Apartheid in South Africa

1
Apartheid in South Africa
2
South Africa

• Southern tip of Africa
• Mild climate (very similar to San Francisco)
• Abundance of natural resources, including
  diamonds, platinum and gold

3
The History of South Africa

• Colonized by Dutch and English in 17th Century
• The discovery of diamonds in 1900 resulted in an
  English invasion which sparked the Boer War,
  between English and Dutch
  
• The English won, but granted South Africa
  independence in 1910
  
• South Africa was independent but Dutch and
  English maintained great power
  

4
Apartheid

• Apartheid laws officially enacted in 1948,
  institutionalizing racial discrimination
  
• Everyone was racially classified as white,
  black (African) or colored (non-whites and
  non-blacks)
  
• Classification based on appearance, social
  acceptance and descent
  
• People were often misclassified
• All blacks had to carry pass books with
  fingerprints, photos and information

5
Apartheid

• In 1951, homelands were created
• Independent states to which Africans were
  assigned
  
• Could only vote within the homeland, which really
  meant Africans lost their citizenship in South
  Africa
  
• Africans needed passports to enter areas of South
  Africa outside their homelands
  

6
Penalties

• Starting in the 1950s, greater penalties were
  enacted
  
• Those protesting against apartheid in any way
  could be fined, imprisoned and/or whipped
  
• Penalties on protests, even non-violent, were
  harsh
  
• People could be detained for up to 6 months with
  no hearing
  
• Torture was often used on prisoners
• Thousands died in police custody
• Those who were tried were often sentenced to life
  in prison, banishment or death
  

7
End of Apartheid

• As a result of South Africas apartheid laws,
  many nations imposed sanctions on the country
  
• In 1989, apartheid laws were repealed
• Many political prisoners were released by 1990,
  including Nelson Mandela

8
Nelson Mandela

• A descendent of tribal chieftains
• Joined the African National Congress as a young
  man to fight apartheid
  
• In 1964, sentenced to life in prison, where his
  writing was banned
  
• Served 26 years in prison before being released
• Was elected president of South Africa in 1994,
  one year after winning the Nobel Peace Prize