Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa
Background
The Dutch colonized South Africa in the 1700 century. They pushed the native population to the side so the whites could have consolidated powers over the native people.
In 1912, the African National Congress or ANC was created. The ANC became a major force that opposed apartheid in South Africa, where 80% of its population were non-European. ANC did mostly legal tactics of protest and became more militant in the early 1950s and began using nonviolent actions. Nelson Mandela was apart of ANC and he lead protests that would lead him to jail. But in the early 1990s, Mandela became the first African President of South Africa, making the end of apartheid. Millions of people were now able to vote for the first time in their life.
In 1912, the African National Congress or ANC was created. The ANC became a major force that opposed apartheid in South Africa, where 80% of its population were non-European. ANC did mostly legal tactics of protest and became more militant in the early 1950s and began using nonviolent actions. Nelson Mandela was apart of ANC and he lead protests that would lead him to jail. But in the early 1990s, Mandela became the first African President of South Africa, making the end of apartheid. Millions of people were now able to vote for the first time in their life.
South Africa
"Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings." |
The opposition of European settlers delayed decolonization in southern Africa. White settlers tried to defend it's white minority but African-led movements were committed to the nonracial societies and majority rule. African guerrilla movements successfully end Portuguese rule in Angola and Mozambique in the 1960s. The efforts paved way for overthrowing the antidemocratic government in Portugal. Zimbabwe was replaced by the Southern Rhodesia.
South Africa and Namibia were still under European's rule. The large white population achieved independence in 1961 but kept the black and mixed-race majority in in colonial-era subjection. This separated the system and races called apartheid. Dutch and English settlers made up 13% of the population that controlled land, industrial, mining, commercial enterprises, and government. Discrimination and segregation existed amongst the mix people. 74% of the population were subjected to stricter limitations on housing, freedom of movement, and access to jobs and public facilities. The "homelands" were located in the poor regions far from industrial areas. |
Independence
Between 1961 and 1980 most of South Africa gained its independence. In 1960, Nigeria gained independence from United Kingdom. Nelson Mandela was released from jail in 1990, he became the first African President of South Africa. The Abolition of Apartheid Laws paved way for South Africa's transformation. South Africa were now able to have votes with the help of anti-apartheid movements like ANC.
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