OCR · GCSE · History

    Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026

    The People and the State (J410/05) - Opposition to the Apartheid regime…

    Full specification wording

    South Africa 1960–1994: The People and the State (J410/05) - Opposition to the Apartheid regime c.1960s: The consolidation of Apartheid – Separate Development and the establishment of the Bantustans; nature and extent of support for Apartheid; methods used by government to maintain the Apartheid regime; the Sharpeville Massacre and its impact; reasons for, methods of and impact of different types of resistance to the Apartheid regime, including the ANC, continuing impact of the Freedom Charter and Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo; the Rivonia Trial 1964 and its consequences.

    This topic examines how Apartheid was consolidated and resisted in the 1960s.

    Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    This topic examines how Apartheid was consolidated and resisted in the 1960s. Learn how Separate Development was organised and how the Bantustans were established as nominally self-governing homelands. Weigh the nature and extent of support for Apartheid among different groups. Study the methods government used to maintain the regime, such as legislation and policing. Examine the Sharpeville Massacre and its impact on opposition and international opinion. Compare reasons for, methods of and impact of different types of resistance, including the ANC, the continuing impact of the Freedom Charter, and the armed wings Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo. Finally, cover the Rivonia Trial of 1964 and its consequences for the leadership of resistance.

    What earns the marks

    • Explains the consolidation of Apartheid through Separate Development and the establishment of the Bantustans.
    • Assesses the nature and extent of support for Apartheid among different groups.
    • Describes the methods government used to maintain the Apartheid regime.
    • Explains the Sharpeville Massacre and its impact on opposition and wider opinion.
    • Compares reasons for, methods of and impact of resistance by the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo.
    • Explains the continuing impact of the Freedom Charter on resistance.
    • Describes the Rivonia Trial of 1964 and its consequences for the resistance leadership.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Treats the Bantustans as genuinely independent states.

      Put it right: Describe them as part of Separate Development designed to deny shared citizenship.

    • Confuses Umkhonto we Sizwe with Poqo.

      Put it right: Keep the ANC's armed wing distinct from the PAC-aligned movement.

    • Dates the Rivonia Trial outside 1964.

      Put it right: Anchor it firmly in that year and its consequences.

    • Ignores the Freedom Charter's continuing impact.

      Put it right: Link it to later resistance aims.

    Exam tips

    • Match each option to a named element such as Bantustans, Sharpeville or Rivonia before choosing.
    • Eliminate options that misattribute armed wings to the wrong organisation.
    • Check that an option covers the whole clause, for example both methods and impact of resistance.
    • Use the date 1964 to test options about the Rivonia Trial and its consequences.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the South Africa 1960–1994: The People and the State (J410/05) - Opposition to the Apartheid regime c.1960s: The consolidation of Apartheid – Separate Development and the establishment of the Bantustans; nature and extent of support for Apartheid; methods used by government to maintain the Apartheid regime; the Sharpeville Massacre and its impact; reasons for, methods of and impact of different types of resistance to the Apartheid regime, including the ANC, continuing impact of the Freedom Charter and Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo; the Rivonia Trial 1964 and its consequences. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Under the policy of Separate Development, what were the Bantustans intended to be?

    Listen

    This topic examines how Apartheid was consolidated and resisted in the 1960s. Learn how Separate Development was organised and how the Bantustans were established as nominally self-governing homelands. Weigh the nature and extent of support for Apartheid among different groups. Study the methods government used to maintain the regime, such as legislation and policing. Examine the Sharpeville Massacre and its impact on opposition and international opinion. Compare reasons for, methods of and impact of different types of resistance, including the ANC, the continuing impact of the Freedom Charter, and the armed wings Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo. Finally, cover the Rivonia Trial of 1964 and its consequences for the leadership of resistance. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the consolidation of Apartheid through Separate Development and the establishment of the Bantustans. Assesses the nature and extent of support for Apartheid among different groups. Describes the methods government used to maintain the Apartheid regime. Explains the Sharpeville Massacre and its impact on opposition and wider opinion. Exam tip: Match each option to a named element such as Bantustans, Sharpeville or Rivonia before choosing.

    See it

    A flowchart running from top to bottom. At the top, a node labelled Consolidation of Apartheid branches to Separate Development, which leads to Establishment of the Bantustans, and also to Methods used by government to maintain the regime. A node labelled Support for Apartheid points into Consolidation of Apartheid. Separately, Sharpeville Massacre leads to Impact on opposition and wider opinion. A node labelled Resistance: ANC branches to Freedom Charter continuing impact and to Umkhonto we Sizwe. A node labelled Poqo and the Umkhonto we Sizwe and Freedom Charter nodes all lead into Different types of resistance, as does Impact on opposition and wider opinion. Different types of resistance finally leads to Rivonia Trial 1964 and its consequences.
    It shows how the consolidation of Apartheid through Separate Development and the Bantustans, government methods, support, the Sharpeville Massacre, and the different types of resistance connect to the Rivonia Trial of 1964 and its consequences.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Consolidation of Apartheid

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Separate Development and Bantustans

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Sharpeville Massacre and its impact

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Rivonia Trial and its consequences

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Consolidation of Apartheid
    Separate Development and the establishment of the Bantustans formed part of this process.
    Separate Development and Bantustans
    Bantustans were established as nominally self-governing homelands under Separate Development.
    Sharpeville Massacre and its impact
    Its impact fell on opposition and international opinion.
    Rivonia Trial and its consequences
    The trial of 1964 had consequences for the leadership of resistance.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart running from top to bottom. At the top, a node labelled Consolidation of Apartheid branches to Separate Development, which leads to Establishment of the Bantustans, and also to Methods used by government to maintain the regime. A node labelled Support for Apartheid points into Consolidation of Apartheid. Separately, Sharpeville Massacre leads to Impact on opposition and wider opinion. A node labelled Resistance: ANC branches to Freedom Charter continuing impact and to Umkhonto we Sizwe. A node labelled Poqo and the Umkhonto we Sizwe and Freedom Charter nodes all lead into Different types of resistance, as does Impact on opposition and wider opinion. Different types of resistance finally leads to Rivonia Trial 1964 and its consequences.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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    Test your understanding of South Africa 1960–1994: The People and the State (J410/05) - Opposition to the Apartheid regime c.1960s: The consolidation of Apartheid – Separate Development and the establishment of the Bantustans; nature and extent of support for Apartheid; methods used by government to maintain the Apartheid regime; the Sharpeville Massacre and its impact; reasons for, methods of and impact of different types of resistance to the Apartheid regime, including the ANC, continuing impact of the Freedom Charter and Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo; the Rivonia Trial 1964 and its consequences.

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