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.
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]
In December 1956 many key members of the Alliance were arrested and charged with treason, including the entire executive committee of the ANC. 105 Africans, 21 Indians, 23 whites (about half of whom were South African Jews),[5]: 60–61 and 7 Coloured members of the Congress Alliance were arrested. Many leaders, including Nelson Mandela, were detained in communal cells in Johannesburg Prison, resulting in "the largest and longest unbanned meeting of the Congress Alliance in years."[6]
These arrests led to the 1956 Treason Trial, which lasted until 1961 but led to the eventual acquittal of all charged.[7]
Referencesedit
^ ab"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.
congress, alliance, anti, apartheid, political, coalition, formed, south, africa, 1950s, african, national, congress, multi, racial, makeup, committed, principle, majority, rule, founded26, june, 1955dissolveddecember, 1956merger, ofanccpsasaicsactucpccodheadq. 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 AllianceFounded26 June 1955DissolvedDecember 1956Merger ofANCCPSASAICSACTUCPCCODHeadquartersTongaatIdeologyAnti ApartheidAnti racismRevolutionary SocialismMarxismAfrican Indian unityPan AfricanismThird WorldismLeft wing nationalismPolitical positionLeft wing to Far leftParty programFreedom CharterPolitics of South AfricaPolitical partiesElections Contents 1 Congress of the People and the Freedom Charter 2 Arrests 3 References 4 See alsoCongress of the People and the Freedom Charter editFurther information Freedom Charter and Congress of the People 1955 The National Action Council was made up of executives of the African National Congress the Communist Party of South Africa the South African Indian Congress SAIC the South African Congress of Trade Unions SACTU the Coloured People s Congress CPC and the South African Congress of Democrats COD met in Tongaat on 23 June 1955 This group who became known as the Congress Alliance developed the document known as the Freedom Charter and planned the Congress of the People a large multi racial gathering held over two days at Kliptown on 26 June 1955 At this rally the Charter was read out in three languages English Sotho and Xhosa and discussed by various delegates 1 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 editIn December 1956 many key members of the Alliance were arrested and charged with treason including the entire executive committee of the ANC 105 Africans 21 Indians 23 whites about half of whom were South African Jews 5 60 61 and 7 Coloured members of the Congress Alliance were arrested Many leaders including Nelson Mandela were detained in communal cells in Johannesburg Prison resulting in the largest and longest unbanned meeting of the Congress Alliance in years 6 These arrests led to the 1956 Treason Trial which lasted until 1961 but led to the eventual acquittal of all charged 7 References edit 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 See also editTripartite Alliance Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Congress Alliance amp oldid 1215975731, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
