Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Facts & Worksheets

Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 facts and information plus worksheet packs and fact file. Includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years old (KS3) & 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 years old (GCSE). Great for home study or to use within the classroom environment.

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Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Worksheets

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Fact File

Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Resource 1
Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Resource 2

Student Activities

Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Activity & Answer Guide 1
Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Activity & Answer Guide 2
Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Activity & Answer Guide 3
Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 Activity & Answer Guide 4
Table of Contents
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    Summary

    • Historical Background
    • Provisions of the Act
    • Criticisms and Limitations
    • Impact and Significance

    Key Facts And Information

    Let’s know more about the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986!

    The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 was a US legislation enacted to pressure the South African government to end its system of apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination. The Act imposed a range of economic sanctions on South Africa, including bans on investment, trade and air travel. 

    The Act also demanded freedom for political prisoners and set conditions for ending sanctions. While its exact impact is debated, it is considered important in the US fight against apartheid.

    Anti-apartheid protest in Amsterdam
    Anti-apartheid protest in Amsterdam

    Historical Background of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986

    • Apartheid (in Afrikaans this means ‘separateness’) was a system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. It aimed to secure white minority rule over the Black African majority.
    • Apartheid laws categorised individuals by race, and these classifications dictated almost every aspect of a person’s life. Black Africans were oppressed and denied basic human rights. They were stripped of their South African citizenship and assigned a pseudo-citizenship in one of ten homelands or Bantustans. They were also prohibited from voting, effectively making them foreigners in their own country.
    • Discriminatory laws, such as the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act and the Group Areas Act, controlled where people of different races could live. The pass laws restricted Black Africans from travelling and required them to carry passes at all times. Apartheid was maintained through police brutality and state violence.
    • The international community, including the United States, initially adopted quiet diplomacy, where they expressed their disapproval of the apartheid but avoided any direct confrontation. This was because they saw South Africa as an anti-communist ally. 
    • The American Civil Rights Movement raised awareness about racial injustice in South Africa and gathered public support against apartheid. The movement organised protests, boycotts and campaigns that targeted companies who were doing business in South Africa. This activism put pressure on the US government to take a stronger stance on apartheid.
    • In 1972, Senator William Roth introduced a bill, a precursor to the 1986 Act, to impose sanctions on South Africa. The Act aimed to ban all new US trade and investment in South Africa, cut air links, and suppress any US government assistance to the apartheid regime. Despite its failure, it showed Congress’s growing opposition to apartheid.
    • The situation in South Africa worsened in the 1980s. In 1985, Democrats tried to pass an anti-apartheid bill, but President Ronald Reagan, favouring constructive engagement, which was a less confrontational alternative to sanctions and divestment, imposed his own limited sanctions. However, Democrats criticised them as ineffective.
    Ronald Reagan
    Ronald Reagan
    • The legislative battle continued and in 1986, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act was reintroduced. It passed despite Republican attempts to delay it, but with weaker sanctions to ensure bipartisan support to override a potential veto. President Reagan ultimately vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode it. This was the first time in the 20th century that a president had a foreign policy veto overridden. 

    Provisions of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986

    • The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 was a US legislation designed to pressure South Africa to end apartheid. It included a broader US policy encompassing economic, social and political aspects of South Africa. The Act was organised into six parts, with each addressing a specific area.

     

    1. Policy of the United States With Respect to Ending Apartheid

    • This section established the US goal of a non-racial democracy in South Africa. It called for the release of political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, and urged the South African government to develop a timetable for the repeal of apartheid laws. 
    • It also addressed US policy towards other neighbouring countries, aiming to aid those bordering South Africa by supporting their political and economic stability.

    2. Measures to Assist Victims of Apartheid

    • This section focused on giving aid to those harmed by apartheid. It included provisions for scholarships, the creation of a human rights fund, and support for Black participation in the South African economy. It also encouraged fair labour practices in US companies operating in South Africa.

    3. Measures by the United States to Undermine Apartheid

    • This section had the core economic sanctions against South Africa, which included:
      • Ban on new investments: This prohibited new US investments in South Africa, including bank loans to the government and restrictions on US companies expanding their operations there.
      • Import embargo: This banned the importation of South African products into the US, including coal, steel, textiles, agricultural products, iron, steel, sugar and uranium.
      • Air travel restrictions: This banned direct air travel between the US and South Africa.
      • Prohibition of loans to the government: This prevented most loans to the South African government, except for those promoting the development of Black South Africans or aiding organisations working to end apartheid.
      • Technology restrictions: The export of computers and technology related to nuclear development was also prohibited.

