The Defiance Campaign (1952)

The Defiance Campaign was a ANC organised campaign against the apartheid system. It was in some ways the most significant campaign as it marked the opening of a new and a more radical way to protest against the apartheid system. The ANC Youth League of Action had outlined a more militant strategy which the Defiance Campaign adopted.

The Campaign Aimed to apply concerted pressure on the government and force it to appeal the apartheid legislation and force them to negotiate with the ANC. To achieve this they planned to involve the masses of ordinary Africans to watch while ANC leaders and volunteers would break the law. They also wanted to show the contrast between their non-violent civil disobedient and the heavily violent responses from authorities. By doing this they would overcrowd the prisons, pushing the police and courts to a breaking point. They also planned to involve all the racial groups in the struggle against apartheid.

The Defiance Campaign was ANC trying to find a more effective response to the apartheid laws passed by the Malan Government. The ANC also had to prove that they were still relevant and had effective responses to the government.