Apartheid
Apartheid was a policy of racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in South Africa.The term was first used as the name of the as the name of the official policy of the National Party in 1948, although, racial segregation was already widely practiced. The Group Areas Act was established business and residential laws for which certain races had to abide. For example, one rule was that non-whites had to carry around identification papers at all times. Other laws forbade the social contact of between those of European descent and others, including, different restrooms, certain jobs, and specific living areas. Apartheid was always subject to internal criticism and led to many violent protests, strikes, and acts of sabotage. In 1990–91 most apartheid legislation was repealed, but segregation continued on a concerning basis. In 1993 a new constitution freed blacks and other racial groups, and all-race national elections. In 1994 they produced a coalition government with a black majority. These developments marked the end of legislated apartheid, though not of its established social and economic effects.
"ApartheidAbout Our Definitions: All Forms of a Word (noun, Verb, Etc.) Are Now Displayed on One Page." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apartheid>.