Apartheid in South Africa
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s, which Nelson Mandela and many others opposed.
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Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s, which Nelson Mandela and many others opposed.
- Races were separated by law
- Mandela was jailed for 27 years
- Free elections were held in 1994
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Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Apartheid in South Africa?
Within History, which covers ancient civilisations, empires, revolutions, world wars and the making of the modern world, this topic explains Apartheid in South Africa. History topics connect events, people and ideas across time, so each one here gives a clear summary and a way to test your understanding.
Check that you can explain Apartheid in South Africa in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Apartheid in South Africa helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
Apartheid in South Africa in detail
Apartheid, meaning "apartness", was the system of legal racial segregation introduced in South Africa by the National Party government in 1948. People were classified by race, and the Black majority, Coloured and Indian people were denied equal rights, forced to live in separate areas, carry passes and use separate facilities, while the white minority held power.
Resistance included the African National Congress (ANC), the Defiance Campaign, the Sharpeville massacre (1960) and the Soweto uprising (1976). Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. International sanctions and boycotts and internal protests forced change. Mandela was released in 1990, and in 1994 he became president in the first fully democratic elections.
How the interactive helps you understand Apartheid in South Africa
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Real-life uses and examples
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Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating one source as the whole story when you study Apartheid in South Africa.
- Describing events without explaining why they happened.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Apartheid in South Africa
What is Apartheid in South Africa?
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s, which Nelson Mandela and many others opposed.
What are the most important points about Apartheid in South Africa?
The main points are: Races were separated by law; Mandela was jailed for 27 years; Free elections were held in 1994.
Why is Apartheid in South Africa useful?
Understanding Apartheid in South Africa helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
How can I practise Apartheid in South Africa?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Apartheid in South Africa?
Related topics in History include The United Nations, Migration in History, Crime and Punishment Through Time.