South Africa: Difference between revisions

While it is still a monarchy, it doesn't have a King or Queen. Stopping short of recognising Elizabeth II in fears of provoking the wrath of the German Reichskommisariats bordering them, the Union is left with an important question, who rules South Africa?

==History==

 

The Union of South Africa, established in 1910, united four previously separate colonies under British rule. However, this unification masked deep racial divisions. Black South Africans, the overwhelming majority, were excluded from political power and subjected to discriminatory laws. The African National Congress (ANC), founded in 1912, emerged as the primary voice of Black opposition.

 

 

Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch settlers, felt marginalized by British dominance and worried about preserving their cultural identity. This spurred Afrikaner nationalism, a powerful political current. The National Party, formed in 1914, championed this ideology and advocated for stricter racial segregation.

 

 

The seeds of apartheid were sown with the passage of discriminatory legislation. The Natives Land Act of 1913 severely restricted Black land ownership, pushing them onto overcrowded reserves. The miners' strike of 1922, involving both Black and white workers, highlighted racial tensions within the workforce.

 

 

The Great Depression of the 1930s exacerbated racial tensions. With rising unemployment, white workers competed with Black workers for scarce jobs. This fueled fears of economic displacement among the white population, further solidifying the idea of racial separation.