The first decade’s main ambition: maintain power and centralise apartheid; the state became dominated by Afrikaners through policy of key job promotions; party organisation and bureaucracy developed, dependent for their livelihood
1958: controlled much of civil service, local government, armed forces, police, newspapers, radio stations, and universities, election strengthened their political position (won over half of votes); apartheid was popular with whites
Broederbond's Importance grew as senior politicians and government officials were expected to have Broederbond links, and their members promoted, especially in black relations, focused areas like the Ministry of Native Affairs
There were new political constituencies and Colored Voting Rights removed to control the electorate, also a more forceful approach to opposition (25% increase in police force, 1946–55; Officers mostly support white supremacy)
Opposition to apartheid in the British Commonwealth strained relations, decreasing Britain's influence and leading to South Africa leaving the Commonwealth in 1961 as well as a general shift to idealist apartheid
