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Reasons for the National Party victory 1948 - Coggle Diagram
Reasons for the National Party victory 1948
Impact of WW2
Divided white people british more likely to support the allies and Afrikaners the Nazi's
Future PM Hendrik Verwoerd was the editor of 'Die Transvaler'- notorious during war for pro nazi stance and antisemitism
125,000 extra workers were employed in manufacting but only 25% white. africans less pay than whites but whites feared africans would take their jobs after the war
Whites feared ruling United Party under deputy PM Jan Hofmeyr was preparing for moderate racial policy
Suggesred in a January 1942 speech that the policy of racial segregation had been a failure for african people, citing staticstics on african poverty and infant mortality
He relaxed pass law in 1942 to facilitate employment
His government tried to improve standards for africans through unemployment insurance schemes and free school meals
1946 commission investigated non discriminatory national healthcare service- not taken further
half white SA male population joined allied forces: 180,000 men
Some afrikaners pushed for nazi victory by spreading pro nazi material and many joined openly facist grey shirt movement or joined Oxwagon Sentiel forced after battle of blood river which was modelled on the Nazi Party- had 250,000 members by 1939
Growth in Afrikaner Nationalism
National party organising local support and afrikaners didnt trust english speaking parties
1938 Voortrekker Monument celebrated Afrikaner win against the Zulu during the Battle of Blood River; created real sense of afrikaner identity
Afrikaners recieved help to built their own businesses
Dutch reformed church provided afrikaner school and cultural activites to develop pride in their identity
Jan Smuts was old and tired; had been involved in allied leadership during the war and post war peace settlements- white SA's thought he was out of touch with domestic development. Their campain lacked new ideas
United party weak on race relations; Nationalist exploited this - win english speaking vote
During campaign smuts suggested africans being employed in white areas should continue but they should live in strictly segregated and regulated communities. NP has easily comprehensible policy: apartheid- africans only as guest workers
Rural constituencies weighted more heavily than urban ones; 15% and where most of their supporters lived. In election UP won 50% of popular vote + nationalists 40%- still won because of constituecies
International Pressures for Change
response to NP victory muted because many european countries like britain and france had empires with submissive indigenous populations
SA Surrounded by colonised neighbours like Rhodesia, part of british empire, and Angola and Mozambique, under Portugal. SA in charge of SW africa (nambia) to NE
First international discussion of apartheid initiated by india concerned about the treatment of indians in SA as early as 1964
UN General Council condemned apartheid every year from 1952
USA influential over UN especially in security council; SA avoided pressure to change because seen as a reliable ally against growth of communism and profitable for investment
SA free to act without international co-ersion
BACKGROUND
1948, National party won 79 seats compared to The United Party's 71
Gov under D.F Malan commited to apartheid policy
NP won every election until 1994