Timeline: Apartheid Laws Timeline

1800

Pass Laws

These were laws that required all blacks to carry a book that had everything that the police would ever need if they were to need it. It had things from race, to past crimes, to work and marital status. These books ended up being 96 pages, so anything wrong with them could get the pass-holder thrown in jail.

1856

Masters and Servants Acts

These acts were supposed to apply to all races, but after they were put into practice they only applied to unskilled workers by word of the courts. These acts said that it was illegal for people to be unemployed. It also said that it is against the law to go on strike, to be drunk, and many things like this that mainly targeted black people. These acts were the first group of laws in Apartheid.

1913

Black Land Act Number 27

This act said that Blacks could only rent/own land inside of certain tribal reserves, which were very plentiful (just kidding, they only made up about 7% of the country).

1927

Immorality Act Number 5

This act said that any intercourse between whites and blacks was prohibited. This was a change, because before this only marriage between whites and blacks was prohibited. This act was also extended 23 years later to include colored people.

1936

Development Trust and Land Act Number 18

This act was good for the blacks as it expanded the amount of land that blacks could live in from 7%-13.6% of the land in South Africa. “Black Spots” (areas where the blacks lived surrounded by areas where the whites lived) were also eliminated.

1936

Representation of Blacks Act Number 12:

This act gave blacks a separate ballot than the whites. It also placed four white senators to govern the blacks. The blacks do not even get to be represented by people of their own color

1950

Population Registration Act Number 30

This act required that people be classified as one of four races from birth.

1950

Group Areas Act Number 41

This act requires that areas be designated for certain racial groups and that only these racial groups live in these areas.

1953

Black Education Act Number 47

This act formed segregated groups, so that blacks would be able to receive some sort of education, even though it would be much less than the white and colored people’s education.