Explain the South African Freedom Charter and its key demands.

Your notes correctly define:

• Protest – an action such as a march to show disagreement or unhappiness about something.
• Charter – a written paper that says what everyone should be allowed to do.

For your homework, here are the main points of the South African Freedom Charter:

The Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955 by the Congress of the People in Kliptown, South Africa. It was a statement of core principles of the South African Congress Alliance, which consisted of the African National Congress (ANC) and its allies. It demanded equal rights and a non-racial democratic South Africa.

Key demands included:

• The people shall govern.
• All national groups shall have equal rights.
• The people shall share in the country's wealth.
• The land shall be shared among those who work it.
• All shall be equal before the law.
• All shall enjoy human rights.
• There shall be work and security.
• The doors of learning and culture shall be opened.
• There shall be houses, security, and comfort.
• There shall be peace and friendship.

This document became the foundational program for the anti-apartheid movement.