Creating South Africa Republic 1960-61

Question 1

How many seats won in 1958 election?

Answer 1

66% of seats won, confident to hold a referendum

Question 2

Countries that gained independence

Answer 2

India in 1947 started the ‘wind of change’
Ghana in 1957, Nigeria in 1960

Question 3

What was Macmillan’s wind of change speech?

Answer 3

He arrived in South Africa in February 1960 after travelling around Africa.
He encouraged broad decolonisation and offered support, it was too costly and not moral, e.g. Suez Canal Crisis 1956 or Mau Mau Rebellion
- Make sure they stayed loyal through the Commonwealth
Praised South Africa deeply as it was an important ally and didn’t want to lose it.
- 1/3 of South Africa trade was with Britain.

Question 4

Impact of speech on Anti-apartheid movements and government

Answer 4

Encouraged by the speech, it stated there would be a future victory.
Implicitly commenting on ‘some aspects of your policies’
- Verwoerd disturbed by speech and was more convinced to create a republic.

Question 5

Referendum in October 1960

Answer 5

Referendum about break ties with Britain and form a Republic.
90% turnout and 52% voted in favour.
- most from transvaal and Orange free state

Question 6

Officially became a republic

Answer 6

Republic of South Africa, established on 31st May 1961.
- New currency, The Rand, and president became Head of State

Question 7

When did South Africa leave the Commonwealth?

Answer 7

After pressure from African and Asian countries to leave the Commonwealth in March 1961. Verwoerd attended his last Commonwealth meeting in June 1961 as he withdrew the membership due to criticism.

Question 8

Impact of breaking ties with Britain

Answer 8

• Trading links flourished and cultural ties grew
• SA was a crucial trading partner for Britain, many English Conservaties supported white settlers, e.g. the Conservative Party Monday Club was against the Wind of change speech
  -Crucial ally against communism, there was huge foreign investement in the 1960s
• Gold supplies remained

Question 9

Why was an important ally for the cold war?

Answer 9

It had significant amounts of uranium supplies which were required for nuclear weapons.

Question 10

UN reaction

Answer 10

Multiple resolutions to ban imports and exports but not compulsory.
Arms embargo in 1963 waas adopted by new UK president in 1964