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South Africa held its first elections open to all citizens. Nelson Mandela was then elected South Africa’s first black president.
The government began to change its policies and began to get rid of the apartheid system. In that year it released the leader of the ANC, Nelson Mandela, from Prison.
In Mozambique, a civil war between the Communist government and rebels lasted until 1900’s.
Southern Rhodesia won independence. The country changed its name to Zimbabwe. Northern Rhodesia became Zambia.
A Communist government took power in Angola. Rebels supported by the United States fought against the government, which was backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba.
The Portuguese colonies –Angola and Mozambique- won independence.
Many independence movements grew. Britain granted independence to most its remaining colonies.
Black South Africans had been denied political rights under a system of laws called apartheid (Separateness). These laws forced black South African’s to live in separate areas and use separate facilities from whites.
Political organizations inside South Africa also pushed for an end to apartheid. The best of these groups was the African National Congress (ANC), founded in 1912.
In the end, all of what is now South Africa came under British control. Britain then granted the Union of South Africa independence.
Both the Boers and the British wanted to control the region’s mineral wealth. This lead to the Boer War.
Great Britain took over the cape area. Many Afrikaners moved inland. After fierce battles with Bantu-speaking peoples, the Afrikaners set up two independent republics in the interior.
Farther South, the Sotho established a kingdom in what is now Lesotho.
Farther South, the Sotho established a kingdom in what is now Lesotho. Late 1800’s: Discovery of Diamonds and Gold drew people to southern Africa from all over the world.
The Dutch set up a small settlement at the Cape of Good Hope. The Dutch decided it was a good location to farm and were joined by many Europeans including French and Germans.
Portuguese sailors began exploring the southern African coast and reached the coast of what is now Angola.
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