Nelson Mandela
By Leah McHugh
Early Life
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Nelson Mandela was born on 18th July 1918.
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He was originally called Rolilhlaha Mandela.
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At the age of seven he set out across the hills to an old shack that served as a
school for poor black children.
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At this school his teacher gave him the name Nelson.
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His father was chief of the Thembu tribe and sadly passed away when Nelson was
only 9 years of age.
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The new chief of the Thembu tribe then adopted Nelson as his son.
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At the age of 16 his father sent him to boarding school and then went on to
university.
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It was very unusual for black children to get this kind of education at this time.
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When he finished in university he became a qualified lawyer.
The Apartheid System
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The apartheid system began in 1948 and finished in 1994.

Black people were not being treated the way white people were.

The majority of black people in South Africa had little or no education and
lived in shanty towns and ghettos.

Black people who luckily got a job were badly paid.

The government of South Africa ignored these peoples complaints and put
them in prison.
The African National Congress

Nelson and his friend Oliver Tambo set up their own law practice to help the
poorer black South Africans.

From the beginning, they were concerned about treatment of their fellow
people.

Nelson decide to become involved in politics and in 1942 he joined a political
party called the “African National Congress” (ANC)

The ANC did not agree with the apartheid system and together with millions
of others black people fought hardly against it.

They used strikes and boycotts to try and get rid of this system of
government.
Imprisonment

Nelson was soon arrested and imprisoned and next the ANC was banned.

In 1964 he sentenced to life in prison.

He started his life in prison in Robben Island.

He became known as prisoner no. 46664.

He was moved to Polsmoor prison in 1984 and was imprisoned for eight more
years.
Achieving a dream

After 26 years in prison Nelson was finally released on 11th Februaury 1990.

In February 1990 the ANC political party was unbanned.

In 1991 Nelson became leader of the ANC.

In 1994 elections were held and black people voted for the first time.

Nelson then became the first black president of South Africa.

Apartheid was abolished and all South Africans are treated equally.

Nelson had fulfilled his dream.
Nobel Peace Prize

Nelson was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

He was given the prize for bringing peace to the people of South Africa.

He accepted the prize in honour of all South Africans who had suffered in
bringing peace to their country.
Retirement

Nelson Mandela retired from politics in 1999.

His life has been an inspiration to people throughout the world.

His motto was “The struggle is my life”.
Questions to ask Nelson Mandela

How did you feel when you became the first black president?

Do you think you could have resolved the apartheid problem without violence?
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How did you feel when you got the chance to got to college?

How did you feel when you didn’t see your family for 26 years?

What kept you occupied in prison?

How did you feel when the ANC was unbanned?