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Famous leaders: Gandhi and Mandela

Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela: their lives, their struggle against unfair laws and what they had in common. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Two leaders

GandhiMandela
BornIndiaSouth Africa (Eastern Cape)
Fought againstLaws against IndiansApartheid: laws that separated people by colour
MethodPeaceful, passive resistanceAt first peaceful protest, inspired by Gandhi; after the ANC was banned in 1960, he helped start its armed wing (1961)
AfterwardsLed India’s freedom struggleFirst president elected by all South Africans (1994)
Symbols of two great leaders: a spinning wheel and a prison key.
Symbols of two great leaders: a spinning wheel and a prison key.
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To remember

  • People call Mandela by his clan name, Madiba, out of respect. Mandela Day is on 18 July, his birthday.
  • People protesting peacefully together hold a peaceful demonstration.
  • Lesson from their lives: keep going, even when it takes a long time.
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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Gandhi was born in India and came to South Africa as a lawyer; he stayed about 21 years.
  • At Pietermaritzburg he was thrown out of a first-class carriage; he used passive resistance against laws that treated Indians unfairly.
  • Mandela was born in the Transkei (Eastern Cape), led the ANC and spent 27 years in prison, longest on Robben Island.
  • Released 1990; Nobel Peace Prize 1993; president in 1994.
  • Both fought unfair laws and showed how one person can change the world.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Gandhi = Gentle (non-violent, born in India). Mandela = Madiba, 27 years, president in 1994.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

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Test yourself · Part 2

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