Define the apartheid system.

The apartheid system was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Originating from the Afrikaans word for "separateness," apartheid was implemented by the National Party government to maintain and perpetuate the dominance of the white minority over the black majority population.

Under apartheid, South Africa's population was classified into racial categories, primarily consisting of White, Black, Coloured (mixed race), and Indian/Asian. Each racial group was assigned different legal rights, privileges, and access to resources, based solely on their racial classification. The apartheid regime enacted a series of discriminatory laws and policies to enforce segregation and control every aspect of life, including residence, education, employment, and public services.

The key features of the apartheid system included:

1. Racial Classification: The Population Registration Act classified individuals into racial groups based on physical appearance, ancestry, and social status. These classifications determined a person's legal status and rights under apartheid.

2. Separate Amenities: Apartheid laws mandated the creation of separate facilities for different racial groups, including separate schools, hospitals, public transportation, beaches, and residential areas. These "separate but equal" facilities were often grossly unequal, with resources and services overwhelmingly favoring white communities.

3. Pass Laws: The Pass Laws required black South Africans to carry passes, known as "dompas," at all times, which restricted their movement and employment opportunities. Failure to produce a pass could result in arrest, detention, and deportation.

4. Land Dispossession: The Group Areas Act forcibly removed non-white communities from areas designated for white settlement, leading to the forced relocation and dispossession of millions of black South Africans from their ancestral lands.

5. Bantu Education: The Bantu Education Act established a separate and inferior education system for black South Africans, designed to perpetuate racial inequality and limit educational opportunities for black children.

6. Political disenfranchisement: Apartheid laws denied black South Africans the right to vote and participate in the political process, effectively disenfranchising the majority of the population.

The apartheid system was characterized by systemic racism, oppression, and violence, with the white minority government using repressive measures to suppress dissent and maintain control over the oppressed majority. The apartheid regime faced widespread domestic and international condemnation, leading to increasing resistance and activism against apartheid both within South Africa and abroad. Ultimately, apartheid was dismantled through a combination of internal resistance, international pressure, and negotiations, leading to the establishment of a democratic, nonracial South Africa in 1994.