Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd Biography and Timeline

Birth of Hendrik Verwoerd

Birth of Hendrik Verwoerd

Emigration

Verwoerd emigrates to South Africa with his parents

Professor

Appointed Professor of Sociology

Editor

Appointed editor of the Afrikaans Nationalist newspaper "die Transvaaler"

Role range: 1928-1948

Editor

Appointed Editor of Die Transvaler

Declaration of War

Opposes South Africas participation in the war

National Party

Appointed Vice Chairman of the National Party in the Transvaal

Election

Elected Senator

Leader Senate

Appointed Leader of the Senate

Role range: 1950-1958

Apartheid

Responsible for the implementation of Apartheid

Role range: 1950-1958

Group Areas Act

Group Areas Act, forces physical separation between races by creating different residential areas for different races

Role range: 1950-1958

Legislation

Group Areas Act, forces physical separation between races by creating different residential areas for different races

Role range: 1950-1958

Minister of Native Affairs

Appointed Minister of Native Affairs

Role range: 1950-1958

Apartheid Education System

The system imposes racially segregated schooling under apartheid.

Role range: 1950-1958

Bantu Education Act

Promotes legislation transferring African education to state control.

Role range: 1950-1958

Apartheid

Withdraws from the commonwealth rather than abandon Apartheid

Role range: 1958-1966

Commonwealth

Withdraws from the commonwealth rather than abandon Apartheid

Role range: 1958-1966

Prime Minister Appointment

Becomes prime minister after Strijdom's death.

Role range: 1958-1966

Prime Minister of South Africa

Appointed Prime Minister of South Africa

Role range: 1958-1966

Verwoerd Government Begins

Takes national leadership of the apartheid government.

Role range: 1958-1966

National Party Leadership

Wins National Party leadership following Strijdom's death.

Role range: 1958-1966

Prime Ministerial Selection

Moves from Native Affairs administration to national political leadership.

Role range: 1958-1966

Legislation

Bantu Investment Corporation Act, provides for black investment in black areas

Role range: 1958-1966

Reform of Parliament

A Bill is passed which abolishes all native representation in Parliament

Role range: 1958-1966

Constitution of South Africa

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

Role range: 1958-1966

Referendum

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

Role range: 1958-1966

Vote of Confidence

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

Role range: 1958-1966

Macmillan Speech Reception

Rejects external pressure to dismantle the apartheid system.

Role range: 1958-1966

Wind of Change Response

Receives Harold Macmillan's Wind of Change speech before Parliament.

Role range: 1958-1966

MacMillan makes a speech

MacMillan makes a speech before the South African Parliament, the "winds of change"

Role range: 1958-1966

Speech

MacMillan makes a speech before the South African Parliament, the "winds of change"

Role range: 1958-1966

ANC

After the Sharpville massacre the ANC & PAC are banned

Role range: 1958-1966

Government Response to Sharpeville

Defends government security policy amid international condemnation.

Role range: 1958-1966

Massacre

World opinion turns against apartheid. Over 400 are wounded, including women & children. For the 1st time the United Nations intervenes in South Africa. Black protestors are massacred protesting against apartheid pass laws, 69 are killed. After the Sharpville massacre the ANC & PAC are banned

Role range: 1958-1966

Sharpeville Crisis

Faces a national political crisis after police killings at Sharpeville.

Role range: 1958-1966

State of Emergency

The Government suspends habeas corpus. The Government declares a State of Emergency. South Africa is placed under martial law

Role range: 1958-1966

Emergency Powers Invoked

Emergency powers permit mass detention and restrictions on meetings.

Role range: 1958-1966

State of Emergency

Government declares a state of emergency after Sharpeville.

Role range: 1958-1966

ANC and PAC Banned

Government bans the ANC and PAC under new legislation.

Role range: 1958-1966

ANC

The ANC & PAC are banned by the Unlawful Organisations Act

Role range: 1958-1966