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Act of Union
South Africa became a unifed state within the British Empire. -
SANNC Founded
The South African Native National Congress founded after the exclusion of Black South Africans. -
ANCYL Manifesto
The Manifesto urged new militant African leaders to wage a more vigorous campaign against racial discrimination. -
NP wins general election
The National Party of David Malan takes power promising to introduce a policy of apartheid against non-whites. -
ACNYL Programme of Action
The ANC adopts the ANC Youth League's Manifesto, aka the Programme of Action, as the official platform. -
Stock Limitation Act
The number of livestock was limited and stock owners paid a small grazing fee annually. This consisted of restrictions on ploughing, prohibitions on cutting trees and the culling of cattle. -
May Day Strike (SACP)
The police opened fire on ANC, SACP, ACPO protestors, killing 18 and wounding 30. -
National Day of Protest (ANC)
The ANC called for a general strike and a day of mourning in protest at the May Day murders. -
Population Registration Act
Required people to be identified and registered from birth as one of four distinct racial groups. -
Group Areas Act
Divided South Africa in different residential zones in which whites and blacks each resided. -
The Suppression of Communism Act
Banned the South African Communist Party and allowed the government to take action against any group or individual intending to bring about 'any political, industrial, social or economic change in the Union'. -
Supression of Communism Act
Defined communism as any scheme aimed at achieving change. -
Separate Representation of Voters Act
Part of a deliberate process to remove all non-white people from the voters' roll and revoke the Cape Qualified Franchise system. -
The Pass Laws
Required black South Africans to carry a pass book with them at all times. -
Defiance Campaign (ANC)
The largest scale non-violent resistance ever seen in South Africa. -
Public Safety Act
Empowered the government to declare stringent states of emergency and increased penalties for protesting. -
Reservation of Separate Amenities Act
Legalized racial segregation of public premises. -
Bantu Education Act
Enforced racially-separate educational facilities. -
Natives Resettlement Act
It permitted the removal of blacks from any area within and next to the magisterial district of Johannesburg by the South African government. -
Congress of the People
The Congress of the People was held over two days in a field in Kliptown, just outside Johannesburg. Up to 7,000 people attended. -
Freedom Charter Campaign
The Freedom Charter united people of all racial origins in a common struggle to end apartheid. -
Seperate Representation of Voters Act
To enforce racial segregation, and was part of a deliberate process to remove all non-white people from the voters' roll and revoke the Cape Qualified Franchise system. -
The Women's March (FASW)
20,000 ANC women marched to the Prime Minister’s office to deliver a petition calling for the abolition of the pass laws. -
The Treason Trial
The police arrested 156
Congress Alliance leaders and charged them with treason under the Suppression of Communism Act. -
Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) leaves ANC
A group of radicalized activists split away from the ANC to form the PAC. -
Bantu Self-Government/Bantu Authorities Act
Gave authority to Traditional Tribal Leaders within their traditional tribal homelands in South Africa. -
Winds of Change
Prime minister Harold delivered his “Winds of Change” speech that suggested black nationalism was a force that had to be acknowledged. -
Sharpeville Massacre
During a PAC demonstration against pass books in Sharpeville, the police opened fire, killing 69 black protestors. -
Robert Sobukwe arrested
Sobukwe was arrested and jailed until 1969 (he was then released on house arrest and died several years later) -
Resolution 1598
UN Resolution 1598 condemns apartheid. -
South Africa declared republic
South Africa declared itself a republic. Its request to remain a member of the British Commonwealth is rejected by the British government. -
Umkhonto we Sizwe formed
In the ANC, Mandela set up a militant wing called Umkhonto we Sizwe. -
Poqo formed
In the PAC, Leballo set up a militant wing called Poqo (Pure). -
Resolution 1761
UN Resolution 1761 encourages members "separately or collectively, in conformity with the charter" to break trade and diplomatic relations with South Africa. -
The Rivonia Trial
Ten leaders of the African National on gress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system. -
African Resistance Movement (ARM)
A group made up largely by white students who had been part of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS). -
Mandela's "I am Prepared to Die" Speech
Nelson Mandela renounced his chance to be cross-examined in favour of a speech from the dock in which he condemned the court and the laws he was charged with breaking as being illegitimate. -
Bombing of Johannesburg Station
Frederick John Harris, a member of ARM, planted a time bomb in the Johannesburg station.
