History
What is Apartheid?
Apartheid was a system of enforced racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. It stripped the non-white majority of rights and kept races separate by law, until decades of resistance and global pressure brought it down.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains apartheid.
Key things to understand
- 1It was legalized racial segregation in South Africa.
- 2It lasted from 1948 to the early 1990s.
- 3The non-white majority was denied basic rights.
- 4Resistance led by figures like Mandela ended it.
Frequently asked questions
- What was apartheid?
- A system of legally enforced racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s.
- How did apartheid end?
- Through internal resistance, international sanctions, and negotiations, leading to free elections in 1994.
- Who fought against apartheid?
- Activists like Nelson Mandela and groups such as the ANC, supported by global anti-apartheid movements.