The African National Congress
BY: Gopika Dileep
The ANC is formed - 1912
- In 1911 when a man called upon all Africans to forget their differences.
- His name was Pixley ka Isaka Seme.
"We are one people. these divisions, these jealousies, are the cause of all our Conflicts today."
- On January 8th 1912, chiefs, representatives of people`s and church organisations, and other prominent individuals gathered in Bloemfontein and formed the African National Congress (ANC).
- The ANC declared its aim to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms.
During the Formation of the ANC
The ANC was formed at a time when South Africa was changing very fast...
- Diamonds and gold had been discovered in 1867 and 1886.
- Large numbers of people to worked in the mines.
- Laws and taxes were designed to force people to leave their land.
- The most severe law was the 1913 land Act, which prevented africans from buying, renting or using land, except in the reserves.
Racial Inequalities
- The first forms of segregation in South Africa began soon after the creation of the ANC.
- The promise for equality between all Africans did not hold very long.
- During the 1920s government policies became harsher and more racist.
- A color-bar was established to stop blacks from holding semi-skilled jobs in some industries. It also meant that black workers were paid lower wages for unskilled work.
The New NAC
- The ANC was emerged with new life in the 1940s,
- The careful organisation it was in the 1930s it became the mass movement it was in the 1950s.
- Harsh racism Increased attacks on the rights of black people.
ANC Youth League
- In 1944 the ANC Youth League was formed.
- The leaders of the Youth League Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and some others.
- The leaders based their ideas on African nationalism.
- The Youth League aimed to involve the masses of people in militant struggles.They believed Africans would be freed only by their own efforts.
A Mass Movement is Born
- The Defiance Campaign was the beginning of a mass movement of resistance to apartheid.
- Apartheid aimed to separate the different race groups through many different acts set up by their white government.
The Armed Struggle Begins
- The ANC took up arms against the South African Government in 1961.
- The time for peaceful protest had ended.
- Some ANC leaders among them Oliver Tambo and Joe Slovo avoided arrest and left the country.
- Other ANC leaders like Nelson Mandela were arrested (August 5, 1962)
The ANC Banded and Unbanned
- Because of the armed attacks the South African government took drastic measures to make sure the ANC was destroyed.
- The people proclaimed the ANC unbanned, so the mass movement took to the city streets defiantly with the ANC flags and banners.
- In February 1990, the regime was forced to unban the ANC and other organizations.
The New Power
- At the 1991 National Conference of the ANC Nelson Mandela was elected President.
- The ANC won the first election for power with a vast majority. (62.6% of the more than 22 million votes were in favour of the ANC.)
- On the 10th of May 1994 Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the President of South Africa.
- The ANC became the new government power ever since.
Connection to Kaffir Boy
- Towards the end of the book the apartheid is beginning to fall apart and the ANC is coming to power.
- The main character in the book Johanes sides with the ANC because It is fighting for equality for the non white from the all white government.
Bibliography
- "A Brief History of the African National Congress." A Brief History of the African National Congress. AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL LIBERATION MOVEMENT, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. <http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=206>.