The apartheid system in South Africa Essay Example for Free

The apartheid system in South Africa Essay The term apartheid was one of the most politically charged words in the second half of the 20th century, and still remains notorious today. Apartheid translated from Afrikaans means separateness or apartness. However when the National Party came to power in South Africa in 1948, it took on a much more sinister meaning and today is associated with racial and ethnic discrimination. The roots of apartheid stem deep into South African history. It started way back during European settlement, and was enforced and maintained right up until the end of the 20th Century. It will forever leave a mark on South Africa and indeed the world; a dark period in human history from which we have and will continue to learn. Tensions between Europeans and native Africans have existed since the first days of settlement and the earliest signs of what would snowball to become apartheid can be traced to these times. In 1488, the Portuguese first sailed past the Cape of Good Hope, eventually landing there and trading for food with people who called themselves Khoikhoi. It wasnt until the 1600s though, when the Dutch East India Company set up a base in Southern Africa, that the roots for what is today known as South Africa were put down. Initially contacts between the Khoikhoi and the new Europeans were peaceful, but over time the situation grew hostile. Aided by their guns, as well as the diseases they brought with them, the Europeans took more and more land and disrupted the natives lifestyle. By 1795 15000 Europeans and their slaves were scattered throughout the Cape colony. Violence between the natives and the Europeans was inevitable. There had been fights between the groups in small battles, but it wasnt until the late 18th Century that there was a large scale frontier war between them. The natives were driven back, but in 1806 Britain took over the Dutch Cape Colony, bringing British settlers to the area. This wasnt a real problem to the Boers, the earliest European settlers, at first, but conflict soon ensued. In 1833 Britain ended slavery throughout its empire, including the Cape. The Boers strongly disagreed with this and they wanted to keep their independence as they believed they had a God-given right to own African land and slaves. In the late 1830s they migrated north and eastwards far from British Rule to establish their own independent republics, in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. However when diamonds and gold were found later in the 19th Century the British interest in these interior areas was re-activated. The Anglo-Boer War was fought as a result during the years 1899-1902. This war was one of the epic conflicts in the building of an Afrikaner ideology and sense of identity. The hate of the British afterwards greatly contributed to the firm Afrikaner belief that they were chosen by God to rule the land, a belief that would be shown and implemented in the apartheid system. Leading up to the First World War, South Africa remained a deeply divided country. Only 21.5 percent of the population were white, Boers were still resentful over the Anglo-Boer war and the majority black population was divided amongst itself. It was also during this time and after the war that the roots of apartheid began to emerge. Policies, such as the Mine and Works Act of 1911, which forced blacks into the category of cheap labour, and the Natives Land Act of 1913, paved the start of the pathway that would lead to apartheid. Even repression from the police was evident in this time, when in 1920 African mineworkers went on strike and were killed in Port Elizabeth for their efforts. Even before the National Party, that would implement apartheid to its extreme, was elected, apartheid was occurring and existed throughout the country. In summary the policy of apartheid was a product of the late colonial era and came into existence due to events during early settlement, and events later such as the Anglo-Boer, that sparked and ignited a mentality that couldnt be suppressed. In1948 a Nationalist Party government under Dr Daniel Malan was elected, promising a white South Africa and a total system of apartheid between blacks and whites. Apartheid came about in South Africa because of an Afrikaner belief of their god-given right to Africa, which was also a racist one. Apartheid was therefore a means to support and institutionalize their view on how the country should be run. Apartheid was kept in place through various means, mainly the use of legislation and technology. The main way that the government implement  apartheid was through legislation. There were countless laws and bills passed, which over time stripped black Africans of their rights, all the while favoring the white elite of South Africa. Race laws affected every social aspect of life in apartheid South Africa. The early policies that were made when the National Party first came into power set the base for the later policies to take effect and branch off. These policies embodied what the apartheid regime was all about, notably two of the earliest policies made, being the Population Registration Act and the Group Areas Act. Both were made in 1950, with the Population Registration Act requiring al South Africans to be racially classified into either white, black or colored, and the Group Areas Act which geographically separated the racial groups. These laws and policies prevented the black population having the same privileges, standards of living and status as the white South Africans. Under the apartheid system everyday life was greatly affected by such laws. For example, under the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act in 1953, people of different races were prohibited from using the same public facilities such as restaurants, transport services, restrooms etc. Under the Population Registration Act different members of the same family found themselves in different race groups. Some of these laws essentially made black Africans foreigners; the correct term was guest laborers who were only allowed to work in South Africa if they held a temporary work permit. The Bantu Education Act of 1953 meant the government took over control of all schools and institutions. The emphasis in black schools was heavily on agriculture and this was another way of controlling black Africans as well as upholding the apartheid system. The annual expenditure on education from the government per pupil was $45 for blacks and $696 for whites. These are just a few examples of laws and policies that were implemented to maintain the apartheid system. Another way the government was able to enforce apartheid was through technology, primarily computers. More than any other single technological advancement; the computer fostered the concentration of administrative power in the hands of Africas white elite.1 Computers were used in almost every government agency, particularly in the police system and the military. The  vast majority of these computers came from America and IBM was the largest computer supplier in South Africa during the time when apartheid was active. The first computer transported from the US to South Africa was an electric tabulator to IBM South Africa, in 1952. Through computers and technology the apartheid regime was able to control every aspect of life, particularly for black Africans. It meant that the government and its organizations could track people their history, their movement, etc and through this shut down protests and silence protesters. The computerized population register is regarded as the instrument that made the biggest contribution to the apartheid system. It was responsible for the passbook system that affected more than 25 million black Africans. Through these devices, information on a persons racial classification, name, sex, date of birth, dates of departure and return to the country, fingerprints and places of work and study could all be recorded onto a database. The passbooks and the computer database meant a person could instantly be identified and checked for a history of government opposition. The population registry wasnt the only computerized resource the government used to control its citizens there were other foreign and imported products used as well. X-Ray machines, passbook fingerprinting equipment and communications logging recorders were also available to the police. Various government departments used computers for financial and other non repressive purposes, when in reality they used them to track opponents of apartheid, and once they found them, police brutality and torture were used and the opponents were often held political prisoners without trial. Also, as the largest part of the government, a majority of the computer equipment purchased by the state inevitably must have found its way into the military, which utilised this equipment against its people. Apartheid was conceived and administered as an ideology for the total organization of the South African society for the exclusive benefit of the white part of the population. This system was implemented and enforced strictly and with brutality for more than forty years. In that time the National Party government achieved a high degree of success in creating  apartheid on a personal, urban and state level. Although this system ultimately failed (in 1991 laws enforcing apartheid were abolished) its mark on South Africa and the world will be present for a very long time and the apartheid era will be a massive legacy to be fully overcome for future generations of South Africans and indeed the world. References: 1 Automating Apartheid U.S. Computer exports to South Africa and the Arms Embargo. Omega Press, Philadelphia, 1982Bibliography:Books:Meisel,J. (1994) South Africa At The Crossroads. Cape Town; The Millbrook PressChristopher,A. (1994) The Atlas of Changing South Africa. London; RoutledgeTames,R. (2000) The End of Apartheid: a New South Africa. Oxford: Heinemann LibraryInternet Sites:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid_in_South_Africahttp://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.htmlhttp://www.africanaencyclopedia.com/apartheid/apartheid.html

