Apartheid and Nelson Mandela
South Africa's system of racial segregation ended in 1994.
About this topic
Apartheid, meaning apartness in Afrikaans, was South Africa's system of legal racial segregation and white minority rule, formally introduced in 1948 by the National Party government. People were classified as white, Black, coloured or Indian. Laws banned mixed marriages, set up segregated schools and neighbourhoods, forced millions of Black people into poor homelands, and required pass books to move around. Black South Africans, most of the population, could not vote.
Resistance grew through the African National Congress (ANC). In 1960 police killed 69 protesters at Sharpeville, and the ANC was banned. Nelson Mandela, a lawyer, co-founded its armed wing and was sentenced to life in 1964, spending 27 years in prison, mostly on Robben Island. Steve Biko's Black Consciousness movement and the 1976 Soweto student uprising kept pressure on, while international sanctions and boycotts isolated the country.
Under President F. W. de Klerk, the ban on the ANC was lifted and Mandela was released in 1990. In 1994 South Africa held its first multiracial elections, and Mandela became president. He stressed reconciliation, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, let people confess crimes. Example: Mandela wore a Springbok rugby shirt in 1995 to unite the country. Misconception: ending apartheid did not instantly end economic inequality, which remains a challenge.
Key ideas
- Apartheid began 1948
- Mandela jailed 27 years
- First free elections 1994
Quick check
Use cases: where Apartheid and Nelson Mandela helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Apartheid and Nelson Mandela before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Apartheid and Nelson Mandela without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Apartheid and Nelson Mandela changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Apartheid and Nelson Mandela in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Apartheid and Nelson Mandela?
South Africa's system of racial segregation ended in 1994.
What will I learn in Apartheid and Nelson Mandela?
Apartheid began 1948. Mandela jailed 27 years. First free elections 1994.
Is Apartheid and Nelson Mandela part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Apartheid and Nelson Mandela lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Apartheid and Nelson Mandela?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.