Why did the national party win the election in 1948 Flashcards
Three main reasons
Malan taking advantage of general white fear of black people
Impact of WW2
Growth of Afrikaner nationalism and politics after 1910
what is nationalism
Believing that your nation is the best
What is Swart gevaar
White peoples fear of black people
Impact of WW2 causing national party to win
Economy was reliant on black people during the war and when they realised this many went on strikes for better pay. in 1946, 70,000 African mine workers struck for higher wages
There were also protests about the pass system
Causes of WW2 and the fear od black people
- Smuts tried to support the industry during WW2 so relaxed many rules such as the Pass laws and improved Black peoples education. Also talk of equal health care for everyone. This was threatening to many insecure white people
-More workers were needed in WW2 when the white men were at war. More black workers were given jobs in factories. When whites returned they found people in the jobs they regarded as theirs. Whites resented the flood of black people to the cities. Farmers wanted them as cheap work
Causes of WW2 and Growth of nationalism
WW2 was unpopular with the afrikaners. Germans supported the boers during the Boer war. The leader of nationalist party resigned from the coalition in 1939
Mass anti war movement was started. Ossewabrandwag (Ox Wagon Guard) launched by afrikaners and collected 300,000 members. Launched terrorist attacks on the South African army
Causes of white fear of black
Segregation on ethnicity was common in many countries at the time and continued in some countries after the war including America
causes of Swart Gevaar and growth of nationalism
- Broederbond (a secret organisation) promoted that Afrikaners were ‘volk’ - A different kind of people to other south africans-Supported by the dutch Calvinist churches
Stirred fear into mixed relationships harnessed racism and Swart gevaar
-Nationalist party appealed to poor white people. promoted black threat for white workers, jobs, houses and law and order. Shocked at black strikes and how jan smuts couldnt keep the black man “in his place”
-Appealed to rich whites. Promised blacks to be moved to reserves Called it a fixed policy to maintain white supremacy in South Africa and keep white race pure. Malan Promised factory owners Apartheid with Balck workers allowed to work but under strict controls and to only leave the reservations temporarily. Farmers promised a supply of cheap black labour.
