Class notes
Hist 348 Exam (all question summaries)
- Course
- History 348
- Institution
- Stellenbosch University (SUN)
Lecture notes of 33 pages for the course History 348 at SUN
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November Exam (3 hours, answer 3 questions)Contents:
Theme A: Afrikanerdom
1. Changes in lifestyle in the 1960s, change – era of depression/growth; growth of
middle class people who were happy with status and could brave 1990s
3. Voelvry and Afrikaner nationalism – not whole history, disheveled bunch of
musicians, what is the metaphor of voelvry and how seen as decline of Afrikaner
nationalism, turn nationalism around,
4. Poor Whites: Knysna Woodcutters; Nature of phenomenon at the time, how it
arose and main characteristics
Theme B: Border War
1. ECC – not phrased the same as essay Q;
2. Women and the War – part of propaganda, supportive ideology
3. Reasons for the war – various interpretations, continued for a long time, will
take time for historical analysis to emerge
Theme C: Black Politics and the transition
1. Role of the middle class – way the ANC has evolved, drivers that
contributed/class of people, Mandela’s generation, backbone of ANC
2. Transition – youtube, distinguish between events and facets, won’t get direct
question, think laterally
, Theme A: Afrikanerdom
1. Changes in lifestyle in the 1960s, change – era of depression/growth;
growth of middle class people who were happy with status and could brave
1990s
Intro
The 1960s is remembered as an era of Hendrik Verwoed, the banning of
PAC/ANC and Sharpeville. However there were simultaneous socio-economic
undercurrents in Afrikaner society that had a wide cultural and political impact
on society. Afrikaners have a complex social history, not just simply agents of
repressive regime, and these dynamics were shaped through the economic
growth of the 1960s. EP Thompson said that there is “no such thing as economic
growth which is not, at the same time, growth or change of a culture”. This is true
of the 1960s era, where economic growth gave way to societal differentiation,
changes in cultural lifestyle, youth practices, and consequently impacted on SA
politics.
Economic prosperity: growth of consumer culture
After Sharpeville there was a capital flight from overseas investors and
gold/foreign exchange reserves decreased. However this was a Short-term
decline as the government took measures to regain political and economic
control: controls on imports, foreign exchange and hire-purchase agreements,
banning ANC/PAC
The 1960s consequently experienced the biggest boom since the gold rush with
local investors buying shares, an average growth of 6%, foreign investment, new
technology, and the collaboration between English and Afrikaans businessmen
which led to a reorganization of ownership in the economy.
A new Afrikaner confidence was seen, as businessmen became more assertive
and a new generation of Afrikaners (rid of the inferiority complex) moved from
unskilled to skilled jobs. The NP promoted Afrikaner education, developing
technical schools, tertiary level support establishing engineering and medical
campuses, from 1960-1972 there was a 34.6% growth white schoolteachers.
This created a new class of urban financial, industrial, commercial capitalists.
Examples include Louw of Sanlam and Marais of Trust Bank who modified the
appearance of banking halls, changing the banking image from old-fashioned to
‘modern’.
A gradual consumer-orientated culture arose, changing the “save for stability”
mindset from the 1930s depression (where consumerism was a sinful
extravagance) to a new “spend for success” mindset. Fusing commercial acumen
with Afrikaner history and traditions, a new sense of business developed where
‘Voortrekkers as business entrepreneurs’ were encouraged to join the ranks of
previous Afrikaner leaders and ‘heroes’.
, An increase in available credit meant that South Africans could buy luxury goods
and repay debt over a long period. Self-service supermarkets, credit cards, and
the expansion of the advertising industry, changed the psychological value of
borrowing money from one of misfortune to a way to increase ones status.
With an increase in business awareness, many entrepreneurs like Anton Rupert
moved away from nationalism and ethnicity, and focused on internationalizing
their businesses. The joke “smoke Rembrandt, cough for the nation” lost its force
as many entrepreneurs chose to expand beyond SA borders. Afrikaners also
showed more interest in the international stock market. Ethnic ties also
decreased amongst Afrikaner consumers who stopped necessarily buying
Afrikaans brands and became more price-orientated.
Status Differentiation and Lifestyle Changes
Economic growth also impacted on the Afrikaner social order. Embracing new
economic opportunities and competing to achieve social and economic success,
Afrikaners vied to be seen as ‘modern’. This was seen by a demonstrative display
of wealth, increased snobbishness and exclusive social networks, as the wealthy
carefully protected their reputations and social statuses. As a result, the gap
between wealthy and poor – the chasm between educated and uneducated – grew
exponentially. Class divisions were seen in all areas even in church.
There were different markers of status: Modern cars, (Cadillac being the pinnacle
driven by cabinet ministers, versus the Ford Zephyrs ‘zef’ and ‘3-litre’ Ford
Cortinas); houses (being in right neighbourhood, having a fashionable design and
interior decoration); golf (elitist sport and exclusive membership where informal
networking could take place; Afrikaners could relax on equal footing to
Englishmen and make connections).
Women also started to enter the labour market, moving from unskilled jobs to
nursing/teaching and embracing a newfound confidence that rejected the
traditional role of ‘mothers of the nation’. Women became more fashion-
conscious and valued the importance of being ‘correctly’ dressed (ie. mink coats
and diamonds). The increase of material accumulation also accompanied a
cautious distancing from rigid religion, increased secularization and the rise in
divorce rates.
Youth
As the youth of this era had not experienced the Afrikaner hardships of the past,
or the cultural battles to protect the ‘volk’, many parents wanted to protect the
younger generation against foreign influences – especially the Western cultural
trends of the 60’s like sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll.
Cultural organizations and the unsuccessful Anti-Miniskirt lobby stood against
‘sexually suggestive clothing’. Many conservatives saw miniskirts as
reprehensible, an assault on Afrikaner morals and the indirect promotion of
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