The Republic of South Africa C aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was B/A aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was like Same country… different names…. When was this area called the Union of South Africa? When and why did it change its name to the Republic of South Africa? Super – why is South West Africa shaded in orange?

The Republic of South Africa C aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was B/A aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was like The Union of South Africa came into being in 1910 when the four previously separate British colonies of the Cape Colony, Natal colony, Transvaal Colony and the Orange River Colony were unified. It gained German South- West Africa after WWI. It was constitutional monarchy with the British monarch represented by a governor general.

The Republic of South Africa C aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was B/A aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was like Natives Land Act of 1913 restricted how much land black Africans could own – only 7% 1948 – National Party elected to power – they had English speaking ‘whites’ and Afrikaners as their supporters. They strengthened racial segregation and classified people into three races with rights and limitations for each. This became known as the apartheid. The white minority enjoyed the highest standard in living in Africa, whilst the black majority were disadvantaged in every area.

The Republic of South Africa C aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was B/A aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was like 1931 Statue of Westminster led to effective independence from the UK 1961 referendum where white voters voted in favour of the country becoming a republic. The Queen was no longer the Queen of South Africa and the last governor-general became the state president. Despite opposition within and outside the country the government continued apartheid and harshly oppressed resistance movements – anti-apartheid activitis in return went on strike, marches, protests and bombed. The African National Congress became a major resistance movement.

The Republic of South Africa C aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was B/A aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa gained independence and what it’s relationship with Britain was like Some Western nations began a boycott with businesses in South Africa because of their racial policies and oppression of Civil Rights. A decree was signed in 1974 saying that power should transfer peacefully and there should be equality for all. It wasn’t until 1990 that the National Party lifted the ban on the African National Congress and other political organisations and released Nelson Mandela from jail after he had been imprisoned for 27 years. The government repealed apartheid legislation, met with Mandela in 1992 and 1993 to organise the transition of policies and government. In the first universal elections in 1994 the ANC won by an overwhelming majority.

The Republic of South Africa C aim – to explain and begin to analyse how South Africa’s relationship with Britain changed over time B/A aim – to analyse how far South Africa’s relationship with Britain changed over time South Africa declared itself a republic in 1961 South Africa fought and supported Britain in WWI and WWII South Africa pulled out of the Commonwealth in 1961 because African states, India and Canada disliked their policy of apartheid. They withdrew before the Commonwealth forced them to leave. However, this had the consequence where Britain couldn’t interfere with any of their internal matters, includign apartheid. As Britain continued trading with South Africa some African countries cut off their own trade andb uilt different links. African states, Canada and India felt that monetary sanctions and forbidding the sale of armaments was the only way to sort out south Africa. Britain resisted and maintained trade. They particulrly needed South Africa’s gold and her important sea trading position. They were also anxious to retain Cold War allies in Africa. Many British people and relatives lived in South Africa Macmillan’s ‘winds of change’ speech was a warning to South Africa that they couldn’t resist black nationalism forever Britain and America kept voting against sanctions towards Africa Thatcher maintained the opposition to economic sanctions at first due to the Cold War and for the importance of the British economy. In 1985 Thatcher imposed limited sanctions after the Commonwealth warned her the whole organisation could fall apart over it. However, she made them agree to lift calls for a total embargo and other trade restrictions were lifted. Sports teams stopped competingi n South Afric and a world wide campaign against apartheid managed to disuade performers from going to South Africa Boycotts occurred in Britain against South African goods In the 1980s Reagan and Thatcher followed a ‘constructive engagement’ policy – they vetoed the imposition of UN economic sanctions on south Afric as they strongly believedi n free trade and saw South Africa as a bastion against Marxist forces. Thatcher declared that the ANC was a terrorist organisation and her spokesman said that the ANC would never form a government In the late 1980s as the Cold War began to turn Thatcher began to engage with the sanctions