African National Congress (ANC)

Definition

The African National Congress (ANC) is a political party in South Africa that was founded in 1912 to fight for the rights of the black majority and oppose racial discrimination. The ANC played a pivotal role in the struggle against apartheid, mobilizing mass protests and advocating for equality and social justice, which ultimately contributed to the dismantling of apartheid policies in the early 1990s.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The ANC was originally founded as the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) in 1912, changing its name to the African National Congress in 1923.
2. During the apartheid era, the ANC was banned by the South African government, leading many leaders, including Nelson Mandela, to be imprisoned or go into exile.
3. The ANC adopted a more militant approach with the formation of its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), in 1961, which carried out acts of sabotage against government infrastructure.
4. In 1990, after years of internal and international pressure, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, and the ANC was unbanned, marking a turning point in South Africa's political landscape.
5. The ANC led negotiations with the apartheid government that resulted in the first multiracial elections in 1994, where Nelson Mandela was elected president, symbolizing a new era for South Africa.

Review Questions

• How did the African National Congress contribute to the fight against apartheid and what strategies did they employ?
  • The African National Congress played a crucial role in opposing apartheid by organizing mass protests, strikes, and other forms of civil disobedience. The ANC employed strategies such as grassroots mobilization to unite black South Africans against oppressive laws and called for international support to isolate South Africa politically and economically. Additionally, they formed Umkhonto we Sizwe as an armed wing to engage in sabotage against apartheid infrastructure when peaceful protests were met with violence.
• Analyze the impact of international support on the activities and effectiveness of the ANC during the apartheid era.
  • International support had a profound impact on the ANC's activities and effectiveness during apartheid. Global movements against apartheid gained momentum through sanctions and divestment campaigns, which increased pressure on the South African government. This support helped sustain ANC operations despite repression within South Africa and brought attention to their cause. Organizations like the United Nations also imposed sanctions against South Africa, further isolating it internationally and contributing to eventual negotiations for a democratic transition.
• Evaluate how the leadership of Nelson Mandela shaped both the ANC's strategies during apartheid and its direction after achieving political power.
  • Nelson Mandela's leadership significantly influenced the ANC's strategies during apartheid by advocating for both armed resistance and peaceful negotiations. His ability to unite various factions within the ANC and his commitment to reconciliation helped garner widespread support for the anti-apartheid movement. After gaining political power, Mandela emphasized nation-building and reconciliation over retribution, guiding the ANC to focus on addressing social inequalities while promoting peace among diverse communities. His legacy continues to shape the party's policies and identity in post-apartheid South Africa.

Related terms

Apartheid: A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government from 1948 to the early 1990s.

Nelson Mandela: A prominent leader of the ANC who became an international symbol of resistance to apartheid and served as South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999.

Soweto Uprising: A series of protests led by black school children in 1976 against the use of Afrikaans in schools, which became a significant moment in the struggle against apartheid and highlighted the need for change.