South Africa
South Africa, alone of all the British colonies did not follow the political course of embracing democracy and freedom. Even though the geographic area called South Africa had a large British presence, the country was required to follow legislation given in the agreement of the surrender in 1806 from the Dutch. Those terms meant that the country was allowed to diverge from English law and replace it with South African law. The country at that time was not plagued with inequality, layers of a class system, prejudice or discrimination and the building of a new society was the idea on everyone’s minds. This ideal was not to be attained.
In 1948 the National Party, led the first campaign that was openly racist. The National Party won 80 seats (mainly from Afrikaner voters), compared to the United Party’s 64 seats. Following the elections, legal or enforced apartheid or racial segregation officially began in 1948. It was not a new idea, but had been prevalent under the Dutch in colonial times. Legislation followed which separated the population into four racial groups (eventually changing in 1950 to three) with different rules for each. Suddenly racial discrimination was institutionalized (The History of Apartheid in South Africa, 1978). Residential areas, education, medical care, and other public services were separated. It is sad to say that the services were widely disparate in comparison to the services to white people which were vastly superior to the services to the non-white population. There were white only jobs and marriage between non-whites and whites was illegal. Non-compliance with the race laws were dealt with severely. All blacks were required to carry ``pass books'' containing fingerprints, photo and information when in non-black areas.
In 1970 all non-white political representation was abolished and ten tribally based, self-governing “homelands” (Bantustans) were established, effectively denationalizing nine million South Africans. South Africa
In 1948 the National Party, led the first campaign that was openly racist. The National Party won 80 seats (mainly from Afrikaner voters), compared to the United Party’s 64 seats. Following the elections, legal or enforced apartheid or racial segregation officially began in 1948. It was not a new idea, but had been prevalent under the Dutch in colonial times. Legislation followed which separated the population into four racial groups (eventually changing in 1950 to three) with different rules for each. Suddenly racial discrimination was institutionalized (The History of Apartheid in South Africa, 1978). Residential areas, education, medical care, and other public services were separated. It is sad to say that the services were widely disparate in comparison to the services to white people which were vastly superior to the services to the non-white population. There were white only jobs and marriage between non-whites and whites was illegal. Non-compliance with the race laws were dealt with severely. All blacks were required to carry ``pass books'' containing fingerprints, photo and information when in non-black areas.
In 1970 all non-white political representation was abolished and ten tribally based, self-governing “homelands” (Bantustans) were established, effectively denationalizing nine million South Africans. South Africa