Nelson Mandela Biography

Study Notes

Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in the village of Mvezo, the son of a local chief and a councillor to the Xhosa king.
He was descended from native royalty and theoretically a prince, coming from a polygamist family with four wives.
Mandela's early life was a mix of traditional Xhosa upbringing and exposure to Western influences, including education at a Methodist missionary school.
South Africa's history was shaped by European colonization, conflicts with native tribes like the Zulus and Boers, and the discovery of gold and diamond mines.
The country's ruling class consisted of Europeans descended from Dutch, German, and French settlers, known as Afrikaners, who monopolized power and wealth.
Mandela underwent traditional Xhosa rituals and pursued education, studying law, politics, and history at various institutions.
In the 1940s, Mandela moved to Johannesburg, joined the African National Congress (ANC), and married Evelyn Mase, becoming involved in political activism and the struggle for black South African rights.- Nelson Mandela and his first wife moved into a small brick building in Soweto in 1946 and eventually had four children.
The policy of Apartheid was introduced in South Africa in 1948, aiming to create a segregated society where the white minority held power.
Mandela became increasingly involved in politics in the late 1940s, joining the ANC and adopting a more militant approach.
In the early 1950s, Mandela began embracing Communist thoughts and became a notable figure in the ANC.
He opened his own law firm in 1953, representing black South Africans persecuted by the Apartheid government.
The mid-1950s marked a period of significant change in South Africa, with the government intensifying efforts to segregate society.
Mandela's first marriage ended in the mid-1950s, and he quickly married Winnie Madikizela, with whom he had two daughters.
Mandela was arrested in 1962 for his involvement in uMkhonto we Sizwe, the paramilitary wing of the ANC, and placed on trial in the Rivonia Trial.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 and sent to Robben Island, where he spent the next twenty years in harsh conditions.
Despite Mandela's imprisonment, the struggle against Apartheid continued in South Africa throughout the 1960s and 1970s, marked by political violence and government crackdowns.- Mandela faced significant personal hardships while in prison, including being denied leave to attend his mother and son's funerals and his wife Winnie facing constant harassment and detention.
Mandela continued his legal studies and organized hunger strikes while in prison, remaining sanguine and earning Class A prisoner status by 1975 with increased visits and correspondence.
He became a central figure in the movement to end Apartheid, with "Free Mandela" becoming synonymous with the cause.
Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in 1982 to prevent radicalization on Robben Island, facing harsh conditions there.
Talks between the government and Mandela led to his release in 1990 after 27 years in prison, delayed to liaise with ANC heads.
Mandela played a key role in negotiations leading to the end of Apartheid and the holding of the first free and fair elections in 1994.
Mandela's presidency focused on national reconciliation, economic development, and addressing societal divisions and inequalities inherited from Apartheid.
His government redirected military spending towards welfare and infrastructure, attracted foreign investment, and initiated reforms to benefit ordinary South Africans.
Mandela's presidency oversaw the development of a new constitution, establishing a democratic system with universal suffrage and a unique structure with four capitals.
Mandela's post-presidency saw him become a global statesman advocating for peace, mediation in conflicts, and promoting international cooperation, though facing criticism for some relationships.