Freedom Charter, noun phrase

1. The Freedom Charter: A document setting out guidelines for human rights and the duties of the state in a democratic South Africa, for many years the political manifesto of the African National Congress (see ANC noun1); the Charter (see Charter). Also attributive, and transferred sense. See also Charterist.
Note:
The Freedom Charter, drawn up by the Congress Alliance following a survey of the wishes of South Africans, was endorsed by the Congress of the People at Kliptown on 26 June 1955. See also Congress sense 2.
1953 Z.K. Matthews in M. Benson Afr. Patriots (1963) 198I wonder whether the time has not come for the A.N.C. to consider the question of convening a National Convention, a Congress of the People, representing all the people of this country, irrespective of race or colour, to draw up a Freedom Charter for the Democratic South Africa of the future.
1956 Rand Daily Mail 25 June 1The Special Branch..and..armed European police constables ringed the first anniversary meeting of the Freedom Charter Movement at Kliptown.
1958 A. Sampson Treason Cage 38The Freedom Charter..aimed to substitute for the existing State a People’s Democracy.
1962 A.J. Luthuli Let my People Go 158The Freedom Charter was read out and unanimously adopted.
1970 A.H. Murray in Std Encycl. of Sn Afr. I. 61Before it (sc. the Congress of the People) was broken up by the Police on the second day of its sessions it had adopted the Freedom Charter.
1982 Times (U.K.) 20 Dec. 6South Africa complained about the terrorist threat, but for the last 25 years the ANC had offered them the alternative of the Freedom Charter.
1986 Paratus July 35The SACP described the Freedom Charter..as ‘broad popular guidelines which describe the main contents of the people’s power in the immediate aftermath of the national democratic revolution’.
1986 J. Leatt in Leadership Vol.5 No.4, 38The debate which led to the writing of the Freedom Charter..was essentially..about which economic policy would best serve black nationalist interests.
1987 Star 5 May 10 (advt)The Freedom Charter declares that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.
1990 New African 4 June 2The Freedom Charter did not call for a socialist future, as was sometimes believed.
1991 Sunday Times 3 Feb. 22The Freedom Charter, a document..swathed now in myth, and elevated by constant propaganda to the status of ‘the will of the people’.
1991 B. Ronge in Sunday Times 14 July (Mag. Sect.) 19Was the whole exercise merely an invitation to the artists to write their own freedom charter?
2. combination
Freedom Charter Day, Freedom Day sense 1.
1956 Star 23 June 3The parade..was held to draw attention to ‘Freedom Charter Day’ which will be observed by a mass rally at Kliptown tomorrow.
1986 Financial Mail 13 June 36Confrontation is probable because of the countrywide ban placed on meetings in June to commemorate Soweto Day and Freedom Charter Day.
The Freedom Charter:A document setting out guidelines for human rights and the duties of the state in a democratic South Africa, for many years the political manifesto of the African National Congress (see ANC noun1); the Charter (see Charter). Also attributive, and transferred sense.
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free burgher, noun phrasen. phr.Freedom Day, noun phrasen. phr.
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