National Party (South Africa): Difference between revisions
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The National Party first became the governing party of the country in 1924. It was an opposition party during [[World War II]] but it returned to power and was again in the government from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. | The National Party first became the governing party of the country in 1924. It was an opposition party during [[World War II]] but it returned to power and was again in the government from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. | ||
Beginning in 1948 the party as the governing party of South Africa began implementing its policy of racial segregation, known as [[Apartheid]] (the Afrikaans term for "separateness"). Although White-minority rule and racial segregation based on [[White supremacy]] were already in existence in South Africa with non-Whites not having voting rights and efforts made to encourage segregation, apartheid intensified the segregation with stern penalties for non-Whites entering into areas designated for Whites-only without having a pass to permit them to do so (known as the pass laws), interracial marriage and sexual relationships were illegal and punishable offences, and blacks faced significant restrictions on property rights. | Beginning in 1948 the party as the governing party of South Africa began implementing its policy of racial segregation, known as [[Apartheid]] (the Afrikaans term for "separateness"). Although White-minority rule and racial segregation based on [[White Power Movement|white supremacy]] were already in existence in South Africa with non-Whites not having voting rights and efforts made to encourage segregation, apartheid intensified the segregation with stern penalties for non-Whites entering into areas designated for Whites-only without having a pass to permit them to do so (known as the pass laws), interracial marriage and sexual relationships were illegal and punishable offences, and blacks faced significant restrictions on property rights. | ||
Upon South Africa being condemned in the British Commonwealth for its policies of apartheid, the NP-led government had South Africa leave the Commonwealth, abandon its monarchy led by the British monarch and become an independent republic. | Upon South Africa being condemned in the British Commonwealth for its policies of apartheid, the NP-led government had South Africa leave the Commonwealth, abandon its monarchy led by the British monarch and become an independent republic. |