-
First Europeans Settlers
The Dutch East India Company landed the first European settlers on the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 -
Establish Independent Republic
settlers as early as 1795 tried to establish an independent republic. -
Possession over Africa
Britain took permanent possession in 1815 -
Freeing Slaves
Anglicization of government and the freeing of slaves in 1833 drove about 12,000 Afrikaners to make the “great trek” -
Diamonds
The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold nine years later brought an influx of “outlanders” -
War with Boers
war with the Boers broke out on Oct. 11, 1899. -
African National Congress
Organized political activity among Africans started with the establishment of the African National Congress in 1912. -
Removed voters
Black voters were removed from the voter rolls in 1936. -
Charter Member
South Africa became a charter member of the United Nations in 1945, but he refused to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Apartheid—racial separation—dominated domestic politics as the Nationalists gained power and imposed greater restrictions on Bantus (black Africans), Asians, and Coloreds (in South Africa the term meant any nonwhite person) -
Group Areas Act
The Group Areas Acts of 1950 and 1986 forced about 1.5 million Africans to move from cities to rural townships, where they lived in abject poverty under repressive laws. -
Protesters Killed
In 1960, 70 black protesters were killed during a peaceful demonstration in Sharpesville. -
Apartheid
Beginning in the 1960s, international opposition to apartheid intensified. The UN imposed sanctions, and many countries divested their South African holdings. -
Republic
South Africa declared itself a republic in 1961 -
Black Protesters
Black protests against apartheid grew stronger and more violent. In 1976, an uprising in the black township of Soweto spread to other black townships and left 600 dead. -
Freedom Party
The 1994 election, the country's first multiracial one, resulted in a massive victory for Mandela and his ANC. The new government included six ministers from the National Party and three from the Inkatha Freedom Party
