Reasons for the National Party's victory in 1948
Second World War
Stimulated Nationalism
Oxwagon Sentinel - many interned
Greyshirts (fascists)
Fighting against natural allies
Fanned by publications such as De Transvaler - Foited by Verwoerd (future PM)
Economic
75%of new manufacturing workers were black
Fear created as Smuts seemed to
be supportive
Urbanisation
Fear in Country
Loss of power and
workforce
Fear in cities
Jobs
Housing
Mixing
Appeal of the National Party
Understood the system and
how to manipulate it
Grass roots energy
Herzoe's mineworkers
Easy to sell change
Simplicity of the message
The system of first past the post
Also, rural constituencies weighed more (15%)
Exacerbated by urbanisation
Established in 1910 constitution
National Party got 70 seats and the United party got 65
NP - 38%
UP - 49%
Polled 37% in 1943 - 43 seats
Failings of the United Party
Weak campaign
There was fear that Smuts and, in particular Hofmeyer, were too moderate
1946 Hofmeyer proposednon-racial health service
1942 Smuts stated that segregation had failed
Too close to Stalin
Too concerned with international affairs
Smuts was old and tired
Surge in nationalism
100th anniversary of Battle of Blood River - Voortrecker monument 1838, covenant with God
Broederband
Influenced by Dutch Reformed Church
How great was it? - 1943-48 The percentage of the vote by the NP and the Afrikaner parties went from 38% to 42%
