How far do you agree that the main reason the National Party were able to implement
apartheid legislation in the years 1948-59 was as a result of the relative weakness of
opposition? (20 marks)
The National Party [NP] was able to implement apartheid legislation in the years 1948-59 as a
result of several combining factors, including the relative weakness of opposition, the laws of
suppression passed, and the power of police forces and their responses to any forms of
opposition. It can be said that although the weakness of opposition did aid the National Party
implement apartheid, the signi cance of the legislation passed that enabled suppression was
most e ective and can be argued to have been the determining factor that apartheid legislation
was implemented to ultimately, such great success.
It could be argued that the NP were able to implement apartheid legislation as result of the
weakness of opposition; for instance, during the years 1948-59 there were few examples of mass
demonstrations or protests that threatened government in any real capacity. The de ance
campaign in 1952 can be seen as one of the most widespread, and signi cant protests of that
time period. The aim of the campaign which was organised by the ANC was to have people take
direct action and get arrested, for not carrying passes for example. There were 8,500 people
arrested, which is arguably signi cant, as well as the fact that ANC membership grew from 4,000
to 100,000. However, it can be said that overall the campaign had little impact, as it didn’t result in
any government changes, nor was it a threat to the NP, in addition to the fact it only lasted 6
months. Moreover, 8 million Africans remained uninvolved in the campaign, which demonstrates
that the protests, or opposition, was overall relatively weak and subsequently did not pose a
threat. This therefore demonstrates that the weakness of the opposition enabled the NP to easily
implement apartheid legislation because there was not the capacity within the opposition to
organise a widespread protest that would act as a threat to the NP; because of the opposition
movement not having developed and grown to such a level meant that the protests or any other
forms of demonstrations did not impact nor hinder the NP’s ability to implement apartheid
legislation. Furthermore, it should be recognised that the weakness of the opposition, regarding
the tactics, enabled the NP to successfully implement apartheid, Therefore it can be argued that
the weakness of opposition groups, both regarding their lack of power in numbers, as well as their
methods of peaceful protesting, proved to be overall weak opposition because both of which
didn’t not threaten the NP which therefore, subsequently, enabled the NP to implement apartheid
legislation. Nevertheless, it should be recognised that despite the lack of e ective opposition, or
the weakness of opposition, providing the NP with the ability to implement apartheid legislation
with relative ease; the laws of suppression were more signi cant and can be said to be the most
important factor as they had the most signi cant impact and were essential in order for the NP to
maintain power and apartheid.
ff fi fi fi fi fi ff fi
apartheid legislation in the years 1948-59 was as a result of the relative weakness of
opposition? (20 marks)
The National Party [NP] was able to implement apartheid legislation in the years 1948-59 as a
result of several combining factors, including the relative weakness of opposition, the laws of
suppression passed, and the power of police forces and their responses to any forms of
opposition. It can be said that although the weakness of opposition did aid the National Party
implement apartheid, the signi cance of the legislation passed that enabled suppression was
most e ective and can be argued to have been the determining factor that apartheid legislation
was implemented to ultimately, such great success.
It could be argued that the NP were able to implement apartheid legislation as result of the
weakness of opposition; for instance, during the years 1948-59 there were few examples of mass
demonstrations or protests that threatened government in any real capacity. The de ance
campaign in 1952 can be seen as one of the most widespread, and signi cant protests of that
time period. The aim of the campaign which was organised by the ANC was to have people take
direct action and get arrested, for not carrying passes for example. There were 8,500 people
arrested, which is arguably signi cant, as well as the fact that ANC membership grew from 4,000
to 100,000. However, it can be said that overall the campaign had little impact, as it didn’t result in
any government changes, nor was it a threat to the NP, in addition to the fact it only lasted 6
months. Moreover, 8 million Africans remained uninvolved in the campaign, which demonstrates
that the protests, or opposition, was overall relatively weak and subsequently did not pose a
threat. This therefore demonstrates that the weakness of the opposition enabled the NP to easily
implement apartheid legislation because there was not the capacity within the opposition to
organise a widespread protest that would act as a threat to the NP; because of the opposition
movement not having developed and grown to such a level meant that the protests or any other
forms of demonstrations did not impact nor hinder the NP’s ability to implement apartheid
legislation. Furthermore, it should be recognised that the weakness of the opposition, regarding
the tactics, enabled the NP to successfully implement apartheid, Therefore it can be argued that
the weakness of opposition groups, both regarding their lack of power in numbers, as well as their
methods of peaceful protesting, proved to be overall weak opposition because both of which
didn’t not threaten the NP which therefore, subsequently, enabled the NP to implement apartheid
legislation. Nevertheless, it should be recognised that despite the lack of e ective opposition, or
the weakness of opposition, providing the NP with the ability to implement apartheid legislation
with relative ease; the laws of suppression were more signi cant and can be said to be the most
important factor as they had the most signi cant impact and were essential in order for the NP to
maintain power and apartheid.
ff fi fi fi fi fi ff fi
