what is apartheid class 10
Apartheid is a system of legalised racial separation and discrimination in which one race enjoys more rights, power, and opportunities than others, especially known from South Africa in the 20th century.
Quick Scoop: Apartheid (Class 10 Level)
Simple definition for class 10
- Apartheid means “apartness” – keeping different racial groups separate in every part of life (schools, housing, jobs, transport, public places).
- It was a policy followed in South Africa where the white minority ruled over the non‑white majority (Black, Coloured, Asian) and treated them as inferior.
- Non‑whites had very limited or no political rights (like voting), very few good jobs, and were forced to live in separate areas.
Key points you should write in an exam
- Meaning
- Apartheid = official policy of racial discrimination and segregation based on skin colour.
- Where and when
- Practised mainly in South Africa from about 1948 to the early 1990s.
- How it worked (in short)
- People were classified into groups: white, Black, Coloured (mixed), and Asian.
* Separate schools, hospitals, buses, trains, toilets, beaches, and even churches for whites and non‑whites.
* Blacks could not live or own land in “white” areas without special permits; they were pushed into separate townships or “homelands”.
* Non‑whites had to carry passes to enter white areas.
- Effect on people
- Non‑whites faced humiliation, poverty, and violence, and were denied basic human rights and equality.
One exam‑style answer (short paragraph)
Apartheid was a system of racial discrimination and segregation followed in South Africa, in which the white minority government kept whites and non‑whites separate and gave more rights and privileges to whites. Non‑whites (especially Black people) were forced to live in separate areas, go to separate schools and hospitals, take different buses and trains, and were denied equal political rights such as voting.
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