Reasons for the Increased Opposition To Apartheid After 1945.
The influence of the 2nd World War. During this war, a number of South Africans served in East Africa, the Horn of Africa and other areas.
The impact of the 5th Pan African Congress also explains the increased opposition to apartheid . Amongst South Africans who attended was Peter Abrahams. At the Congress, colonial oppression and exploitation were condemned.
The 1941 Atlantic Charter influenced the freedom fighters in South Africa. It called upon colonial masters all over the world to grant freedoms to all the colonised peoples.
The Asian influence. Among the discriminated class in South Africa were the Asians. They reacted by forming the Natal Indian Congress, which later became the South African India Congress.
Pressure from the educated youths. These formed the Youths League, which was composed of teachers, doctors, Lawyers and Clergymen. They argued that the future of South Africa lay in the hands of blacks.
The failure of diplomacy. At first, nationalists applied diplomacy and peaceful methods but when these failed, they turned to violence, which increased the pressur gainst apartheid.
Unfulfilled promises. The ex-service men demanded for the scrapping off of the apartheid laws as had been promised before the war.
The formation of trade unions. The world war left the economy of South Africa devastated. After the war, the whites embarked on a quick economic recovery programme and in the process exploited and oppressed African labour.
The role of the UNO which called for an end to oppressive apartheid laws and even approved Dr Xuma's "African claims and Bill of Rights" of 1946.
The wave of nationalism sweeping across Africa made the fighters against apartheid to increase their activities.
The December 1958 Accra conference also led to increased opposition against apartheid. The South African representatives such as Robert Sobukwe came into contact with other nationalists and exchanged views on how best the white man could be chased out of Africa.
The defeat of SADF by Angola- South African Defence Forces gave military assistance to the UNITA rebels who were disorganizing Angola.
The excessive use of force to suppress peaceful African demonstrations e.g the 1960 Sharpeville Massacres led to increased opposition to apartheid.
The formation of the OAU in 1963 led to increased opposition against apartheid.
The impact of the 5th Pan African Congress also explains the increased opposition to apartheid . Amongst South Africans who attended was Peter Abrahams. At the Congress, colonial oppression and exploitation were condemned.
The 1941 Atlantic Charter influenced the freedom fighters in South Africa. It called upon colonial masters all over the world to grant freedoms to all the colonised peoples.
The Asian influence. Among the discriminated class in South Africa were the Asians. They reacted by forming the Natal Indian Congress, which later became the South African India Congress.
Pressure from the educated youths. These formed the Youths League, which was composed of teachers, doctors, Lawyers and Clergymen. They argued that the future of South Africa lay in the hands of blacks.
The failure of diplomacy. At first, nationalists applied diplomacy and peaceful methods but when these failed, they turned to violence, which increased the pressur gainst apartheid.
Unfulfilled promises. The ex-service men demanded for the scrapping off of the apartheid laws as had been promised before the war.
The formation of trade unions. The world war left the economy of South Africa devastated. After the war, the whites embarked on a quick economic recovery programme and in the process exploited and oppressed African labour.
The role of the UNO which called for an end to oppressive apartheid laws and even approved Dr Xuma's "African claims and Bill of Rights" of 1946.
The wave of nationalism sweeping across Africa made the fighters against apartheid to increase their activities.
The December 1958 Accra conference also led to increased opposition against apartheid. The South African representatives such as Robert Sobukwe came into contact with other nationalists and exchanged views on how best the white man could be chased out of Africa.
The defeat of SADF by Angola- South African Defence Forces gave military assistance to the UNITA rebels who were disorganizing Angola.
The excessive use of force to suppress peaceful African demonstrations e.g the 1960 Sharpeville Massacres led to increased opposition to apartheid.
The formation of the OAU in 1963 led to increased opposition against apartheid.
National Movements and New States in Africa