Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
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Nelson Mandela was the leading figure in the fight against the apartheid regime in South Africa. He swiftly rose to become one of the most influential members of the African National Congress (ANC), but his activism saw him arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment two years later. Much of his sentence was served at the notoriously tough Robben Island prison, but he never gave up hope that he would be freed. He was eventually released after 27 years, and apartheid was officially abolished shortly afterwards. In just 50 minutes, you will find out how Mandela inspired campaigners for racial equality around the world and laid the groundwork for reconciliation in his country.
This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of the key moments in Mandela’s life, including the creation of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC’s armed wing, the Rivonia Trial and his election as president of the so-called “Rainbow Nation”. It also features a full biography, a valuable introduction to the political, social and economic context and an evaluation of Mandela’s legacy, giving you all the essential information about South Africa’s first black president.
About Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in a village in Cape Province. His father was a nobleman of the Thembu dynasty, one of the largest Xhosa tribes, and Mandela always remained proud of this heritage. In 1944, he helped to found the African National Congress Youth Wing, and by the 1950s he had risen to become one of the party’s most prominent and influential members. His eloquence at his trial in 1962 and the dignity and courage with which he faced his lengthy imprisonment made him a symbol of the fight for racial equality. After his release, he was elected president of South Africa in the country’s first democratic elections, and devoted his term to working towards reconciliation between its different ethnic communities. He died in 2013, at the age of 95.
This clear and accessible 72-page book is structured as follows:
- Introduction to Nelson Mandela
- Biography of Nelson Mandela
- “Troublemaker”
- Joining the ANC
- Fighting for freedom
- Imprisonment on Robben Island
- President of the Rainbow Nation
- An international icon
- Political, social and economic context
- The settling of the Boers and the arrival of the British
- The Great Trek
- The expansion of the British colony
- The Union of South Africa
- The birth of the civil rights movement
- The beginnings of apartheid
- Steve Biko and the Black Consciousness Movement
- The end of apartheid
- Towards a democratic republic
- Highlights
- A pragmatic idealist
- A charismatic figure
- Robben Island and the birth of the Mandela myth
- Mandela at the head of the Rainbow Nation
- Impact of Mandela’s work
- The end of apartheid
- A checkered political record
- The father of the nation and a unifying force
- Summary
Product details
ISBN | 9782808002523 |
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Publisher | Plurilingua Publishing |
Series | 50MINUTES.COM – History |
Format | |
Pages | 72 |
File size | 4.1 MB |