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Southern Africa. Most of Southern Africa sits on one large plateau. The rivers are important for their irrigation purpose, but waterfalls block the passage of ships. The driest place in the region is that Namib Desert. Colonization. Portugal was the first to start colonizing Southern Africa.
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Most of Southern Africa sits on one large plateau. • The rivers are important for their irrigation purpose, but waterfalls block the passage of ships. • The driest place in the region is that Namib Desert.
Colonization • Portugal was the first to start colonizing Southern Africa. • The Dutch set up the first permanent settlements. • Great Britain was the last European power to control Southern Africa.
Religion • Most of Southern Africa practices Christianity.
South Africa • South Africa is a country blessed with an abundance of natural resources including fertile farmlands and unique mineral resources. • Mines are world leaders in the production of diamonds and gold as well as strategic metals such as platinum. • The climate is mild. (Mediterranean)
Discrimination • Apartheid is a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race. • National Party invented apartheid in 1948 as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system. • Initially, aim of the apartheid was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation.
Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of ``white-only'' jobs. • South Africans were racially classified into one of three categories: white, black (African), or colored (of mixed decent). • All blacks were required to carry ``pass books'' containing fingerprints, photo, and information on access to non-black areas.
Homelands were created, denationalizing nine million South Africans, and prevented them from voting in elections. • The penalties for blacks breaking rules included fines, imprisonment, and whippings. • The penalties imposed on political protest, even non-violent protest, were severe with death sentences, banishment, or imprisoned for life, like Nelson Mandela.
End of Apartheid • With sanctions from the U.N. in the 80’s South Africa started to feel pressure to change their laws. • Armies embargo • Foreign companies began to disinvest • Oil shipments were limited • Non-violent protest start to become more common. • In 1991, the government repealed apartheid laws. • The first non-racial democratic election, which was held on April 27, 1994.
First President • Nelson Mandela was the first democratically elected president for South Africa. • Term was 1994-1999 • Served 27 years in prison for leading protest against apartheid. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2hIg_itzHw
Critical Thinking • For more than 40 years, South Africa’s white minority government oppressed the country’s black majority in a system of racial segregation known as apartheid. • 1. How do you think a minority group—the descendants of white European settlers—came to assume such a dominant role in South Africa? • 2. Although apartheid was not formally instituted until 1948, many historians argue that the system began much earlier. Why? • 3. What political, social, and economic factors led to the demise of apartheid?
Venn Diagram • Make a venn diagram that compares the experiences of black South Africans living under apartheid and American blacks before and during the civil rights movement. How were their struggles similar and what made them different?
