SA - The Response to Apartheid c1948-59

What was life like in South Africa in 1948?

Race, Segregation and Discrimination

• South Africans categorised into 4 racial groups - Whites, Africans (Natives), Coloured, and Indians
• Racial discrimination existed before 1948
• Whites had power, although in minority (21% of population) - majority of parliament were white MP's
• Africans not allowed to vote, forced to live in separate areas (Townships)
• 1948 election was decided by white population

Urbanisation, Industrialisation and Townships

• Gold discovered in 1886 - caused people to move to Johannesburg to work (Population increased to 1 million)
• South African industry expanded due to WW2
• Africans lived in countryside, Whites lived in cities/towns
• Even poor whites who lived in the countryside, still had vote and were kept separate from blacks
• Increased population of migrants = formation of townships (Areas outside cities) - poor healthcare and sanitation

Rural Society

• By 1948, land ownership was divided by race and class - whites owned over 80% of land
• Blacks worked on farms with whites but under strict hierachy - whites didn't do manual labour, blacks did

Arfrikaner Culture and Politics

• Boer War (1899-1902) - Britain fought against the two Afrikaner republics to cement control of the region
• Two parties formed - United Party (Smuts) and The National Party (Malan)
• 1920s to 1930s saw an increased pride in Afrikaner culture - creating new communities in towns

The Influence of Britain

• In 1948, SA was part of the British Empire
• Peopleof British descent made up 40% of the white population
• British investors dominated industries and mines
• English was joint official language and brought across sports such as: rugby, football, and cricket

Why was the National Party victorious in 1948?

Growth of Afrikaner Nationalism

• Idea that Afrikaners had a distinct identity spearate from other South Africans - gained significantly popularity
• Broederbond (Society of Afrikaners) provided ideological direction in favour of a Christian, Nationalist, and Republican outlook - Christian view was that it was God's plan for whites and blacks to live separately
• Many opposed SA's decision to join WW2, which led to a mass anti-war movement (Ox Wagon Guard) which had 300,000 members. and after the war most supported the National Party

International Context

• Before WW2, segregation and discrimination were common in other countries - United States 'Jim Crows' laws and still remained racially divided
• After WW2 there was an increasing desire for human rights - caused problems for SA's policies

The 1948 Election/Fear of Black Resistance

• Smuts would make liberal policies if he had too - people accused Smuts of being sympathetic to the blacks
• Whites feared  the flooding of Africans into cities and taking the jobs of whites as well as sexual relations between races
• Due to the 'Westminster Constituency System' - Malan won the election with 39% of the votes even though Smuts got 49% due to Malan gaining the support from the rural areas of SA

How was Apartheid codified and implemented, 1948-59?

Strengthening the National Party

• In 1949, six members of Parliament were added for whites in Namibia where the…