Topic 1 EQ2: Why was the National Party victorious in 1948? Flashcards
1948 election:
In 1938, what two parties was the Afrikaner vote equally split between?
United Party (Smuts and Hertzog) National Party (Malan)
1948 election:
In 1939, who resigned from what party? And why?
Hertzog resigned from United Party, leaving Smuts in control
because parliament had voted to support British war effort
1948 election:
What percent did each party get?
National Party (Malan): 38% United Party (Smuts): 49%
1948 election:
If NP won a smaller percentage of votes, how did they win overall?
- the Westminster constituency system have Malan his opportunity
- Smuts - won big majorities in English-speaking urban seats
Malan - won small majorities in rural constituencies - combining with the small Afrikaner Party, Malan secured narrow victory
1948 election:
Why was Smuts seen as a ‘black sympathiser’?
- Smuts played major role in formation of UN
- flirted with more liberal policies
- accused of failing to control the political dangers of oorstrooming and fear of swart gevaar
1948 election:
What is oorstrooming?
flooding of African people to cities where they compete for white jobs
1948 election:
What is swart gevaar?
Afrikaner nationalists harness everyday racism into promoting fear of ‘black danger’
What are the reasons the National Party secured their majority?
INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
RISE OF AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
NP POLICIES
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
Name 3 groups that encouraged Afrikaner nationalism somehow.
- Broderbond
- Ossewabrandwag
- Calvinist Dutch Reformed Church (black and white played a different role in God’s plan)
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
Name a few reasons why Afrikaners began to vote for Hertzog/National Party.
- represented Afrikaners from poorer areas of the country
- NP stressed importance and richness of the Afrikaans language
- many Afrikaners viewed Smuts as overly pro-British
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
How did Hitler’s ideals affect Afrikaner nationalism?
it influenced the Purified National Party formed by D.F. Malan with support of Broederbond
They believed that Afrikaner was in danger of being:
- politically undermined by English
- economically threatened by Indians/Jews
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
When did nationalism really gather speed? What specifically heightened nationalism?
1939
when idea of Afrikaners as a volk (‘people’)
with distinct separate identity
gained increasing political currency
the Sauer Report 1947
Which advertised the sysetem of segregation
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
Give a fact that shows how rapidly Afrikaner nationalism had grown.
by 1947, Afrikaner influence within society (and political potential) was so great that it was sufficient to provide a formidable base upon which to contest the election
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What was the Broederbond?
exclusive Afrikaner organisation (brotherhood)
bring people together and protect Afrikaner culture
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What ideology did the Broederbond follow?
a Christian, nationalist, republican outlook.
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What did the Broederbond establish?
an Economic Movement to promote Afrikaner business
nationalist interests were advanced on this
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What did the Broederbond eventually become?
a secret society whose membership and actions were not disclosed to English speaking whites
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What did the Broederbond hold in 1938?
Great Trek Centenary
to celebrate and promote nationalism
stressed heroic struggles of Boer voortrekkers fleeing British opposition
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What was the Ossewabrandwag?
mass anti-war movement launched by Afrikaners
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What was the Ossewabrandwag modelled on?
Hitler’s socialist movement
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
How many members did the Ossewabrandwag have at its peak?
300,000 (1939)
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - AFRIKANER NATIONALISM
What did the Ossewabrandwag do?
uniformed militias staged mass rallies
formed shooting associations
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
What other countries suffered with segregationalist policies? How did this make South Africa look in comparison? Was there any international pressure?
USA with their ‘Jim Crow’’ laws
SA’s early legislation was harsh but not so fundamentally different than elsewhere
Yes, major powers increasingly articulated a concern for universal human rights
war against fascism and Holocaust’s legacy underpinned slowly growing consensus that all people had a right to self-determination and basic human rights
WHY NP WAS VICTORIOUS - INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
What was SA’s stance in WW2?
no fighting in SA
Jan Smuts (PM) declared support for Britain
300,000 SA fought
Black Africans who joined were not allowed to carry weapons (worked as labourers)
