Textbook Solutions: History of South Africa: Apartheid and After | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

I. Tick (✔) the correct option.

1.
Ans: (c)

2.
Ans: (b)

3.
Ans: (c)

4.
Ans: (b)

5.
Ans: (a)

II. Observe the given picture and answer the questions that follow.

1.
Ans: The picture is of Mahatma Gandhi.

2.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi played a significant role in fighting racial discrimination in South Africa. He organized numerous non-violent protests against unjust laws that targeted the Indian community, such as the discriminatory pass laws. Gandhi's efforts helped to raise awareness about the plight of non-whites in South Africa and laid the foundation for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which he later used in India's struggle for independence.

3.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi's major teachings include the principles of non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), and civil disobedience as a form of protest. He believed in the power of peaceful resistance to bring about social and political change. Gandhi also emphasized the importance of self-discipline, self-reliance, and the need to live a simple and ethical life.

4.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1914 after living in South Africa for 21 years, where he had been actively involved in the struggle against racial discrimination.

III. There are two statements given as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements and choose the correct option.

1.
Ans: (a)

2.
Ans: (a)

IV. Answer the following questions in brief.

1.
Ans: Apartheid means 'apartness' or 'being apart'. It was based on the idea that races should be separated as far as possible in social, political, economic, and geographic terms. White people were considered superior and were supposed to occupy higher positions in society. The nations of black/colored people were to be kept separate from the white Afrikaners.

2.
Ans: 

• Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act (1949)
• Population Registration Act (1950)
• Group Areas Act (1950)
• Natives (Abolition of Passes and Co-ordination of Documents) Act (1952)

3.
Ans: The Defiance Campaign was launched by the ANC, the South African Indian Congress, and the African People’s Organisation in 1952. It aimed to peacefully defy apartheid laws by encouraging mass arrests to overwhelm the prison system. In response, the apartheid government introduced even more oppressive laws, allowing arbitrary arrests, censoring newspapers, and banning individuals.

4.
Ans: On 9 August 1956, 20,000 women gathered at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the government's plans to introduce pass books for women, a system that had already been in place for men. Their protest helped delay the implementation of pass books for women for several years.

5.
Ans: Armies were formed by the ANC (Umkhonto we Sizwe) and the PAC (Poqo) in response to the government’s violent repression of peaceful protests. These organizations decided to adopt armed struggle to force the government to end apartheid, as peaceful methods alone had not succeeded.

V. Answer the following questions in detail.

1.
Ans: In the 1950s, people of all races in South Africa engaged in passive resistance to challenge apartheid. The Defiance Campaign of 1952 was a significant effort, where the ANC, South African Indian Congress, and African People’s Organisation encouraged people to break apartheid laws peacefully, aiming to flood the jails with protesters. Although over 8,000 people were arrested, the government retaliated by introducing harsher laws, further restricting the rights of non-whites. Despite this, the campaign inspired more people to join the ANC, laying the groundwork for future resistance.

2.
Ans: In the 1970s, resistance to apartheid was revitalized, particularly led by black students. The South African Students’ Organisation (SASO), founded in 1968, was inspired by the Black Consciousness Movement, which encouraged black people to embrace their identity and work towards ending apartheid. One of the most significant events was the Soweto Uprisings in 1976, where students protested against the compulsory use of Afrikaans in schools. The movement highlighted the growing discontent among the youth and was a turning point in the struggle against apartheid.

3.
Ans: The Soweto Uprisings took place in 1976 when black students protested against the apartheid government’s decision to enforce the teaching of certain subjects in Afrikaans, a language unfamiliar to many of them. The students feared they would not be able to succeed academically. The protests began in Soweto and quickly spread to other parts of the country. The government responded with brutal force, leading to widespread violence and the deaths of many students. The uprisings drew international attention to the harsh realities of apartheid and intensified resistance within South Africa.

4.
Ans: The 1980s saw a surge in mass resistance across South Africa, with various groups uniting against apartheid. The United Democratic Front (UDF), a non-racial organization, emerged as a leading force, bringing together over 400 anti-apartheid groups and representing about 1.5 million people. The UDF organized boycotts, rent strikes, and school protests, demanding better education and living conditions for non-white South Africans. Trade unions also played a critical role, fighting for both workers' and political rights. Despite the government’s repression, these movements kept the pressure on, contributing significantly to the eventual downfall of apartheid.

5.
Ans: The people of South Africa resisted apartheid through a combination of peaceful protests, armed struggle, and mass mobilization. In the 1950s, passive resistance campaigns like the Defiance Campaign encouraged non-violent civil disobedience. In the 1960s, after the government responded with violence, some groups turned to armed resistance, forming military wings like Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo. The 1970s saw student-led protests, notably the Soweto Uprisings, which highlighted the dissatisfaction of the youth. By the 1980s, resistance had become widespread, with mass movements like the UDF uniting various anti-apartheid groups and trade unions to challenge the government on multiple fronts. These efforts, despite severe repression, ultimately contributed to the end of apartheid.