The Response to Apartheid - Topic 1.2 Flashcards
Reasons for the National Party victory in 1948
How did Afrikaner nationalism grow prior to 1945?
A society of carefully chosen Afrikaner white men, called the Broederbond, provided ideological direction in favour of a Christian, nationalist, republican outlook. They had initiated an economic movement to promote Afrikaner business so that nationalist interests were advanced on this, as well as political fronts.
The National Party focused on South Africa only while the United Party wanted to push South Africa on the international stage and in the UN. Many Afrikaner nationalists adamantly opposed the decision to go to war in 1939, and some Afrikaners also had fascist sympathies as they were more closely related to the Germans than Brits.
How did WWII impact Afrikaner nationalism?
Many Afrikaner nationalists adamantly opposed the decision to go to war which reflected their unease about the Empire. The Ossewabrandwag (Ox Wagon Guard) was launched and at its peak claimed 300,000 members. The Guard organised mass rallies and formed shooting associations, and critics compared them to the Nazis. Most joined Malan after the war’s end.
How did Afrikaner nationalism grow after WWII?
With Smuts’ United Party victory in WWII and his instrumental role in forming the United Nations, his United Party invited more liberal policies. These policies promoted black people in all types of work and insecure whites in developed areas in the cities could, and were exploited by the National Party to promote the fear of swart gevaar (black danger) and the oorstrooming (flooding) of African people into the cities.
How did the two main parties campaign in 1948?
Smuts, although wanting liberal policies, was not a liberal but a pragmatist. He saw that industry needed more workers and helped black people to facilitate this need. His administration advocated for expansion of the country’s health services along the lines of the NHS.
Malan’s National Party had strong support in rural constituencies but by exploiting the fears of whites in the cities opened another area for support for the Nationalists. They stirred fears of sexual relations between races and accused Smuts and his Party of being sympathetic to black people.
What was the turnout of the 1948 Election?
Voter turnout and result
- Malan won 38% of the vote, winning 70 seats (+9 seats from the Afrikaner Party)
- Smuts won 49% of the vote and 65 seats
Malan formed a coalition government with the Afrikaner Party on 42% of the vote
