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Journey from Apartheid to Freedom
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African National Congress
The African National Congress was a political party in South Africa that began in 1912 but did not come into power until 1994. The ANC fought against the apartheid policy of racism and discrimination, They became the official political party in the first democratic election in 1994 when Nelson Mendela became the 1st black president of South Africa. -
National Party
The National Party was a political party in South Africa that was against racial equality during the rule of apartheid from 1948-1994. The National Party began in 1914 and had power until 1994 when the ANC won in the country's 1st Democratic election. This party strongly supported the policy of apartheid. -
Early Years of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela had a very supportive, loving childhood. He was born into royalty and was well educated growing up. However, when his dad died when he was 9, Nelson dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of all human beings. He earned a great education at many different colleges and eventually specialized in law. He was a huge contributor to the African National Congress, having many important roles in the fight against apartheid. -
Bantu Authorities Act
The Bantu Authorities Act was a part of the apartheid policy in South Africa. It forced 70% of the population (all non-white) onto just 13% of the land. Non-whites were not allowed to purchase land on their own. When they were moved onto these "homelands," they lost all rights as South African citizens. -
General History of Apartheid
Apartheid started in 1948 when 2 of the National Party's leaders, Malan and Voerwoerd, believed in white supremacy even though the main race in South Africa was blacks. As part of their plan, they enforced 317 laws by the end of 1991. There were also many anti apartheid leaders such as F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. The opposition finally overthrew Apartheid in the country's 1st democratic election in 1994
when Mandela of the ANC won the election! -
The Defiance Campaign
The Defiance Campaign was the first large-scale, multi-racial political mobilization against apartheid laws by the non-whites of South Africa. More than 8,000 volunteers went to jail for “defying unjust laws.” Volunteers were jailed for not carrying passes, violating the curfew, and entering locations and public facilities designated for the whites only. Although the Defiance Campaign did not achieve its goal of racial
equality, it showed the strength of the growing opposition to apartheid. -
Bantu Education Act of 1953
The Bantu Education Act of 1953 made schooling for non-whites very low quality. Students were only allowed to learn skills needed for physical labor. Many non-white schools did not have necesities such as electricity, running water, and qualified teachers. This infuriated many non-white families. All in all, this act was one of the most racist laws passed in South African Apartheid and led to the Soweto Uprising. -
The Freedom Charter
The Freedom Charter was a document written by the non-whites stating what they wanted for their rights at Kliptown, Soweto, in June 1955. The African National Congress had about 50,000 trained volunteers to go to non-whites and get freedom demands. Some of the demands included a demand for a multi-racial, democratically elected government, equal opportunities, and a redistribution of land. This document was finalized in 1955 and led to the eventual end of apartheid in South Africa. -
Prime Minister Verwoerd
Hendrik Verwoerd was born on the 8th of September. He was the prime minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966. Hendrik was the founding father of Apartheid, and he strongly believed that non-whites were incapable and unqualified to receive equal rights. He did not believe in racial mixing and believed in the separation of the races. He was assassinated by a member of the opposition in Cape Town at the House of Assembly on September 6th 1966. He will be forever known as the Father of Apartheid. -
The Rivonia Trial
The Rivonia Trial was an important turning point in South Africa’s fight against apartheid. It lasted from Nov. 29, 1963 to Jun. 12, 1964. Ten to nineteen leaders of the ANC were arrested with 221 acts of sabotage. The real purpose of their arrest was the desire on the part of the National Party to stop the growing opposition to apartheid. Eight of the leaders, including Mandela, were sentenced to life in prison. This event helped inspire other countries to join the fight against apartheid. -
F.W. de Klerk
F.W. de Klerk began his time in office serving in the parliment in South Africa. Many years later, in 1992, he became president of South Africa. During de Klerk's presidency, he worked to end the apartheid.He also freed Nelson Mandela from prision, and they worked to end the apartheid. In 1994 Mandela won the election, and then later they won the Nobel Peace Prize for their part in ending apartheid. -
Soweto Uprising
The Soweto Uprising was a student led rebellion against the Bantu Education Act which forced students to learn in a different language called Akrikaan and limited the subjects they could study. Over ten thousand students led a peaceful protest on June 16, 1976. The protest soon became violent when the police began to fight them, and many students were killed. The activism of the young African students soon led a liberation movement throughout Africa that soon led to the
demise of the Aparthied -
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was an amazing person. He stood up for civil rights for all human beings especially the non whites of South Africa, his homeland. He was an Archbishop of Capetown, the first black Anglican archbishop in Africa. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work for human rights around the world. He is an inspiring role model to people everywhere. -
Nelson Mandela's Achievements
Nelson Mandela received many awards including being the first black president of South Africa, The Arthur Ashe Courage Award presented by Venus and Serena Williams, The International Ghandi Peace prize, and The Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for successfully terminating apartheid alongside former president of South Africa, F.W. de Klerk. He has accomplished bringing democracy and equality to South Africa. He has now dedicated his later years to humanitarian work throughout the world. He also has star -
Nelson Mandel:Imprisonment-Presidency
Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial for trying to overthrow the Apartheid government with his fellow ANC members. He was continually moved to different prisons because he was influencing opposition in the fellow prisoners. De Klerk, president of South Africa at the time, ended Aparthied and released Mandela from prison in 1990.Mandela was elected president of the ANC. Eventually, he became president of South Africa in the 1st democratic election in 1994. -
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma has been through many rough spots that have made many question him such as, his rape charges, racketeering, and controversial corruption finance charges. However, he has helped rebuild what Aparthied had destroyed. Zuma started in politics very young and served his entire adult life in the ANC organization. The ANC has helped get him where he his today, and he is dedicated to making South Africa a leader in the world.
