Apartheid: Fight for Freedom

What can British Government documents tell us about resistance against apartheid in South Africa?

What to expect in the onsite workshop:

Exploring a range of original Foreign Office files produced by the British Government, students will investigate different forms of resistance against the system of apartheid. By using original documents, such as telegrams, diplomatic correspondence and newspaper cuttings, students will undertake their own historical enquiry into the anti-apartheid struggle.

How did the response to apartheid change over time? How did resistance take on different forms? How did the South African government respond to growing protest movements? How useful are British Foreign Office documents for this enquiry?

The two-hour workshop is led by an experienced history educator in an inspiring learning space at The National Archives in Kew. It will develop skills in evidential understanding and historical interpretations.

This session is not designed to be an introduction to the topic and students should have knowledge of the topic in advance of attending the workshop.

Links to the curriculum:

A-Level: 

AQA GCE History 

‘The winds of change’, 1947–1967 the growth of nationalist movements and reactions to them. 

OCR GCE History 

Apartheid and Reconciliation: South African Politics 1948–1999 

Edexcel GCE History 

South Africa, 1948–94: from apartheid state to ‘rainbow nation’