Congress Alliance
Congress Alliance | ||
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Founded | 26 June 1955 | |
Dissolved | December 1956 | |
Merger of | Party program Freedom Charter | |
Part of a series on |
Apartheid |
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The Congress Alliance was an anti-apartheid political coalition formed in South Africa in the 1950s. Led by the African National Congress, the CA was multi-racial in makeup and committed to the principle of majority rule.
Congress of the People and the Freedom Charter
The National Action Council was made up of executives of the African National Congress, the
The Charter was the statement of core principles of the Alliance, which included a commitment to multi-racial democratic government and a fundamental restructuring of all aspects of South African Society.[2][1][3] The Alliance was part of the ANC's efforts to promote a multi-racial anti-apartheid movement.[4]
Other organisations associated with the Congress Alliance included the Federation of South African Women.[citation needed]
Arrests
In December 1956 many key members of the Alliance were arrested and charged with treason, including the entire executive committee of the ANC. 105
These arrests led to the 1956 Treason Trial, which lasted until 1961 but led to the eventual acquittal of all charged.[7]
References
- ^ a b "The Freedom Charter is adopted in Kliptown: Sunday, 26 June 1955". South African History Online. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Significance of the Congress of the People and the Freedom Charter". South African History Online. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Baard, Frances; Schreiner, Barbie. "The congress of the people". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
From the book: My Spirit Is Not Banned by Frances Baard and Barbie Schreiner
- ^ Gerhart, Gail M. Black power in South Africa: The evolution of an ideology. University of California Press.
- ^ Shimoni, Gideon. Community and Conscience: The Jews in Apartheid South Africa. UPNE, 2003.
- ^ Mandela, Nelson (1994). Long Walk To Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela.
- ^ Naomi Klein (2007). The Shock Doctrine. London: Penguin Group.