National Party of South Africa facts for kids

The National Party of South Africa was a political party that led the government in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. This party was mostly made up of white people of Afrikaner background. They created and enforced a system called apartheid, which separated people based on their race.

What Was the National Party?

The National Party was formed in 1914 by J. B. M. Hertzog. He started the party because he disagreed with other leaders in the South African Party. The National Party believed in Afrikaner nationalism. This meant they wanted to protect the culture and interests of Afrikaner people.

How the National Party Gained Power

In 1948, the National Party's leader, Daniel Francois Malan, became the Prime Minister of South Africa. This was a big moment for the party. While they wanted to start apartheid, many people voted for them for other reasons.

Many voters were unhappy with the previous government, led by Jan Smuts. They did not like Smuts's support for the United Kingdom during the Second World War. Afrikaner voters also worried about poverty and competition for jobs. They felt that the government was not handling these issues well. The National Party promised to fix these problems.

The System of Apartheid

After coming to power, the National Party began to put apartheid into action. Apartheid was a strict system of racial segregation and discrimination. It separated people into different racial groups. These groups included white, black, coloured (mixed race), and Indian people.

Under apartheid, white people had the most rights and power. Black South Africans, in particular, faced many unfair laws. They were forced to live in separate areas and had limited access to education and jobs. This system caused a lot of hardship and injustice for millions of people.

The End of the National Party's Rule

The National Party ruled South Africa for 46 years. Over time, there was growing opposition to apartheid both inside South Africa and from other countries. Many people around the world protested against the system.

In the 1990s, South African President F. W. de Klerk, who was the last leader from the National Party, began to end apartheid. He removed many of the unfair laws. In 1994, for the first time, all adults of all races were allowed to vote. This historic election led to the National Party being voted out of office. The country then moved towards a more equal and democratic society.

Images for kids

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  D. F. Malan, leader of the NP from 1934 until 1953

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  J. G. Strijdom, leader of the NP from 1953 until 1958

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  Jaap Marais was a powerful member of the party's verkrampte faction, which opposed any reforms to apartheid.

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  F. W. de Klerk shaking hands with ANC leader Nelson Mandela at the World Economic Forum in 1992

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  Share of National Party votes in 1994. The areas which voted for the National Party were largely Afrikaans- or English speaking

See also

In Spanish: Partido Nacional (Sudáfrica) para niños