South Africa A Brief History of S Africa

South Africa

A Brief History of S. Africa • Zulus controlled S. A. in the beginning. • The Dutch settled S. A. (looking for a rest stop en route to Asia). • Dutch settlers were known as the Boers (farmers) or the Afrikaners (White Africans). • The British wanted S. African land. • The Boers fight many battles with the British. • British won: Boers fled British rule during the Great Trek.

History…Continued • The Boers blamed the British for their problems, tensions led to the Boer War (1899 -1910). • The British win the Boer War and create the Union of S. Africa. • Native Africans (Zulus) are forced from their homeland. They face poor jobs, racism. • The British change the political, social, and economic structure of the people they conquered.

South Africa: Struggle for Democracy • 1950’s-1960’s - African countries were gaining their independence • Negative impacts of colonial rule slowed their progress - made boundaries without considering ethnic/cultural groups - led to many conflicts after colonizers left - unbalanced economies due to cash crops - lacked a skilled/literate work force

Apartheid in S. Africa • South Africa had been racially divided under Dutch & British control • Small white minority ruled a large black majority • 1948 - National party (Afrikaners) instituted the Apartheid policy= complete separation of races. (segregated schools, hospitals & neighborhoods) • African National Congress (ANC) formed to fight for their rights (strikes, boycotts & protests) • 1962 - ANC leader Nelson Mandela was imprisoned 27 yrs. • 1960’s/1970’s many protesters were killed fighting for their rights

A New Constitution • S. Africa was under pressure to change- foreign nations made trade restrictions, banned from Olympic games. • 1990’s- legalized ANC, repealed Apartheid laws. • April 1994 - 1 st universal elections- all races could vote • 1994 - Mandela elected president (63%) • 1996 - democratic constitution- Bill of Rights modeled after the U. S.