Which strategy was primarily employed by the ANC during the Defiance Campaign?

The strategy primarily employed by the African National Congress (ANC) during the Defiance Campaign was nonviolent protests. Launched in 1952, the Defiance Campaign aimed to oppose apartheid laws by encouraging citizens to deliberately break unjust laws in a peaceful manner. The campaign focused on mass mobilization, with participants engaging in acts of civil disobedience, such as defying pass laws and protesting against segregation.

This approach was rooted in the philosophy of nonviolence, inspired by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, and served to highlight the injustices of apartheid to both South Africans and the international community. By utilizing peaceful methods, the ANC sought to invoke public sympathy and support, draw national and global attention to the oppression faced by black South Africans, and ultimately foster a united front against the apartheid regime.

Other strategies like violent resistance or legal actions were either not a primary focus during this period or did not align with the overarching goals of the Defiance Campaign. Negotiations with international bodies would come later as the movement matured, but the essence of the Defiance Campaign was firmly anchored in nonviolent activism.