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The formation
South Africa was colinized by the English and the Dutch in the seventeenth century. The first permanent settelers in South Africa were the Dutch, who eventually turned their settlement into a colony. The Dutch created a language which was influence by various other groups and called it Afrikaans. They soon began calling themselves the Afrikaners or the Boers. When the British saw the advantages the Dutch had of having a cape colony the British gained power of it over the Dutch in 1806. -
The Boer War
The Boer War started in 1899 and ended in 1902, resulting in the British defeating the Afrikaner's and gaining control over several other colonies. The British put the Afrikaners in a concentration camp, killing about 26,000 of them. -
Formation of Union of South Africa
The british created the South African Act in 1910 which created the Union of South Africa. The four British colonies of South Africa then came together and made up this union. After realizing that these united colonies would run not operate as well withought the help of the Afrikaners the British decided to work out their conflicts and cooperate together as one. -
Native Land Act
Before the law of apartheid was put in in South Africa, several actions and steps became the foundation for setting up apartheid. One of these acts was the Natives Land Act in 1913, which forced 10 percent of blacks to become reserves. This act also banned blacks from owning land outside these reserves. -
South Africa becomes constitutionally independent
In 1934 after the ruling of the Prime ministers Louis Botha and J.B. Hertzog, south Africa becomes constitutionally independent. Using this independence to their advantage, the Union of South Africa pass the Native Representation Act in 1936 which forces the blacks to be only allowed to vote for white parliment members. And while this was happening the Naional Party was growing and becoming very popular. -
Begining of the Apartheid
Hoping to get votes from the white Afrikans, tha National Party promises to make laws specifically restricting black right if they win the general election. In 1948, the National Party wins, dominating the white elections. -
Defiance Campaign
In 1952 the African National Congress starts the Defiance Campaign. Volunteers refused to accept the apartheid by breaking the laws they believed were wrong. Protestors included black people who sat on benches specifically for white people and poeple who were in the city after curfew. -
Bantu Authority Act is passed
A law is passed that creates a seperate education system for blacks and whites. Black poeple are trained and prepaired to be a part of the working class. -
Freedom Charter
The Freedom Charter was the statement of core principles of the South African Congress Alliance. This system was developed to give all South Africans equal rights. -
Nelson Mandela is arrested for treason
Madela who was the leader of the armed wing of the African National Congress got arrested, including over 150 other people, for bombing government targets and is sentenced to life in prison. -
Sharpeville Massacre
Aparatheid requires blacks to carry passbooks, which contain personal information such as a name, birth date, and photos. When protestors showed up at the Sharpeville police station withour their passbooks a riot broke out and the police killed 69 poeple. -
South Africa is expelled from the United Nations
Due to apartheid, South Africa is removed from the United Nations. South Africa is not allowed back into the United Nations until aparthied ends in 1994. -
Soweto Massacre
When the high school students in Soweto start to protest in order to improve education systems for blacks the police break up the protest with tear gas and bullets and in the end are left with killing more that 600 poeple. -
Anti-apartheid activist Steve Bilko is killed
Steve Biko, one of the organizers of the Sweto protest is arrested on August 18, 1977 and dies in police custody on september 12. The cause of his death severe brain damage, most likely from being beaten by the police. -
Nelson Mandela is released from prison
After 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela in released. Mandela thanks President de Klerk for helping set him free, but believes that their is more work to be done to end apartheid. -
Nelson Mandela becomes president of South Africa
In the country's first election that allowed both whites and blacks to vote, Nelson Mandela is elected as the president of South Africa. He is the first black president in the history of South Africa. -
Thabo Mbeki becomes president
Thabo Mbeki is a South African politition who serves nine years as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from June 14 1999 to September 24 2008. During the time Mbeki was in office the economy grew an average rate of 4.5% per year. He also created employment in the middle sectors of the economy, which resulted in a fast-growing black middle class. -
Nelson Mandela's death
On December 5th 2013, Nelson Mandela, the first black president died at the age of 95. The cause of his death was from a prolonged respritory infection.
