Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918.

Until 1992, the government in South Africa ran an apartheid. An apartheid is when black people have to live apart from white people. Most black people had no jobs, were very poor and could not vote because of this.

Nelson grew up in a village and went away to study law when he was a young man. He wanted to help free black people from apartheid.

African National Congress. They made protests about the In 1944 he joined the African National Congress. They made protests about the apartheid but Nelson was arrested and jailed twice for being the leader of the ANC.

In 1960 the government arrested many black people for taking part in these protests. In 1963 Nelson was sent to prison for taking part in these protests.

This is Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was kept in prison.

This is the prison.

This is the cell where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison. He was released in 1990 after the laws were changed.

In 1991 he became president of the ANC and encouraged the president of Africa to end apartheid. He won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for this and then became president of South Africa in 1994 – and black people were allowed to vote for the first time.

He worked to bring peace to the country and to help black people. He retired in 1999 and spent his time travelling the world helping other countries solve their problems.

In 2013 Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95. Rest In Peace… In 2013 Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95.

Important Dates… 1918 – Nelson Mandela was born. 1944 – He joined The African National Congress. 1960 – The Government arrested many black people after protests from the ANC. 1963 – Nelson Mandela was sent to prison. 1990 – He was released from prison. 1991 – He became President of the ANC. 1993 – He won the Nobel Peace Prize. 1994 – He became president of South Africa. 1999 – He retired as president of South Africa. 2013 – Nelson Mandela died.