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How Did Nelson Mandela Change

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Nelson Mandela was an African leader, remembered for his work in ending apartheid which segregated black South Africans. Born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, Transkei, South Africa, to his mother Nonqaphi Nosekeni and his father Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, he was exposed to many of the racist policies that were implemented by the government, and his childhood greatly influenced his later goals and accomplishments. He was a zealous spokesman for the people of South Africa, and his work led to an unprecedented amount of change in the government through his fight against the apartheid, even when the actions cost him many hardships. His actions and perseverance in this battle for a world in which all could be treated equally was a lifelong dedication, …show more content…

Such laws included the Population Registration Act of 1950, which classified the population by their race, banning interracial marriage, infuriating many. To end this unjust government, Mandela lead peaceful protests, but these actions were regarded as treasonous by the apartheid. The government also brought about the segregation of education, medical care, and several other public services, which Mandela greatly protested against, for he opposed the fact that these basic human rights were taken from the non-white African. In defiance of the apartheid’s mindset of black inferiority, Mandela established a law firm that was run by black, and also continued to speak out on behalf of colored African peacefully for two decades. Consequently, him and many others were arrested and charged with treason for their political advocacy in 1956, although the charge was acquitted eventually, still proving yet again the great amounts of involvement that Mandela …show more content…

A group called the African National Congress Youth League, which was within the ANC, wanted to strengthen the rural peasants and working people, but believed that the classic methods of peaceful petitioning was no longer able to impact anything. Thus, this group resorted to boycott, strike, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation, which were later adopted by the ANC as their older techniques of protest were finally recognized as ineffective. In 1961, Mandela also started to believe that armed struggle was the only way that change could have been achieved he said that “It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political struggle.”(Nelson Mandela, History.com). Thus, in an attempt to finally bring about significant change, he planned an armed shoot off of the ANC to end the apartheid, and also orchestrated a three-day national workers strike. This act of impudence was not taken kindly by the government, leading to a sentence to five years in prison, which was later elongated to a life imprisonment, but he never lost his spirit to fight for his people, his country. Mandela was incarcerated on an island for 18 out of his 27 years in prison, where he also faced many challenges,

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