Liberalism in South Africa has encompassed various traditions and parties. The moderate South African Party and its successor, the United Party, formed government several times between the formation of the Union and the election of the National Party in 1948. In 1959, members of the United Party formed the Progressive Party, a precursor to the present-day Democratic Alliance. Separately, in 1953, the anti-Apartheid and multi-racial Liberal Party of South Africa was formed, before disbanding in 1968. Various South Africans have contributed prominently to liberalism in the country. History Timeline Progressive Party to Unionist Party 1890: The Progressive Party was formed. 1910: PP merged with the Constitutional Party from the Orange River Colony and the Progressives from the South African Republic to form the Unionist Party. 1920: The Unionist Party merged into the ⇒ South African Party. South African Party 1911: The South African Party was formed of various pre-Union parties. Led by the moderate Louis Botha, it formed the first government of a united South Africa. The party's support base included English-speaking white South Africans who developed a pattern of supporting the most moderate Afrikaner politicians to avoid domination. The party's own 'liberal' wing was led by Jan Hofmeyr. 1934: SAP merged into the ⇒ United Party. United Party 1934: The United Party was formed in response to the Great Depression, combining Jan Smuts' South African Party and most of Barry Hertzog's National Party. 1939: Hertzog left the party and a split formed following South Africa's entry into the Second World War. The party increasingly resembled the former South African Party. 1948: The United Party, led by Jan Smuts, lost in the 1948 election to the Reunited National Party. The United Party based its platform on the recommendations of the Fagan Commission, which determined total segregation to be impossible, and advocated a relaxation of restrictions on black African migration into urban areas. The Reunited National Party, conversely, had campaigned on total racial separation. 1973: Democratic Party broke away from the National Party. 1977: DP and UP formed the New Republic Party. 1987: NRP dissolved, many of their members went to the Independent Party. 1988: IP and NRP merged into the ⇒ Democratic Party. Liberal Party of South Africa 1953: The Liberal Party of South Africa was formed by Alan Paton 1968: The SALP decided to disband rather than obey legislation outlawing multiracial political parties. The decision was also influenced by