The Rise of Apartheid: From Union to 1948
The Story of South Africa: Empire, Apartheid, and Transformation — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed, uniting former British colonies and Boer republics under a single white-dominated government. But this union set the stage for decades of racial oppression. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the early seeds of apartheid before it became official policy in 1948. They discuss the Natives Land Act of 1913, which stripped black South Africans of land ownership; the role of figures like Jan Smuts and J.B.M. Hertzog; the formation of the African National Congress in 1912; and the brutal 1922 Rand Rebellion, where white miners fought to maintain segregation. They also touch on the 1936 Representation of Natives Act, which removed black voters from the common roll. Throughout, Lucas connects these policies to the broader context of British imperialism, Afrikaner nationalism, and the resistance of black South Africans. Special attention is given to the 1946 African Mine Workers' Strike and the growing militancy that would shape the anti-apartheid struggle. This episode provides the crucial background for understanding the formal apartheid system that followed. #SouthAfrica #Apartheid #UnionOfSouthAfrica #NativesLandAct #JanSmuts #JBHertzog #ANC #RandRebellion #AfricanNationalCongress #1913 #1936RepresentationOfNativesAct #AfricanMineWorkersStrike #1946 #PassLaws #DefianceCampaign #History #FexingoHistory #Segregation #NelsonMandela #ZuluKingdom Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
