South Africa leaves the Commonwealth
1961 · Event
Rather than face the newly multiracial Commonwealth's condemnation after Sharpeville, Verwoerd withdraws and declares a republic. The laager mentality is now foreign policy — and the isolation that will eventually strangle apartheid, in sport, trade and finance, begins as a door South Africa slammed itself.
On these timelines: The Fall of Apartheid, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Empire, Master, United Kingdom (combined)
More from The Fall of Apartheid
- Apartheid (1948)
- Soweto uprising (1976)
- Sharpeville massacre (1960)
- Mandela imprisoned (Rivonia Trial) (1964)
- The National Party wins on apartheid (1948)
- Mandela inaugurated as President (1994)
- The Freedom Charter (1955)
- De Klerk takes power (1989)
Around 1961
- Cuban Revolutionary War (1953)
- Decolonisation of Africa (1952)
- Apollo 11 moon landing (1969)
- Prague Spring (1968)
- The Troubles (1968)
- Six-Day War (1967)
- Suez Crisis (1956)
- Vietnam War (American phase) (1965)
- Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
- US Civil Rights Movement (1954)