Yesterday I read more on South
Africa’s history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa#History), but didn’t
get to upload a blog because we went on a day trip and didn’t get home until
really late. We went to Santa Cruz and walked on the Ocean Boardwalk. It was
CRAZY crowded! So, today I’m finishing up my mini-history of South Africa:
In 1961, South Africa became a
republic following a referendum, and Queen Elizabeth II was stripped of the
title of queen of South Africa. Despite internal and external opposition,
apartheid continued and resistance movements were harshly oppressed. Violence
became widespread as apartheid became increasingly controversial, and many
Western nations began to boycott doing business with South Africa. In 1990, the
National Party government took steps towards ending discrimination when it
lifted the ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and released Nelson
Mandela from prison after twenty-seven years. After negotiation, the government
repealed apartheid legislation, and in 1994, Africa held its first universal
elections, which the ANC won by overwhelming majority. Nelson Mandela was elected as Africa’s first
black president. (As many of you may know, he died in December of last year). South Africa then rejoined
the Commonwealth of Nations. Post-apartheid, South Africa struggles with
unemployment and poverty, although recent violence has not been as widespread
as initially feared.
Nelson Mandela
Happy Sunday, everyone! More
tomorrow!
Xoxo,
Diana
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