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SA: Apartheid Introduced
The apartheid was the start of many years of discrimination against black South Africans. Apartheid resulted in the gradual stripping of rights from non-white South Africans. This included the segregation between races which prevented non-whites from gaining power. -
SA: Population Registration Act
This act required that each inhabitant of South Africa be classified and registered in accordance with his or her racial characteristics as part of the system of apartheid. -
SA: Pass Laws Act
Non-whites were required to have their passbooks at all time, being caught without one could lead to imprisonment. -
US: Little Rock Nine
Little Rock Nine was a group of nine students who attended Central High school in Little Rock; Arkansas, a formerly white school. This drew attention to the civil rights movement with President Eisenhower sending federal troops to escort the students to school. . -
US: Montgomery Bus Boycott
Brought about by the arrest of Rosa Parks for not giving her seat up to a white man; the Montgomery Bus Boycott which protested segregated seating is seen as the first civil rights mass protest. This was achieved with African Americans refusing to ride buses which eventually took a toll on the system as African Americans represented at least 75% of the bus ridership. This boycott resulted in the Montgomery busses becoming integrated as racially segregated seating violated the 14th Amendment. -
SA:The Sharpeville Massacre
After a day of demonstrations against pass laws, a crowd of about 7,000 protesters went to the police station. The South African Police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people and injuring 180 others. -
US: Freedom Rides
In order to protest against segregated bus terminals groups of "freedom riders" took bus trips through the American South and used whites-only restrooms, lunch counters and waiting rooms. Though, the activists experienced a lot of violence from white protesters and police officers which drew international attention. The rides continued for several months until the interstate Commerce Commission prohibited segregation in interstate transit terminals. -
AUS: Indigenous Australians ere able to vote in an election for the first time.
The 1962 Commonwealth Electoral Act gave Aboriginal and Torres Stari Islander people the right to enrol and vote in federal elections. This then lead to Western Australia and the Northern Territory granting Aboriginal people the right to vote soon after the election. -
US: The March On Washington
The aim of the March on Washington was to bring awareness to the plight of African Americans. It involved around 250,000 people gathering in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Wahington DC. Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech was also presented last at the movement, this speech drew a lot more supporters to the cause. -
US: Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act seen as one of the greatest achievements of the civil rights movement banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex or national origin and segregation in public places. -
AUS: Indigenous Freedom Rides, inspired by the US freedom riders.
In order to bring awareness to the poor living conditions of Indigenous people; a group of University of Sydney students lead by Charlie Perkins went on a 15-day bus journey; inspired by the US freedom rights, through regional NSW. They criticised laws including those that banned Indigenous children from pools. Their movement brought national attention to the issue and strengthened the support of campaigns that aimed to bring equality for Indigenous people. -
US: Voting Rights Act
Signed into law by President Lyndon B Johnson, the Voting Act worked to overcome legal barriers which took away rights from African Americans guaranteed under the 15th Amendment. The act was signed into law with prominent civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr present at the ceremony. -
AUS: The Wave Hill walk off
The Wave Hill Walk Off was lead by Vincent Lingiari and included 200 Indigenous stockmen. It was a protest against the work and pay conditions. The walk-off lasted 9 years, those years were used bt Liniagri to lobby politicians and gain support. In 1975 Prime Minister Gough Whitlam handed back the land to the Gurindji people symbolised with him returning Australian soil to Indigenous hands. -
AUS: Referendum for Indigenous Rights.
The 1967 referendum resulted in a majority;90%, of Australians, voting to amend two sections of the constitution in order to make laws for the Aboriginal people and to also include them in the census, Previously, Indigenous rights changed depending on the state; many believed that giving federal parliament power to legislate for Indigenous people would lead to better conditions for Indigenous people. -
AUS: Aboriginal tent embassy established.
The Tent Embassy is a powerful symbol for Indigenous rights, It was created by Indigenous activists; Billy Craigie, Tony Coorey, Michael Anderson and Bert Williams and set up in front of Parimanet House to protest against the government's failure to recognise Indigenous land rights. -
SA: Soweto Uprising
The Soweto Uprising was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black schoolchildren in South Africa that began on the morning of 16 June 1976. They protested the introduction of mandatory Afrikaans-language instruction in their township schools. A photo taken by Sam Nzima depicted a high school student carrying a lifeless boy, running with his sister. This was spread internationally and raised awareness on the apartheid. -
AUS: Mabo Decision
The Mabo Decision named after Eddie Mabo was a major legal case which eventually recognised the land rights of the Meriam people. This subverted the myth that Australia was "terra nullus" at the time of colonisation. The case challenged the assumption that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had no concept on land ownership before colonisation and that the rights that existed previously to colonisation were abolished when the land was given to the Crown. -
SA: The End of Apartheid
White South Africans voted to end the apartheid in a referendum. This was brought about by decades of protests and negotiations which included recently freed Nelson Mandela who was gaining popularity. Newly elected President; F.W de Klerk wanted an end to the apartheid. In 1994; Nelson Mandela was elected President in the first multiracial election.
