HSC Apartheid Practice Exam

The main goal of the Defiance Campaign launched by the ANC in 1952 was to resist unjust laws through nonviolent protests. This campaign marked a significant moment in the struggle against apartheid, emphasizing the power of civil disobedience as a means to challenge and defy the oppressive legislation imposed by the apartheid regime. The ANC sought to mobilize mass participation among South Africans who were subjected to these unfair laws, encouraging them to engage in peaceful resistance by deliberately breaking certain laws with the objective of demonstrating their injustice.

The campaign was characterized by acts of nonviolent resistance, such as the refusal to carry passbooks, which were a tool of racial discrimination enforced by the government. By focusing on nonviolent methods, the ANC aimed to garner widespread support and draw attention to the injustices of apartheid without resorting to violence, which would have undermined their moral stance and the legitimacy of their cause.

This approach also set the foundation for future anti-apartheid movements, highlighting the effectiveness of nonviolent tactics in advocating for social change. Thus, the Defiance Campaign was instrumental in uniting various groups against the apartheid system while promoting the idea that justice could be sought without violence.