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Nelson Mandela’s life

Nelson Mandela’s life: childhood, studies, apartheid, prison, freedom and president. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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His life on a timeline

1918Born on 18 July in theEastern Cape1955The Freedom Charter iswritten1964Jailed for life; RobbenIsland1990Released on 11 February1993Nobel Peace Prize (with DeKlerk)1994President after the firstelection for all2013Died on 5 December
Order: born, Robben Island, president.

The Freedom Charter (1955) says South Africa belongs to all. His last years before release were in Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. He was 71 when released and 75 when he became president. The first election in which all adults could vote was on 27 April 1994.

Robben Island, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.
Robben Island, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.
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Studies, the struggle and prison

  • Mandela studied at the University of Fort Hare and later studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg. In 1952 he and Oliver Tambo opened the first law firm in South Africa run by black Africans.
  • He fought against apartheid with the ANC. When the ANC and peaceful protest were banned (1960), he helped start Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC’s armed wing, in 1961.
  • He was arrested in 1962, and at the Rivonia Trial in 1964 he was sentenced to life in prison.
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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Born 18 July 1918 in the Eastern Cape; birth name Rolihlahla; clan name Madiba.
  • Childhood in Qunu, where he looked after sheep and cattle; a teacher named him “Nelson”.
  • He became a lawyer and opened the first black-owned law firm with Oliver Tambo.
  • Apartheid: laws that kept people apart by race (separate schools, buses, beaches).
  • He showed forgiveness after prison; on Mandela Day we help others for 67 minutes.

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

Memory trick

18-7-1918: Mandela’s birthday has 18 in it twice.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

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Test yourself · Part 2

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