Poverty and Crime in America Essay -- poverty essay

Crime in this country is an everyday thing. Some people believe that crime is unnecessary. That people do it out of ignorance and that it really can be prevented. Honestly, since we live in a country where there is poverty, people living in the streets, or with people barely getting by, there will always be crime. Whether the crime is robbing food, money, or even hurting the people you love, your family. You will soon read about how being a criminal starts or even stops, where it begins, with whom it begins with and why crime seems to be the only way out sometimes for the poor. The exact amount of poverty that exits in the United States are difficult to ascertain, since the manner in which poverty is measured determines the amount of poverty reported. The U.S. Bureau of the Census reported that there were about 33,100,00 persons classified as officially below the poverty level in 1985. Small children that live in low-income households, are vulnerable to a wide variety of problems, including poor nutrition, inadequate housing, substandard medical attention, lack of proper nutrition, and physical or emotional abuse. Adolescents from these backgrounds become part of cycle of low-income or unemployment. Black and Hispanic teenagers have particularly acute problems obtaining employment. The President's Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice recognized the role of poverty in producing delinquency and noted that the most serious forms of juvenile delinquencies are more prevalent between youths at the lowest socioeconomic levels. The fact that poverty is self-perpetuating is a documented fact. Criminal and delinquent activity may also be an accepted part of the total picture for deprived kids. It's h... ...lewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Laub, J, & Sampson, R. (2003). Shared beginnings, divergent lives: delinquent boys to age 70. The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Marcus, R. (2007). Agression and violence in adolescence. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Peterson, R, Krivo, L, & Hagan, J. (2006). The many colors of crime. NY: New York University Press. Raphael, J. (2000). Saving bernice. Ann Arbor, MI: Edwards Brothers, Inc. Shover, N, & Hochstetler, A. (2006). Choosing white-collar crime. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Smith, M. (2001). Sex without consent. NY: New York University Press. Thompson, W, & Bynum, J. (1991). Juvenile delinquency. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Wilson, H. (2007). Guns, gun control, and elections. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Parenting Skills Essay

