The Union of South Africa was a country in southern Africa that existed from 1910 until 1961. Its spelling in IPA phonetic transcription is / ˈjuːnjən əv saʊθ ˈæfrɪkə /. This represents the pronunciation of each individual sound in the word. The "yoo" sound at the beginning is followed by the "n" sound, and then the "saʊθ" sound which represents the "south" part of the name with an emphasis on the "ow" sound. Finally, the "afrɪkə" sound ends the word.
The Union of South Africa was a country located at the southernmost tip of the African continent. Originally established in 1910, it was a self-governing dominion within the British Empire until it became a fully sovereign and independent nation in 1934.
The Union of South Africa was formed as a result of the South Africa Act 1909, which combined the four British colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State. This consolidation created a unified political entity governed by a federal system, with a bicameral parliament consisting of the Senate and the House of Assembly.
During its existence, the Union of South Africa endured a tumultuous history marked by racial segregation and discrimination, notably through the implementation of the apartheid system from 1948 to 1994. Apartheid enforced strict racial separation and unequal treatment, heavily impacting the lives of millions of South Africans, particularly those of non-white ethnicities.
In 1961, the Union of South Africa withdrew from the British Commonwealth and adopted the name the Republic of South Africa. This change reflected the nation's transformation into a republic that was no longer under the direct rule or constitutional ties of the British monarchy.
The Union of South Africa played a significant role in shaping the history and political landscape of southern Africa, from its foundation to its eventual transition into the Republic of South Africa.