South African Labour Demonstration 1910-1920
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Mineral Revolution in South Africa in Early 1900s |
History
- At a convention from 1908 to 1909, a constitution was drafted. This was done to unite South Africa. It ended up passing the British Parliament under the name of the “South Africa Act”. The constitution lead to the uniting of territories, which then was called the Union of South Africa.
- South Africa then went on to fight as a member of the Allies during WWI. They then joined the League of Nations.
- South Africa gained equal legal status with the United Kingdom in 1926. Around this time, the country started to really advance in its industrialization, as well as its mining industry. During WWII, the country sent troops to fight against the Nazis. Racial separation began when the National Party came to power in 1948, and they influenced the population by enforcing an apartheid policy over time, starting around 1960.
Conflicts
- From June 14, 1913, to September 14, 1914, Parliament enforced an Act that restricted Indian immigrants from coming into the country. Mohandas Gandhi was against this and protested against it. Action was taken by the Prime Minister and he used Martial Law on January 14, 1914 when miners went on strike.
- South Africa was told by the British government to invade South Africa, which was under German control in August of 1914.
- Miners went on strike on the first day of 1922. Union workers rebelled. The police and workers fought during strikes in Boksburg in late February of 1922. This led to 180 deaths of workers, and a loss of 50 policemen. Martial Law was again declared by the Prime Minister that March. There was a rebellion which led to the deaths of more government workers and civilians. Almost 5,000 people were arrested and a small number were given a death sentence for their actions.
- Africans and Indians protested and rioted in Durban in 1949 against the apartheid in Johannesburg in late January of 1950. The House of Assembly passed the Population Registration Act mid-May of 1950. This meant that the population had to be registered and provide information on their race and there was an issuance of identity cards. The Group Areas Act passed on May 31st, 1950, and this meant that sections of the city were divided up for specific races to reside in.
Additional Important Topics
- Since the late 19th century, South Africa's economy has been based on the production and export of minerals, which, in turn, have contributed significantly to the country's industrial development. South Africa became a charter member of the United Nations on 7 November 1945 and has technically remained a member continuously, despite past disputes and international sanctions over apartheid and the country's unwillingness to place its League of Nations mandate, Namibia, under UN international trusteeship. The principal crop is corn ("mealies"), which is grown mainly on the plateau of the Orange Free State and Transvaal.
Works Cited:
"South Africa." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations. Encyclopedia.com, n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2017
"1. South Africa (1910-present)." Political Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2017.
"Timelines." South African History Online. N.p., 18 Apr. 1905. Web. 6 Apr. 2017.
Britishpathe. "South African Labour Demonstration (1910-1920)." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Apr. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
"Mineral Revolution." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Aug. 2016. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
Black, Chinese and white laborers in a gold mine in South Africa, circa 1890 - 1923. PHOTO: Carpenter Collection, US Library of Congress
History of South Africa, Industrialization and Imperialism, 1870-1910. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.
"South Africa." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations. Encyclopedia.com, n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2017
"1. South Africa (1910-present)." Political Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2017.
"Timelines." South African History Online. N.p., 18 Apr. 1905. Web. 6 Apr. 2017.
Britishpathe. "South African Labour Demonstration (1910-1920)." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Apr. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
"Mineral Revolution." YouTube. YouTube, 10 Aug. 2016. Web. 17 Apr. 2017.
Black, Chinese and white laborers in a gold mine in South Africa, circa 1890 - 1923. PHOTO: Carpenter Collection, US Library of Congress
History of South Africa, Industrialization and Imperialism, 1870-1910. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.