Wednesday, May 31, 1961: The Republic of South Africa

The country officially becomes a republic, breaking away from the Commonwealth of Nations (the remnants of the British Empire). The act followed a referendum in October 1960 in which 52 percent of whites had voted in favor of such a move.

* "Formation of the South African Republic": @

* South African History Online: @

* Country Studies: South Africa (from Library of Congress): @

* Newsreels: @ and @ and @

* Interview with Nelson Mandela (May 1961): @

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