Early Apartheid: 1948-1970 | Facing History & Ourselves
A group of women hold signs in demonstration against the pass laws in Cape Town on August 9, 1956, the same day as the massive women’s protest in Pretoria.
Chapter

Early Apartheid: 1948-1970

Learn about the early development of apartheid as the white South African government formed a legal system of racial hierarchy and non-white South Africans resisted these laws.

Published:

At a Glance

Chapter

Language

English — US

Subject

  • History
  • Social Studies

Grade

9–12
  • Democracy & Civic Engagement

Overview

About this Chapter

In the 1940s, the South African government formally established apartheid (“apartness”) as a legal system to divide racial groups into a social hierarchy. This chapter examines apartheid’s restrictive policies, its fervent white supporters, and its determined non-white opponents.

  • How did the white minority use apartheid to promote and protect its political, social, and economic power?
  • What were the ideas, tactics, and strategies used by those who resisted apartheid?
  • How did the implementation of apartheid change life for the South African people, and how did they respond?

This chapter is from the Early Apartheid: 1948-1970 section of Confronting Apartheid and includes:

  • 6 readings 
  • Connection Questions

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