Apartheid DBQ Essay

There are people in the world who see the actions of Apartheid, the results within the actions of the people while apartheid’s control, and overall their existence as a rare point in history. This idea is not only false but there are also several other governments and actions of the people that have had respectively similar actions. By having a social class system in South Africa where whites are on top and Blacks on the bottom shouldn’t sound unfamiliar; America had a similar racial discrimination from the 50’s all the way to the 80’s, with some arguing that the situation in Africa was worse off for their people than in America. In south Africa the African people that were deemed “lower class citizens” just as Germany’s treatment of Jews during

the power of the Nazi party from 1920-1945 put their people under constant fear, torcher, and while killing millions. The level of police brutality to the people, who at a later point trying to achieve some rights during apartheid’s reign some would consider it to be similar to the kind of brutality in modern day America. All of these factors in play not only shows the identical nature through parts of the world; but it also shows that with part of the conditions met these actions can happen anywhere and recreate apartheid once again.
Apartheid didn’t have complete control of the South African government over night. Like any kind of political control, begins with putting laws in to place that allow for more control of the white minority. These laws that were put in place were first; the African people were only allowed to work unskilled jobs. This meant that even if they have a trade skill it could not be used. At this time, only men were getting the jobs because the women weren’t allowed to do mining jobs or these particular jobs that were “available”. This meant that that men were often the only source of income for millions of families. With men seeking jobs and the only jobs that would except them are the ones that a paying close to nothing, people find themselves without any options and so they take up these jobs just to try and make ends meet. Taking the next step to make sure the people couldn’t use their own land to make profit the government took control of the farmable land the properties that can be utilized and then only have about 10 % of it back to the African people. This already being unfair and crippling to the people, the land that they gave was virtually un-usable. Putting the people in a perpetual state of lower class without any strings to try and bring them up in society.
Comparatively to the case of African Americans, ever since the end of reconstruction have been systematically been targeted by the government and political powers in order to keep them a second-class citizen. With creating “separate but equal” laws for school in public place but African Americans with constant neglect because white people’s idea of “equal” is only accurate if it’s for another white group. In education black people were looked down upon, they were neglected, and in most cases given a lower form of education. In the United States, Education has been for decades a fundamental part of success and it attributed to hard word/intelligence. When a government parties effective create a situation that prevents African Americans from getting an education; you are left with generations of people “unable” to rise in society. On top of that, individuals who did receive an education were in some cases dismissed due to their heritage. Blacks with degrees and well-spoken were arrested for flexing their known rights and were arrested regardless. None of this was uncommon from 1950-1980s, just over 50 years ago all of these events were taking place. This in turn means that without doubt events such as this can still happen again, not only in America but any part in the world.
Comparing to the actions within Germany, when it comes the actions against the people; the connection becomes clear. When the Nazi party came to power, the Jews who were once valued members of society looked at the enemy and quickly became second class citizens. They were taken from their homes and systematically executed. This was common knowledge with the people in power; everyone who had any political influence knew what was going on and acted to enforce the actions. Neighbors turning on each other and family exposing the location of other families for money or security. The Jewish people were no longer considered humans in the minds of some of these individuals. It is true that the scale in which the Jews were killed was never seen before; however, in Africa when people were killed for protest and put in prison, taken from their homes, beaten down, it’s not hard to see that aside from the genocide of the Holocaust these events are similar in just about every other fashion. What makes these events special, if it happened before it can without a doubt happen again.
What would have been the punishment of the individuals after the fall of Apartheid came in the early 90’s when the Nelson Mandela won political office and took over. However, he didn’t do what most other leaders would have done put in the same position. Throughout history we see countless times when a leader with absolute power or a group that have massive control are replaced; the next power either takes up where they left off and keep the same tactics or find a way to execute the previous leadership. This is a way of getting rid of old leaders and old loyalties. By doing things for example when new families who ruled ancient Japan clamed power, by killing the previous family or previous power they don’t have to worry about past allegiances and only should consider new ones.
One of the things we can take from people who took control after the fall of Apartheid is that they didn’t kill the politicians, or police that imprisoned, killed, individuals. When Nelson Mandela took office, after the Apartheid party was effectively voted out, he did what could people argue was the best thing he did in his political carrier. He decided to not punish the people who would have been convicted of wrong doing. For as long as they came forward and admitted to their actions. These benefits include, without the risk of punishment, all of the information can be brought to the to the public. The people who lost power would have an incentive to not lie about anything. The result, giving the people a chance to move forward and learn the mistakes corrupt leaders made to maintain power. This also allows for people who were lawyers, politicians, and officers to not have to be removed from jobs. These individuals had years of experience and to have a new government replace everyone who was involved with the party’s actions would have put economic strain for a brief period of time. It could also bring a second wave of rebellion; if even 10 percent of a population is removed from any work force those people effected regardless of circumstance would have most likely rioted just as the people who were being oppressed before them.
This isn’t the same with what happened to the military officers and agents of the Nasi part.

After Adolf Hitler killed himself and the whole regime fell, the Allie powers charged war crimes on the individuals in power. By doing so many military officers were killed, people who were one guards were put in the very cells they put Jews, and anyone who had political power that didn’t escape prosecution was most often found guilty. This has prompt people who were deeply affected by these events to try and cover the truth. Even though there are signed documents of statements people have made stating that the events of the holocaust took place; people have still worked their way to try and deny the actions and the events of the holocaust. In some cases, this stems from people having some sort of gain if they can “prove” nothing happened and by rewriting history they, can have an excuse for doing/ getting the results wanted. Part of the reason the grudge is still held is from the notion “I hurt you, you hurt be; now I’m mad”. Maybe a more understanding approach should have taken place. However, it’s safe to say that because of the differences with both events, the prosecution of individuals involved with mass genocide is

justified.
Throughout history the actions done by some people who cause negative effects on others are argued that these actions could never happen “again”. Even though it is true that these events happen more often than they realize. Humans by nature are evil, this is not hard to see. They take advantage of anyone they can and not care who they hurt if it means having an advantage in the world. This cycle if unnoticed can lead to death, destruction, and violation of basic human rights. Actions that have exploited people have been going on since the beginning of human cavillation, with various levels. We look at history and we look at these actions; and maybe with understanding the why and how, these events can be prevented. A more realistic outlook is that as a people we catch these actions while they happen and end it before it lasts too long in the future. Maybe slowly over time laws and reprograming on the human mind can be done to help better fellow man, not hurt any group of people because of how they look or where they are born.