    4. Multilateral Measures to Undermine Apartheid

    • This section focused on coordinating with other countries to increase pressure on the South African government. This allowed the US president to work with other industrialised democracies to implement sanctions on South Africa.

    5. Future Policy Towards South Africa

    • This section outlined steps for the future, including the possibility of additional measures against South Africa if necessary. It also mentioned the conditions for lifting the sanctions, such as the release of political prisoners, the end of the state of emergency, and the repeal of discriminatory laws. In addition, it mandated research into key areas, including the health conditions in the Bantustans, the regional economy, and the activities of the African National Congress.

    6. Enforcement and Administrative Provisions

    • This final section addressed the enforcement of the Act. It granted authorities the power to create and enforce regulations, and it described the punishments for those who didn’t follow the law. It also clarified that the law applied to anyone trying to get around the sanctions.

    Criticisms and Limitations

    • Although the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 was a significant step in US pressure on South Africa to end apartheid, it was not without limitations.
    • One criticism about it was the possibility that it could only do more harm than good. Some argued that the Act’s economic sanctions would lead to job losses, worsen poverty, and create difficulties for the Black majority, who were already disadvantaged by the apartheid system.
    • Another criticism was that the Act was not comprehensive enough to force significant change in South Africa. It did not include a complete trade embargo or divestment from all US companies operating in South Africa. 
    • Some argued that this limited scope reduced the Act’s effectiveness and allowed the South African government to find ways to bypass its sanctions. There were concerns that the sanctions would primarily affect Black workers while having little impact on the white minority who held most of the power.
    • Critics have pointed out that sanctions often take a long time to have a significant impact, and that their effects might not be felt until years later. Some argued that the Act’s sanctions were not the main reason apartheid ended, and believed that internal resistance within South Africa was more important. Others suggested that alternative approaches, such as increased support for anti-apartheid movements within South Africa, would have been better in bringing about change.
    • The Act also faced challenges in enforcement and evasion. Some companies and countries found ways to bypass the sanctions. There were concerns about the ability of the US government to effectively monitor and enforce the Act given how complicated international trade was.
    • Some critics believed the Act was motivated by US politics, and not by a genuine desire to end apartheid. They felt it was a way for politicians to gain favour with voters, and that it could unintentionally strengthen the white minority government in South Africa.

    Impact and Significance

    • Despite its limitations, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 had a significant impact on South Africa. The sanctions imposed by the Act put pressure on the South African economy. Foreign investment declined, access to capital markets was restricted, and key exports were affected. This contributed to the economic difficulties of South Africa due to the weakening of its currency.
    • While the head of South Africa’s central bank argued in 1988 that the nation had adjusted financially, the economic effects were undeniable. The Act further isolated South Africa on the international stage.
    Apartheid segregation
    Apartheid segregation
    • The Act reinforced the message that apartheid was unacceptable and that the country faced condemnation and ostracisation. This aided in pushing the South African government towards negotiations. 
    • Moreover, it had a psychological impact on both the white minority government and the Black majority population. For the government, the Act showed that their policies were unsustainable. For Black South Africans, the Act gave them hope and validation that their struggle was being recognised.
    • The Act also marked a shift in US foreign policy from constructive engagement to active pressure to end apartheid. This shift highlights the influence of the anti-apartheid movement. 
    • It also demonstrated the power of the US Congress to influence foreign policy, even in opposition to the president, as was seen from the override of President Reagan’s veto. This was emphasised even further when the newly elected President George H.W. Bush departed from Reagan’s lenient approach by enacting full enforcement of the Act in 1989.
    • Despite the repeal of most sanctions at the federal level, many US states and cities maintained their own sanctions against South Africa. In 1993, Nelson Mandela asked for the remaining sanctions on South Africa to be lifted to help its struggling economy. Thus, the last of the sanctions from the Act were finally repealed in November 1993. 

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    Frequently Asked Questions About The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986

    • What was the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986?

      The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 was a U.S. federal law that imposed sanctions on South Africa in response to its system of apartheid—a policy of racial segregation and discrimination. The Act aimed to pressure the South African government to dismantle apartheid and promote civil rights reforms.

    • Why was the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act significant?

      The Act marked a major shift in U.S. foreign policy toward South Africa, as it imposed economic and diplomatic sanctions despite opposition from President Ronald Reagan, who vetoed it. Congress overrode the veto, signalling strong bipartisan opposition to apartheid.

    • Why did President Reagan veto the Act?

      President Reagan opposed the Act, arguing that sanctions would harm South African citizens more than the apartheid government. He favoured a policy of "constructive engagement," which aimed to encourage gradual reform through diplomatic and economic cooperation rather than punitive measures.