The ANC In The Anti-Apartheid Movement

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How Significant was the ANC in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, 1948-79?

During the time of apartheid, there were many organisations which proved to be significant; which is having or being likely to be influential or of importance. Although the ANC (African National Congress) was clearly significant during 1948-1979, there were many other groups which also left a significant impact. Throughout this period, there are obvious shifts in political initiative: primarily between the ANC and other groups. There are also two key political trials which Mandela was involved in: the Treason Trial and the Rivonia Trial. The impact of each event and group often had a strong domestic impact, most predominant to the area in which the event was carried out,
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However in the late 70s the ANC began to regain attention, primarily due to the Free Mandela Campaign that was launched. In 1976 an essay written by Mandela, “We ought to speak directly to the Afrikaner and fully explain our position” was smuggled out of prison and published. It would be significant in the following years as it played a major role in the ANC’s development and choice of focusing the world’s attention on apartheid through one man, Mandela. However, it was not significant at the time as it was necessary for the climate to worsen for Apartheid before the significance of it was raised. The credit for this should be primarily given to Mandela as he struck out on his own and did something without the full support of the ANC, but because he was a member of the ANC and it was used by the ANC in 1978, some credit can be given to the ANC. Then in 1978, the Free Mandela campaign was launched: the realisation of Biko seizing the political initiative led to the ANC’s decision to break their collective leadership and focus Mandela to broadcast to the world what is happening in the apartheid state. As Biko had died the year before, Mandela, a living symbol, was much more potent and powerful than a martyred victim of the regime, giving the ANC a chance to regain the political initiative. Additionally, mainly due to Mandela’s example and political outlook, tensions in 1980 died down between prisoners on Robben Island Prison, proving Mandela’s significance in the microcosm of the jail. At this point, it is clear that Mandela and the other leaders of the ANC being in jail was a paradox: they lost political initiative due to being in jail before regaining it by focusing on Mandela as a political

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