Apartheid was a system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government from 1948 to 1994. It was an oppressive and dehumanizing practice that denied South Africans of color basic human rights and freedoms. The timeline of apartheid traces the history of this system of racial segregation and the gradual movement towards its eventual abolishment.
The timeline of apartheid begins in 1948 with the election of the National Party in South Africa. This party implemented a system of racial segregation and discrimination called apartheid. This system consisted of legally enforced laws and regulations designed to segregate people of color from white South Africans. People of color were denied basic human rights, such as the right to vote and to own property, and were forcibly relocated to designated “homelands”.
During the 1950s, the apartheid system was further entrenched as the government passed more laws to limit and control the lives of non-whites. In 1960, the apartheid government declared the Republic of South Africa, which excluded non-white people from citizenship. This led to the formation of the African National Congress (ANC), the main political opposition to the apartheid government.
In the 1970s, the ANC began engaging in civil disobedience to protest the apartheid system. This included
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Timeline Of Apartheid
The timeline of apartheid in South Africa began in 1948 when the National Party won the elections. This led to the formalization of segregation laws that discriminated against non-white South Africans. This included laws that determined where black South Africans could live, work and go to school. In the 1950s, the government passed more laws that further restricted the rights of black people, including the banning of interracial marriages and the creation of the pass laws, which limited where black people could move. Legislation such as the Group Areas Act of 1950 further restricted black people’s movement. This eventually led to the forced removal of black South Africans to segregated townships and Bantustans in the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, a number of other laws were passed that further discriminated against black people, including the Separate Amenities Act of 1953 and the Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act of 1959. The end of apartheid did not come until the early 1990s, when the African National Congress was elected to power in 1994. The new government repealed the segregation laws and began the process of rebuilding the country.
Early History: Pre-Apartheid South African Laws
Apartheid is a period of racial segregation and discrimination that began in South Africa in 1948. Before this time, the country was subject to a range of laws that had been implemented to keep racial groups segregated and to protect the rights of white Africans. These laws, many of which are still in place today, are known as early history pre-apartheid South African laws.
The Natives Land Act of 1913 was one of the earliest of these laws. It divided South Africa’s land into two distinct areas: the ‘native reserves’, where African people were allowed to live, and the ‘white areas’, where white people had exclusive rights to own land. This act was seen as a way to limit the number of African people living in white areas.
The Group Areas Act of 1950 was another law that further segregated South Africa. It established areas in South Africa where people of different racial groups were allowed to live. This Act also restricted the ownership of property in certain areas to members of a single racial group.
The Pass Laws of 1952 were also created to control the movement of African people around South Africa. These laws required African people to carry a ‘pass book’ with them at all times, and to produce this document if they were asked to do so by police or other authorities. If a person was found without a pass book, they could be arrested and fined.
The Bantu Education Act of 1953 was another law that was introduced during this period. It aimed to create a separate education system for African people that was inferior to the education system for white people. This Act had a devastating impact on African people’s education.
These early history pre-apartheid South African laws were a major factor in the creation of a deeply segregated and unequal society in South Africa. Although these laws have been largely abolished since the end of apartheid, they remain an important reminder of the country’s past. They also provide insight into the effects of racism and discrimination on individuals and communities.
1948 – 1994: Establishing and Maintaining Apartheid
The Apartheid system in South Africa was a state-sponsored policy of segregation and discrimination that was implemented in 1948 and began to be dismantled in 1994. It was a system based on racial categories and laws that were enforced in order to keep white South Africans in power. This system of racial segregation caused significant suffering and injustice for people of color and violated basic human rights.
The timeline of Apartheid began in 1948 with the National Party’s election victory, which ushered in a new era of legislation and policies that aimed to segregate and oppress non-white South Africans. By the 1950s, laws were in place to restrict the movement of non-whites, prevent them from living in white areas, and require them to carry a passbook at all times. This period also saw the introduction of the Bantu Education Act, which sought to deprive non-whites of a quality education.
The 1960s saw the continuation of Apartheid legislation and policies, as well as the emergence of resistance movements. In 1960, the African National Congress (ANC) led a campaign of peaceful protest against the Pass Laws, which resulted in the Sharpeville Massacre, in which 69 people were killed by police. This event sparked increased resistance and the formation of militant groups such as Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC.
The 1970s saw the implementation of a series of new policies that further alienated and oppressed non-whites, including the forced removal of people from their homes in mixed-race areas. This period also saw a rise in protests and demonstrations against the Apartheid system, as well as increased international pressure to end the system of racial segregation.
The 1980s saw the implementation of more oppressive measures, including the passing of the State of Emergency Act in 1985. This period was marked by increased civil unrest, as well as international condemnation of the Apartheid system. In 1986, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution that imposed economic sanctions on South Africa in an effort to pressure the government to end the system of racial segregation.
The 1990s saw the beginning of the end of Apartheid, as the ANC, led by Nelson Mandela, came to power. In 1994, the first multi-racial elections were held, and the ANC won a landslide victory. This marked the official end of Apartheid, and the beginning of a new era in South Africa.
The legacy of Apartheid is still felt in South Africa today and its effects are still visible in many areas. Despite the end of Apartheid, the country remains plagued by inequality and discrimination based on race. As such, it is important to remember the history of Apartheid and the suffering it caused, so that we can continue to work towards a more just and equitable future.
1994 – Present: Abolishing Apartheid
The timeline of Apartheid is a long and complicated one, but one that is essential to understanding the history of South Africa. From 1948 to 1994, there was a policy of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa known as Apartheid. This policy divided the nation into two distinct groups; those who were Black and those who were White.
The timeline of Apartheid began in 1948 when the National Party, which represented the interests of the Afrikaner people, won the election and began to implement their policy of racial segregation. This policy was known as Apartheid, and it included a system of legal racial segregation which meant that non-whites were legally denied access to basic rights such as education and employment. The policy also included the forced removal of non-whites from their homes in order to create ‘white-only’ areas.
In the 1960s, international pressure began to increase as the United Nations and other international organizations condemned Apartheid. This pressure led to a number of reforms in the 1970s and 1980s, such as the elimination of some segregation laws and the introduction of black representation in parliament.
However, despite these reforms, Apartheid remained in place until 1991 when a new multiracial government was elected and began to repeal the Apartheid laws. Finally, in 1994, the first democratic election in South Africa was held and the African National Congress (ANC) won the election. The ANC then set about dismantling the Apartheid system and implementing a new Constitution which provided rights to all citizens regardless of race.
In the years since 1994, South Africa has made great strides towards achieving equality and justice for all its citizens. While there are still many challenges that remain, the timeline of Apartheid is a reminder of how far South Africa has come and how much progress has been made in the years since.
Conclusion
The timeline of apartheid in South Africa is a chronological list of important events in the history of apartheid.
1852 – The first Europeans arrive in what is now South Africa.
1877 – The Cape Colony is established and is ruled by the British.
1899 – The Union of South Africa is formed as a result of the British negotiations following the Second Boer War.
1911 – The first Afrikaans-language school is established.
1914 – The Union of South Africa is divided into two countries: the Cape Colony and the Transvaal.
1917 – The South African Native National Congress is founded.
1920 – The Union of South Africa is re-united.
1923 – The Union of South Africa passes the Native Land Act which reserves land for the white population.
1928 – The South African Native National Congress is banned.
1929 – The South African Native National Congress is re-founded as the African National Congress.
1932 – The South African Native National Congress is banned again.
1935 – The South African Native National Congress is banned for a third time.
1936 – The South African Native National Congress is banned for a fourth time.
1948
