Apatheid timeline

Apatheid begins

May 12, 1948

Apartheid begins after the 1948 general election.

African National Congress

Jun 12, 1952

The African National Congress starts the Defiance Campaign. Volunteers begin a peaceful resistance to apartheid by breaking the laws they feel are wrong.

Mandela and Tambo

Dec 12, 1952

Nelson Mandela and Tambo opens the first Black legal firm in South Africa.

Bantu Education Act

Aug 12, 1953

A law is passed that creates a separate education system for blacks and whites.

Nelson Mandela charged

Dec 12, 1956

Nelson Mandela was charge with high treason and found not guilty. Nelson Mandela is arrested with several other people for fighting against apartheid. Mandela is charged with treason, but after a four-year trial he is found not guilty.

Separate homelands

Dec 12, 1959

Separate homelands are created for the major black groups. The government passes new laws to create separate homelands, called Bantustans. The government does this to stop blacks from being citizens of South Africa.

Sharpeville Massacre

Mar 21, 1960

The apartheid requires blacks to carry passbooks, which have personal information such as name, date of birth, and photos. Protestors show up at the Sharpeville police station without their passbooks, a riot starts. Police kill 69 people.

Nelson Mandela Arrested

Aug 5, 1962

Mandela gets arrested for treason. Mandela is arrested for his role in bombing government targets and sentenced to life in prison.

Rhodesia gains independence

Nov 11, 1965

Rhodesia illegally gains independence from Great Britain.

South Africa expelled

Nov 13, 1974

South Africa is expelled from the United Nations and isn't let back in until 1994 when the appatheid is over.

Soweto Massacre

Jun 15, 1976

High school students in Soweto start a protest for better education systems for blacks. Police break up the protest with tear gas and bullets. More than 600 people we're killed.

African National Congress

Feb 2, 1990

President Frederik Willem de Klerk ends the ban on the African National Congress. President Frederick Willem de Klerk ends the ban on the African National Congress in 1990.

Nelson Mandela Free

Feb 11, 1990

Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years of being in jail with the help of President de Klerk.

ANC

Dec 13, 1991

Nelson Mandela becomes president of the ANC.

Nelson Mandela for president

May 10, 1994

The country's first election that allowed both whites and blacks to vote, Nelson Mandela becomes elected president of South Africa. He is the first black president in the history of South Africa. Nelson Mandela finally ends apartheid.