Nelson Mandela Biography
Biography:
Nelson Mandela was a Civil Rights leader in South America. He fought against apartheid, a system where non-white citizens were segregated from whites and did not have equal rights. He served a good portion of his life in prison for his protests, but became a symbol for his people. Later he would become president of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa. His birth name is Rolihlahla. He got the nickname Nelson from a teacher in school. Nelson was a member of Thimbu royalty and his father was chief of the city of Mvezo. He attended school and later college at the College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. At Witwatersrand, Mandela got his law degree and would meet some of his fellow activists against apartheid.
Nelson Mandela became a leader in the African National Congress (ANC). At first he pushed hard for the congress and the protesters to follow Mohandas Gandhi's non-violence approach. At one point he started to doubt that this approach would work and started up an armed branch of the ANC. He planned to bomb certain buildings, but only the buildings. He wanted to make sure than no one would be hurt. He was classified as a terrorist by the South African government and sent to prison.
Mandela would spend the next 27 years in prison. His prison sentence brought international visibility to the anti-apartheid movement. He was finally released through international pressure in 1990.
Once released from prison, Nelson continued his campaign to end apartheid. His hard work and life long effort paid off when all races were allowed to vote in the 1994 election. Nelson Mandela won the election and became president of South Africa. There were several times during the process where violence threatened to break out. Nelson was a strong force in keeping the calm and preventing a major civil war.
He spent 27 years in prison. He refused to bend on his principals in order to be released and stated that he would die for his ideals. He wanted all people of all races to have equal rights in South Africa. For more info read "Long Walk to Freedom" or search (www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography)
Nelson Mandela was a Civil Rights leader in South America. He fought against apartheid, a system where non-white citizens were segregated from whites and did not have equal rights. He served a good portion of his life in prison for his protests, but became a symbol for his people. Later he would become president of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa. His birth name is Rolihlahla. He got the nickname Nelson from a teacher in school. Nelson was a member of Thimbu royalty and his father was chief of the city of Mvezo. He attended school and later college at the College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand. At Witwatersrand, Mandela got his law degree and would meet some of his fellow activists against apartheid.
Nelson Mandela became a leader in the African National Congress (ANC). At first he pushed hard for the congress and the protesters to follow Mohandas Gandhi's non-violence approach. At one point he started to doubt that this approach would work and started up an armed branch of the ANC. He planned to bomb certain buildings, but only the buildings. He wanted to make sure than no one would be hurt. He was classified as a terrorist by the South African government and sent to prison.
Mandela would spend the next 27 years in prison. His prison sentence brought international visibility to the anti-apartheid movement. He was finally released through international pressure in 1990.
Once released from prison, Nelson continued his campaign to end apartheid. His hard work and life long effort paid off when all races were allowed to vote in the 1994 election. Nelson Mandela won the election and became president of South Africa. There were several times during the process where violence threatened to break out. Nelson was a strong force in keeping the calm and preventing a major civil war.
He spent 27 years in prison. He refused to bend on his principals in order to be released and stated that he would die for his ideals. He wanted all people of all races to have equal rights in South Africa. For more info read "Long Walk to Freedom" or search (www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography)
Neslon Mandela Family Tree
Photos of Nelson Mandela
This shows a picture of Nelson when he was a young teenager
This shows the representation of Nelson in Prison.
This picture shows a picture of Nelson Mandela when he was sick in the hospital.
This picture is of Nelson Mandela speech that he gave to the south Africans.
Nelson Mandela A Tribute in Quotes
Nelson Mandela was a very good inspiration to young adults as you all know he was a leader and writer and these are some of the quotes he wrote.
"Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity."
– Nelson Mandela
"Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty."
– Nelson Mandela
"Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."
– Nelson Mandela
"Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way."
– Nelson Mandela
"When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw."
– Nelson Mandela
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it....The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
– Nelson Mandel
– Nelson Mandela
"Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty."
– Nelson Mandela
"Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."
– Nelson Mandela
"Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way."
– Nelson Mandela
"When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw."
– Nelson Mandela
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it....The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
– Nelson Mandel
Nelson Mandela Fights for Human Rights
The African National Congress was founded in 1912 (6 years before Nelson Mandela's birth) to unite the African people against white minority ruling. Their aim has always been to create a non-racial and democratic South Africa.
Nelson Mandela and ANC have become almost synonymous. Nelson Mandela joined the ANC in 1943. From that time on he never lost his vision for the ideals that the ANC stands for. In the ANC Mandela found the way to a free South Africa but it did not come without a high price.
Shortly after joining the ANC Nelson Mandela, together with his friend and partner Oliver Tambo and Walter Sislu, formed the Youth League of the congress. Initially, in line with the ANC's Defiance campaign the ideals of peaceful non-compliance and protests were the order of the day. As things progressed, more specific areas were targeted, but always with the intention that no person would be hurt or injured.
In 1956, 156 members of the ANC were arrested and tried for treason. The Riviona trial lasted from 1956-1961 and eventually all members, including Mandela, were acquitted.
In 1959, under the leadership of Potlako Leballo and Robert Sobukwe the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) was formed. This depleted the ANC's numbers and finances dramatically.
Following the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 however, a new Nelson Mandela ANC came into being. Mandela realized that peaceful protest was getting them nowhere and so he co-founded and became leader of the Umkhonto we Sizwe, or Spear of the Nation branch of the ANC. This name is also abbreviated as MK. With this branch of the ANC Nelson Mandela recognized and was ready to demonstrate the need for a less passive approach to achieving the goal of freedom.
Nelson Mandela and ANC have become almost synonymous. Nelson Mandela joined the ANC in 1943. From that time on he never lost his vision for the ideals that the ANC stands for. In the ANC Mandela found the way to a free South Africa but it did not come without a high price.
Shortly after joining the ANC Nelson Mandela, together with his friend and partner Oliver Tambo and Walter Sislu, formed the Youth League of the congress. Initially, in line with the ANC's Defiance campaign the ideals of peaceful non-compliance and protests were the order of the day. As things progressed, more specific areas were targeted, but always with the intention that no person would be hurt or injured.
In 1956, 156 members of the ANC were arrested and tried for treason. The Riviona trial lasted from 1956-1961 and eventually all members, including Mandela, were acquitted.
In 1959, under the leadership of Potlako Leballo and Robert Sobukwe the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) was formed. This depleted the ANC's numbers and finances dramatically.
Following the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 however, a new Nelson Mandela ANC came into being. Mandela realized that peaceful protest was getting them nowhere and so he co-founded and became leader of the Umkhonto we Sizwe, or Spear of the Nation branch of the ANC. This name is also abbreviated as MK. With this branch of the ANC Nelson Mandela recognized and was ready to demonstrate the need for a less passive approach to achieving the goal of freedom.