Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

1918-?

A Review of ApartheidApartheid=separateness;

legalized racial separationIntroduced by the Dutch

colonial settlers in 1948; Dutch came to South Africa because of gold and diamonds

Reduced the native population to little more than slaves

Afrikaner National PartyCreated in 1940sAsserted economic control and

social control over blacksInvented apartheid to maintain

control

ApartheidProtest was outlawed; anyone

organizing a demonstration or speaking against apartheid would be detained, tortured, imprisoned, or murdered

Black people were not permitted to travel or live where they would like; often forced to live in undesirable parts of the country

Mandela ChildhoodBorn July 18, 1918 in a

small village to a Xhosa-speaking tribe

Named Rolihlahla (“troublemaker”)

Descendant of tribe royalty

Education and Early Career

Attended Methodist missionary schools where he was renamed “Nelson” by his English teachers

Enrolled at University of Fort Hare in 1938; expelled for political activism

Worked at a law firm in JohannesburgStudied law at University of Witwatersrand;

opened first black African legal practice in 1952

Joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944

Treason Trial156 nationalists arrested

December 5, 1956, including Mandela (nonviolence inspired by Mahatma Ghandi)

Members of anti-apartheid organizations

Punishable by deathAcquitted in March 1961

Sharpeville MassacreANC was committed to non-violent protest until

the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960Sharpeville Massacre occurred on March 21,

1960Police opened fire on blacks demonstrating

against the policies of the National Party of government

69 people were killed for expressing their opinion

Co founder and president of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed division of ANC (Spear of the Nation or MK)

Turn to Militant ActivismAccording to Mandela, the Sharpeville

Massacre forced the ANC to resort to violence themselves.

The ANC started to blow up railway lines and other economic targets.

1962—Mandela arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges

“I am Prepared to Die”Delivered four hour statement“During my lifetime I have

dedicated myself to the 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.”

Sentenced to life imprisonment plus five years

ImprisonmentGained local and international support

who pressured South Africa for his releaseHidden from media and moved several

timesOffered freedom in 1976 in exchange for

withdrawing from political activismHe refused this offer and subsequent

offers

ImprisonmentPerformed hard

labor in a lime quarry

Allowed one letter and one visitor every 6 months

Soweto MassacreYoung people had been forced to learn

Afrikaans in school, the language of the Dutch settlers. They were not allowed to speak or learn in their own language.

On March 21, 1976, school children protested the right to be taught in their own language.

They were shot by police. 69 school kids died.

Mandela was serving time in prison for “terrorist” activities.

Release from PrisonFrederick Willem de Klerk

became president in 1989De Klerk lifted ban on all

political partiesReleased all political

prisoners not guilty of violent crimes

February 11, 1990, Mandela was released

Served 27 years in prison, many in Robben Island

End of ApartheidMandela became

president of ANCInvolved in the

Convention for Democratic South Africa in 1991 with de Klerk

Jointly awarded Nobel Peace Prize in December 1993 for work

President of South AfricaFirst multi-racial election in South

African in April 1994First South African president elected

in a fully representative democratic electionANC won by 62%Mandela became President of

South Africa

PresidencyAimed to improve social

and economic conditions for the black majority

Legislation to protect workers—workplace safety, overtime pay, minimum wage

Improved living standards and provided better housing and education

ReconciliationAs president, he gave priority to

reconciliation Encouraged black South Africans to

back the Springboks, the previously hated South African rugby team

Introduced policies to combat poverty and inequality

Known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name, in South Africa

RetirementDecided not to run for reelection in 1999Retired from public life in 2004Committed to fight against HIV/AIDS epidemic

(son Makgatho Mandela died of AIDS on January 6, 2005)

“ We have at last achieved ourpolitical emancipation. We pledgeourselves to liberate all our peoplefrom the continuing bondage ofpoverty, deprivation, suffering,gender, and other discrimination. . . Never, never, and never againshall it be that this beautiful landwill again experience theoppression of one by another. . .Let freedom reign.”