Turning points and Achievements - Nelson Mandela

Turning points

• When his father died, Mandela and was groomed for becoming chief of his local tribe.
• Whilst at university Nelson Mandela became increasingly aware of the unjust nature of South African Society. The majority of Black South Africans had little opportunities either Economic or Political
• expelled from Fort Hare for organising a student strike
• In 1952 Mandela and Tambo opened the first Black Law firm in South Africa.
• In 1944 Mandela helped found the ANC Youth League, whose Programme of Action was adopted by the ANC in 1949. 
• Mandela had to resign from the ANC and work underground
• In the late 50s there was an extremely lengthy Treason Trial in which Mandela and several others were charged with treason.
• Conducting their own defence they eventually proved to be victorious.
• However in 1960 the Sharpeville massacre of 63 black South African’s changed the whole political climate. South Africa was increasingly isolated on the international scene and the government banned the ANC. This led Mandela to advocate armed struggle through the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
• However by 1962 Mandela had been arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in the notorious Robben Island prison. 
• However in his autobiography Mandela reveals how he sought to make the best use of his time there. 
• He helped to keep other Men’s spirits high and never compromised his political principles when offered earlt release.
• Although negotiations were painfully slow and difficult, they eventually led to Mandela’s release in 1990
• (Nelson Mandela recently lost his eldest son to this disease and Mandela has worked hard to campaign on this issue.)

Achievements

• When his father died, Mandela and was groomed for becoming chief of his local tribe.
• Mandela was able to finish his degree and qualified as a Lawyer
• In 1944 Mandela helped found the ANC Youth League, whose Programme of Action was adopted by the ANC in 1949. 
• Conducting their own defence they eventually proved to be victorious.
• Although negotiations were painfully slow and difficult, they eventually led to Mandela’s release in 1990
• However on 10 May 1994 Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected State President of South Africa on and was President until June 1999.
• His advocacy of reconciliation led to international acclaim and importantly the trust of the White African population. 
• He is one of the few politicians who have gone beyond a political role; he is widely admired and has received many prestigious awards. Nelson Mandelais also associated with many educational programmes and initiatives such as Make Poverty History Campaign.
• In 1993 Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with F.W. De Klerk