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A Hero Is Born
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th, 1918 in Transkei South Africa. He was born into the royal family of the Thembu tribe and was one of 13 children. He was the first child in his family to receive a proper education, he went to primary and secondary school, and attended the University of Fort Hare, which was the only high learning institute for blacks at the time. (Mandela, 5-6) -
End Of World War I
World War I, also known as the First World War or The Great War, was a war between 23 different combatants from all different continents. The War began on July 28th, 1914. The four year timespan in which the world war was going on was called the Great Depression, where millions of residents of the United States were out of jobs and housing, and was a time of economic failure. (History.com) -
Holocaust
The Holocaust was led by Adolf Hitler the dictator during the time of Nazi Germany. Hitler's followers were called Nazi's and they enforced the imprisonment of Jewish and Gypsy citizens of Germany. Jewish people were labeled and put in concentration camps and starved to death, burned to death, or put in gas chambers to be killed. The Holocaust ended May 8th 1945 and resulted in the killing of over six million Jews, and goes down as the worst genocide in the history of the world. (History.com) -
Beginning of World War II
World War II, also known as the Second World War was a war of many countries that lasted 6 years. Beginning on September 1st 1939, involved more than 30 countries and had over 50 million deaths and was sparked by Adolf Hitler's Holocaust. The war ended on September 2nd 1945, after the defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan. (History.com) -
Nelson Mandela Joins the African National Congress
In 1944 Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress. The African National Congress was a political group organized to diminish apartheid. Apartheid is a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on the grounds of race. Mandela, being an man of color, felt strongly that his rights should not be taken away in South Africa, so he joined to fight for his rights and eradicate the system of apartheid and discrimination. (Brittanica.com) -
Tried For Treason
In December of 1956 Mandela and 156 other activists were tried for treason against the South African government for organizing an non-peaceful protest and using violence to overthrow the present government at the time. The trial lasted over 4 years and in result, only 30 activists were not acquitted, each being a member of the African National Congress. Finally on March 29th, 1961 all accused activists were released due to an informal form of evidence. (Biography.com) -
John F. Kennedy Assassination
John F Kennedy served as the 35th President of the United States. On his second year of presidency, Kennedy went to Dallas, Texas for campaigning purposes. When he arrived he was shot twice by Lee Harvey Oswald, and was killed. (jfklibrary.org) -
Mandela Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
On June 12th 1964 Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment for political offenses. 18 of the 20 years he spent in prison was spent on Robben Island, where he received the lowest quality treatment and was given low rations of food, water, and clothing. While in jail he received his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of London and wrote his autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom. (Biography.com) -
End of the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War, or known in Vietnam as the American War, was a war against the United States and Vietnam and its neighboring countries. The War lasted 19 years and included the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. More than 3 million people were killed in the Vietnam War, 58,000 of which were United States soldiers and more than half were Vietnamese citizens. (History.com) -
Mandela Refuses Release
In January of 1985 P.W.Botha offered Mandela release from prison on Robben Island in exchange for the renounce of his protests, both violent and nonviolent. Mandela refused Botha's offer for one reason, passion. Mandela felt if he extirpated his protests, he would be free from jail, but in South Africa, he would have no freedom. herefore, Mandela refused the offer to continue the fight for apartheid. -
Mandela is Free from Prison
After being sentenced to life in prison, Mandela was released by Frederick Wilhelm de Klerk, the newly elected President of South Africa, after 20 years. Klerk did not force Mandela to renounce his riots and protests and unbanned the African National Congress upon his release. (History.com) -
Nobel Peace Prize
Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Peace Price in 1993 in split with Frederick Wilhelm de Klerk for abolishing apartheid in South Africa and continuing to fight for the abolishment of racism and apartheid in other areas in the world. He used peaceful tactics and rallied peaceful protests and antiapartheid movements. Nelson Mandela became the face of antiapartheid in South Africa, as well as de Klerk, who received the prize for creating a new democratic South Africa. (nobelprize.org) -
Mandela For President
In May of 1994 the first multiracial democratic election was held in South Africa. Just 4 years after he was released from Robben Island, Nelson Mandela was elected as the first black President of South Africa. He remained as President for 5 years. While President he abolished apartheid and diminished racial division in the South Africa, as well as around the world. (Biography.com) -
A Long Walk To Freedom
Nelson Mandela published his autobiography A Long Walk To Freedom in 1994. The Biography included many important events in his life and an insight on Robben Island and the treatment he received there. The majority of his autobiography was written secretly while imprisoned, and continues to be read by millions today. (A Long Walk To Freedom) (Biography.com) -
September 11th 2001
On September 11th, 2001, multiple Islamic terrorist attacks took place in the United States.Although all devastating, the most tragic attack was when an airplane spun out of control and hit the World Trade Center, knocking both the twin towers down. Thousands of firefighters, police, and innocent victims were killed in this terrorist attack. Now in place of the Twin Towers are memorials built with the names on each victim to honor those who were killed. (History.com) -
A Hero Dies
On December 5th, 2013 Nelson Mandela passed away at the age of 95 years old. He died of old age and natural causes in his home in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mandela is gone, but never forgotten as one of the most peaceful rally and political leaders in history. (Biography.com)
