Unit 4: Paper 1 — Rights and Protest
Topic 4.2: Apartheid South Africa (1948–1964) Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB History Topic 4.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.1 - Q1
Which party won the whites-only South African election of May 1948 and made apartheid official government policy?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.2 - Q2
What was the main aim of the 1952 Defiance Campaign?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.2 - Q1
In which year did the National Party win power and begin passing apartheid laws?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.1 - Q7
According to Source C, identify three ways in which apartheid formed a single 'machine of interlocking laws'.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q10
With reference to its origin, purpose and content, analyse the value and limitations of Source D for a historian studying the Sharpeville massacre.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q2
Which leader is usually called the 'architect of apartheid'?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.2 - Q7
According to Source B, identify three reasons the government minister gives to defend or explain the events at Sharpeville and the government's response.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.1 - Q2
Which 1950 law classified every person in South Africa into a racial group recorded on a national register?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.1 - Q3
According to the petty/grand distinction used by historians, which of the following is an example of PETTY apartheid?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q11
Compare and contrast what Sources A and B reveal about how South Africa should be governed.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.2 - Q3
How many people were killed in the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.1 - Q6
According to Source B, state three ways in which apartheid affected the life of Miriam Ndlovu's family.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.2 - Q5
What was the outcome of the Rivonia Trial for Nelson Mandela on 12 June 1964?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q12
Compare and contrast what Sources B and D reveal about resistance to apartheid.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q5
At which 1964 trial was Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.2 - Q6
According to Source A, state three things the Defiance Campaign asked its volunteers to do.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q3
In what year did the PAC break away from the ANC?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q9
With reference to its origin, purpose and content, analyse the value and limitations of Source C for a historian studying divisions within the anti-apartheid resistance.
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q1
Which party won the 1948 whites-only election and went on to build the apartheid system?
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2026• Aimnova original vault - 4.2.3 - Q4
What was Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)?
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