NELSON MANDELLA

Childhood

Born Rohlilahla Mandela in 1918 His mother was the third wife to his

father who had 13 children He has 3 brothers and 9 sisters He was the first person in his family to

go to school where he was given the name “Nelson”

African National Congress

He graduated from University in 1942 In 1944 he became a member of the

ANC In 1948 he started working against the

National Party’s apartheid policies In 1956 he was arrested for treason and

in 1961 he was acquitted

What is apartheid?

The policy of the South African government from 1948-1994

Meant the segregation of black Africans from white Africans

The rule of the minority over the majority

Denial of citizenship to black Africans

Violence

In 1960 the ANC was banned as political party

In 1961 Mandela advocated for another branch of the ANC that would use violence to achieve freedom

They were called “Umkhonto we Sizwe” This means Spear of the Nation Nelson was arrested in 1962 Sentenced to 5 years in prison

Rivonia Trial

“It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political struggle, and to form Umkhonto we Sizwe”

International Attention

During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

In Prison- Robben Island

Release

In 1990 Mandela was released from prison

The event was televised internationally http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=lrALdYx9GZE

Election and Nobel Peace Prize After his release Mandela worked with

then South African President F. W. de Klerk for the first multiracial election

Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993

Mandela was elected President in 1994 http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=xZ9KlXCkb2s

Inaugural Speech

Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and

the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves. Never, never and never again shall it be that this

beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.

Let freedom reign. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human

achievement! God bless Africa!