How did the African National Congress oppose apartheid in South Africa?

The African National Congress (ANC) employed a variety of strategies to oppose apartheid, evolving from nonviolent protest to militant resistance as the government intensified its repression.

Nonviolent Resistance

During the 1940s and 1950s, the ANC adopted a more militant stance under younger leadership, including Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. Key nonviolent efforts included:2
* Defiance Campaign (1952): Thousands of volunteers protested discriminatory laws by passively courting arrest and burning their pass books.12
* Mass Mobilization: The party sponsored strikes, boycotts, and marches to challenge the National Party's racial policies.2
* Freedom Charter: In 1955, the ANC and its allies adopted this document, which outlined a vision for a democratic, nonracial South Africa where all citizens would have equal rights.1

Militancy and Underground Operations

Following the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and the subsequent banning of the organization, the ANC was forced to operate underground and from exile.34
* Armed Struggle: In 1961, the ANC formed its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, to carry out acts of sabotage against the state.3
* International Advocacy: While internal guerrilla efforts were limited by state security, the ANC maintained its presence abroad, keeping the movement alive and building international pressure against the regime.3
* Internal Resistance: By the 1980s, the ANC became closely identified with domestic groups like the United Democratic Front, which coordinated strikes and boycotts that contributed to the eventual collapse of apartheid.5