We'll start with the 35:2 quiz.
Your reading for today focused on the challenges of democracy in Africa. We can touch base on the Nigeria story, but the country of South Africa will be our focus for today. In particular, we'll examine the system of apartheid that was in place for decades. After that, we'll consider the threat AIDS is posing in many areas of the world by considering the case study of sub-Saharan Africa.
Your reading for today focused on the challenges of democracy in Africa. We can touch base on the Nigeria story, but the country of South Africa will be our focus for today. In particular, we'll examine the system of apartheid that was in place for decades. After that, we'll consider the threat AIDS is posing in many areas of the world by considering the case study of sub-Saharan Africa.
Apartheid in South Africa -
When we last left South Africa, it had become an independent member of
the British Commonwealth between the world wars. In 1948, the
Afrikaner-led Nationalist Party came to power advocating a system of
apartheid. For more than four decades, this become one of the most
notorious governmental systems in the world.
- How did apartheid work?
- What was the damage done by apartheid?
- How was apartheid opposed? (Internally? Externally?)
- How was the system of apartheid dismantled?
Timeline of Apartheid -
- 1948 - National Party institutes apartheid
- 1950 - race classification, Group Areas Act passed, ANC banned
- 1960 - Sharpeville Massacre
- 1964 - Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment
- 1976 - Soweto Uprising - 600 killed
- 1977 - Stephen Biko killed in police custody
- 1980s - international pressure increases
- 1986 - state of emergency
- 1989 - F.W. de Klerk becomes president
- 1990 - Mandela released, ANC unbanned
- 1994 - Mandela elected president in free elections
The
colored areas on the map show the "homelands" or Bantustans where the
black African population of South Africa was forced to live during the
apartheid decades.
AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa:
While certainly a worldwide crisis, AIDS has struck most severely in
Sub-Saharan Africa. We'll take a look at the extent of the crisis using
a set of overheads that look at the "numbers" behind the crisis. (These
particular overheads are from 2000, so the specific numbers are no
longer accurate. However, they certainly make certain points
effectively. You can find updated information below.)
Some questions for us to consider:
- Why has AIDS hit Sub-Saharan Africa so heavily?
- What might be done to slow the epidemic?
- Should (or how should) the outside world help in dealing with the effects of the epidemic?
Here are some additional resources on AIDS:
Here is the 2009 report of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. There are a lot of links to statistics and resources.
"Death Stalks a Continent" - Time, (2001) - As the front page says, "This is a story about AIDS in Africa. Look at the pictures. Read the words. And then try not to care."
If you want some straight-forward information, the Global Issues - AIDS in Africa site is a good one to use.
"Worldwide AIDS epidemic slowing, says UN" - The Guardian, July 29, 2008. This is one of many articles suggesting that the epidemic may be slowing. (Don't confuse that with being cured.)
"FRONTLINE: The Age of AIDS" - This 2006 PBS site looks at the worldwide aspects. The timeline and map features are both interesting.
HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Wednesday, June 1st
Please
continue your reading in Chapter 35 with Section 3, "The Collapse of
the Soviet Union." (pp. 1046-1051) The quiz will be fill-in-the-blank.
Remember that your final batch of Current Events is due on Friday, June 3rd. You can download this template for your Final Set of Current Events. (Remember, you are picking stories from particular areas, not according to the AP History themes we had been using.)
