-
Nelson Mandela is born.
Nelson Mandela is born at Mvezo on July 18 and is named Rolihlaha. -
Period: to
Nelson Mandela
This timeline is on Nelson Mandela's life and major events. -
Mandela begins school in Quna and is renamed Nelson by his teacher.
Mandela was sent to a mission school in Quna that was built by Europeans who had come to South Africa to spread Christianity. His teacher renamed him Nelson because she thought all the students should have English names since the English ruled their country. -
Mandela's father dies.
Nelson's father dies so he and his mother move into the Great Place , home of his cousin. His cousin, Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo, was the acting Chief of the Thembu, -
Mandela goes to Clarkebury, a Methodist Boarding Institute.
-
Mandela enrolls at University College of Fort Hare.
At the age of 21, Mandela enrolls ar Fort Hare, a university for black students in the Eastern Cape. -
Mandela leaves Fort Hare after refusing to sit on the Student Council.
Madela was elected to sit on the Students Council, but only twenty five students voted. Most didnt vote because the coucil didnt have the power to change something they didnt like, the bad cafeteria food. Mandela told the principal he wont sit on the council without the students support. The principal was mad and threatened to expel him. -
Madela runs away to Johannaesburg.
During his second year of college, Mandela left to escape an arranged marriage that both he and the woman didnt want. Johannaesburg was known to all Xhosa people as Egoli, the Place of Gold. He thought they would find happiness there, but instead they noticed that all most black people were poor here. -
Madela marries Evelyn Mase.
Neslon and Evelyn fell in love and got married. They had two sons and two daughters although one daughter died. -
Madela joins the African National Congress (ANC).
The ANC has been fighting for the freedom of black people to rule themselves. -
Mandela and his friend Oliver form the ANC Youth League.
They planned to get thousands of young black people to join. They would protest peacefully by marching and demanding their freedom. -
The National Party wins elections and aparteid laws are introduced.
Apartheid is a system that classified and separated black, colored, and Indian people from whit epeople in South Africa. Only white people were allowed to vote, and the lives of black people were strictly controlled. -
Mandela opens South Africa's first black law firm with Oliver Tambo.
-
The ANC and SAIC launched the Defiance Campaign.
This protest called on black people to ignore the "Whites Only" entrances in post offices, shops, and trains. More than 250 people were arrasted. -
Mandela and 155 others are charged with treason.
They were charged with planning to destroy the government. Court case went on for four years. -
Mandela divorces Evelyn Mase and marries Winnie Madilizela.
-
Sharpeville Massacre.
Police kill sixty-nine peaceful protestors. The ANC is banned. -
Mandela's treason trial ends. He is found not guilty.
The ANC forms an army. -
Mandela arrested again!
Mandela was sentenced to five years in prison for leaving the country illegally and for inciting workers to strike. -
Mandela is told he will stand trial again.
Nine months into his sentence, Mandela is told he will stand trial again. -
Mandela was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island Prison.
They were taken to Robben Island, a prison off the coast of Cape Town. -
Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners are released from jail.
Mandela's speech after being released from prison. President F.W. de Klerk announces the release of all political prisoners and unbanning of antiaparteid organization; state of emergency ended. -
Mandela breaks off formal talks with the governemnt for nine months.
Mandela breaks off formal talks with the governemnt for nine months because of a nighttime massacre in Biopatong township by Inkatha supporters. -
Mandela and de Klerk are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
-
Mandela votes for the first time in South Africa's first democratic election.
The ANC wins South Africa's first democratic election. Mandela is named the new South African president. -