Explain the different forms of child abuse? Include Shaken Baby Syndrome in your response. The different forms of child abuse are , Physical Abuse , Emotional Abuse , Sexual Abuse , and Neglect. Physical abuse is violence directed toward a child by a parent or other adult caregiver. Emotional abuse is when a caregiver causes the child to feel worthless and rejected . Sexual abuse towards a child may be in a verbal way , leading to physical contact with the child. Finally , Neglect is when the parent or caregiver fails to care for their child’s basic physical , emotional , disciplinary , and/or educational needs. Shaken Baby Syndrome is when an individual shakes a child violently over a period of time leading to the childs hospitalization or worse , death. 2. What types of physical care must a parent provide an infant child? The type of physical care a parent must provide an infant child is , batheing , diaper changes , and dress & fed properly . Its Also a MUST to prop the infants head up properly while giving a child it’s bottle. 3. What are some strategies for helping a child cope with stress? Some of the strategies for helping a child cope with stress are , Encouraging open communication with their child , helping them feel comfortable enough to open up to you about whats bothering them. Helping your child come up with ways to solve their own problems rather then solve them yourself is also a great way. Another way to help a child cope with stress is learning what type of situations put your child in a stressful state, then try avoiding putting them in that situation . Also creating a home environment that is stable abd free of hostility and violence , keeping your own stress to a minimum is also a great way to prevent stress on your child , because chances are you may accidently take your frustration out on your child. Critical Thinking Questions 1.What is the difference between a protective environment and a nurturing environment? The difference between a protective environment and a nurturing environment is a protective environment is when a child is prtected from violence and abuse . They must feel safe in the home , school , and in the community . Helping the child feel as if they can trust her parents , teachers , and other adults in her community . A nurturing environment is when the parent is activiely attentive to their child’s physical and emotional needs , being able to trust their family to care for them and to love them. 2. How do children’s needs change as they grow through development stages from infancy to teen years? How do special needs children differ? During the infancy years a child will need you to do absolute everything for them. During toddler years a child may be able to communicate and do task like feeding themselves with a bottle , spoon , and cup . During elementary years a child will be able to take care of most of of their physical needs , Yet still depend on you to impose structure and rountine. Teenagers will almost never need your help taking care of their physically needs. But with a child who has special needs , depending on their disability you may have to care for the child as if they’re a toddler for the rest of their lives. 3. List and explain factors a parent can control that lead to a nurturing environment. Include characteristics of nurturing parents. A parent can control whether or not there is abuse & violence in their household , Always being avaliable to their child for physical and emotional needs. Asssuring the child that they will always be their to care for them , reminding the child that they’re loved . Setting time aside for family time is a great way to provide a nurturing environment for your child. A nurturing parent will always treat their child according to their needs , focusing their attention whenever possible. Building a loving and caring relationship with their child, listening & allowing their child to express themselves. 4. List and explain factors that lead to poor relationships and that increase the risk of child abuse. Factors that lead to poor relationships and that increase the risk of child abuse may be , Latchkey children, Marital strife and divorce , Substance abuse , HIV/AIDS , or Death. Latchkey children are left alone without adult supervision which can lead to fear and anxiety . Marital strife and divorce may lead to conflict in the home resulting to high level of stress and failure academically and socially . Substance abuse may hinder a parents self-control resulting in a parent who becomes irresponsible and a non-nurturing parents. HIV/AIDS can devastate a family , resulting in a child losing both parents making the child a orphan , It may also cause financial strain on a family . Death can make a child doubt their safety in a normal day to day basis . 5. Why is it critical for a parent to be involved in their children’s education? It is critical for a parent to be involved in their children education . Mainly because kids need motivation , parents want their children to be successful in life. Parents should also be cautious on what they do around their children , because children learn largely by observation. Older Children need to be taught to proactively pursure their academic goals.

Ancient Egypt An Ancient Civilization - 1853 Words

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be apart of an ancient civilization? Well, if I had to chose an ancient civilization to be apart of I’d chose the Egypt (Nile) because of it’s great economic standards and it’s interesting culture and religion. In Egypt they had great agriculture resources, festivals, and lots of different customs and beliefs. This all sounds interesting right? Well, if you want to know more, keep reading! What was Egypt’s economy based on exactly? You’ve heard of the Nile River right? Well, in ancient Egypt they relied on the Nile so much it was the main contributor in ancient Egypt for its agricultural wealth. Each summer the Nile had copious amounts of nutrient-rich silt onto the banks lining its side. Their fertile land was fostered the stable cultivation of crops such as barley and wheat as the Egyptian’s allowed people to move from a primarily meat-dependent society to one that could store and rely on grain, doing this it allowed them to abandon nomadic lifestyles and remain in the same place year after year so a more complex civilization could develop. For centuries, the Nile had always flooded the valley. Egyptian’s created a routine in dealing with the seasons. The flooding period was called Aketo, it usually lasted from July to December, by using the current calendar months. When the Nile flooded, farmlands were underwater so Egyptian’s used irrigation canals to run their water to the lands that couldn’t reach the Nile. From March toShow MoreRelatedAncient Egypt : An Ancient Civilization1523 Words   |  7 Pages Ancient Egypt, an ancient civilization known today as one of the world’s greatest, would last over 3000 years thanks to the many Egyptians contributing to its success. 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