Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Mrs. Tinkey World Geography 2012-2013

Background Info

*Born: July 18th, 1918 *Father was the chief of the Thembu tribe, in a village in South Africa. *Mandela was the first in his family to receive a formal education. *Fled his home after finding out he had been set up in an arranged marriage. *Earned a bachelor's degree and studied law, getting involved in a movement against racial discrimination.

African National Congress (ANC)

*After law school, Mandela joined the ANC, and helped to establish the ANC Youth League. *The ANC is a political party fighting for the rights of black South Africans. *After "Apartheid" began in 1948, the ANC started a plan fight against the unjust laws being brought upon South Africans. -Their plan included boycotts, strikes, civil disobedience and nonviolence (inspired by India's Mohandas Gandhi).

Apartheid
*Literally means "separateness" *Began when the "Afrikaner National Party" won the election of 1948. *The goal was to separate South Africa's white minority from the non-white majority as well as separate black South Africans along tribal lines. -Why would those in power want to do this?

Apartheid (cont)
*The government banned inter-racial marriages. *Classification of South Africans by race began. -Bantu (black Africans) -Coloured (mixed race) -White -Asian (Indian and Pakistani) *Set aside 80% of the country's land for the white minority. -Non-whites had to carry documents saying they could travel in "restricted areas"

The ANC Fights Back

*In 1952, the ANC held a meeting in which members set fire to their pass books. *In 1955, Mandela helped create the "Freedom Charter" and organized protests against the discriminatory practices of Apartheid. *In 1956, Mandela and other activists were arrested for treason. -They were all acquitted.

Armed Resistance Movement

*After being acquitted, Mandela co-founded and led a new armed unit of the ANC. -Mandela realized that a more radical approach must be taken to fight against Apartheid. *"It would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and nonviolence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force."

Breaking the Rules...

*Mandela left the country illegally, and upon his return was arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison. *While in prison, the police raided ANC headquarters and were able to link Mandela to acts of sabotage, treason and violent conspiracy against the government. -He and others were sentenced to life in prison.

Prison Years
*Spent most of his sentence at Robben Island Prison, a former leper colony off of Cape Town. *Even in prison, Mandela was considered a symbolic leader of the anti-apartheid movement, and his arrest caused major outcry from his followers. *In 1989, the newly elected president of South Africa fought for a non-racist South Africa, and by 1990, he demanded Mandela's release from prison. -His election also led to the ending of Apartheid.

Elections of 1994
*This election marked the official end of Apartheid *This election was also the first multi-racial election in South Africa's history. *Overwhelmingly, the people spoke and elected the ANC as the new political party of S. Africa, and so, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black president in S. Africa.

Mandela's Presidency
Actions as President: -Began a commission to investigate human rights violations committed during Apartheid. -Introduced new social and economic programs to improve the standard of living. -Created a new constitution, establishing a strong central government, prohibiting discrimination. -Discouraged blacks from retaliation against whites and instead encouraged peace

Mandela in later years...

*Mandela stepped down as president after serving for one term, but still remained devoted to the cause for peace and justice within South Africa and also across the globe. *He also became a voice for AIDS awareness, which is a major issue of concern in Africa. *His health has declined in recent years, so he has since pulled back from the major spotlight, but still remains a figure for his cause.

South Africa now...

*South Africa is proving to be a model democracy for the rest of the continent and continues to promote democratic values similar to those we would see in the United States. *South African Bill of Rights
http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons2.htm