resistance
Response: Treason Trial
1956-61: 156 delegates from Congress of the People including Mandela/Sisulu trialed for treason
Many found not guilty, but key leaders out of action for 5 years, weakened apartheid resistance
Other responses by National Party
1955, 1956 Censorship Acts (books)
1956 Riotous Assemblies Act (hostility between races)
Banning of few coloured people who were able to vote in Cape Province
Created 6 more parliamentary seats in SW Africa, more support from white residents
NP grew in support, majority of >50 seats
Effects of opposition/resistance to apartheid (1948-54)
Raised global awareness of the injustices of apartheid and the extent of opposition towards policies
Increased government repression against protests
