Background Notes Ms.

Thomas

Means literally: Apartness Apartheid was a system of racial segregation that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Apartheid was designed to form a legal framework for continued economic and political dominance by people of European descent.

Colonizers:
Afrikaners: White Dutch descendants who settled

in South Africa.

Colonized:
Native Tribes
Zulus Tswana Xhosa

South Africa: formed in 1910

Highly colonized region: WHY?

Native black Africans outnumbered whites Johannesburg, the largest city in SA had dramatic economic growth
Gold mines Agricultural industry Population shifted from rural to city

Though they were outnumbered in population, The Afrikaner Nationalists ruled the country from 1924 to 1939
During their rule, country became racially polarized
Afrikaners used black natives for hard labor

1939- Liberal Party and Jan Hofmeyr took control of the country, hoping to make a more equitable society WWII-SA fought on the side of the allies

Racial Segregation Europeans believing in Social Darwinism & that they are racially superior Colonialism Expanding the nations land & the stealing of natural resources (Diamonds)

Post war greater influx of Africans to the city

Black natives lived in shanty towns with

poor soil White Afrikans possessed all wealth White Afrikaners felt threatened because of crime
Johannesburg was out of control! Promised to restore order, so they were voted back into power

 1948- Afrikaner Nationalists started Apartheid Similar to Jim Crow laws in U.S. EXCEPTApartheid was NATIONWIDE! Legal discrimination on the basis of race Black natives were forced carry identification papers everywhere Papers determined where blacks could go wanted to keep them in only industrial parts for work! Blacks could not organize labor unions or political parties Intense violence and discrimination

Leader of the African National Congress

Lead Anti-Apartheid movement

Imprisoned from 1963-1990 Helped transition S.A. from Apartheid in 1994

Think Martin Luther King Jrbut more violent

On South Africa
Outcast by other countries Dropped from British Commonwealth Sports teams banned in other countries

(Olympics) Sanctions/Embargoes placed on S. Africa

To try to get S. Africa to end Apartheid

1. Internal violence 2. International condemnation (Boycotting) 3. Changing demographics whites

In the early 1980s, the white government began to admit the need for change because of the following 3 reasons:

constituted only 16% of the total population and dropping, in comparison to 20% fifty years earlier.

All South Africans Mandela wins presidency Apartheid ended in schools & other public places Still Resistance by many whites SOME violence from Blacks towards Whites Also: ethnic violence among Blacks still exists

Family Connections Internal Assets (Personal Attributes) Positive External Assets (Environment) Solid Social Supports

What long-standing social issues were caused by the Apartheid?