Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Apartheid
Mrs. Tinkey
World Geography
2012-2013
Background Info
Apartheid
*Literally means "separateness"
*Began when the "Afrikaner National Party" won the
election of 1948.
*The goal was to separate South Africa's white minority
from the non-white majority as well as separate black South
Africans along tribal lines.
-Why would those in power want to do this?
Apartheid (cont)
*The government banned inter-racial marriages.
*Classification of South Africans by race began.
-Bantu (black Africans)
-Coloured (mixed race)
-White
-Asian (Indian and Pakistani)
*Set aside 80% of the country's land for the white minority.
-Non-whites had to carry documents saying they could travel
in "restricted areas"
Prison Years
*Spent most of his sentence at Robben Island Prison, a former
leper colony off of Cape Town.
*Even in prison, Mandela was considered a symbolic leader of the
anti-apartheid movement, and his arrest caused major outcry
from his followers.
*In 1989, the newly elected president of South Africa fought for a
non-racist South Africa, and by 1990, he demanded Mandela's
release from prison.
-His election also led to the ending of Apartheid.
Elections of 1994
*This election marked the official end of
Apartheid
*This election was also the first multi-racial
election in South Africa's history.
*Overwhelmingly, the people spoke and
elected the ANC as the new political party of
S. Africa, and so, Nelson Mandela was sworn
in as the first black president in S. Africa.
Mandela's Presidency
Actions as President:
-Began a commission to investigate human
rights violations committed during Apartheid.
-Introduced new social and economic
programs to improve the standard of living.
-Created a new constitution, establishing a
strong central government, prohibiting
discrimination.
-Discouraged blacks from retaliation against
whites and instead encouraged peace