After receiving a law degree from the University of Witwatersrand, Mandela became involved in the political scene of South Africa with the ANC, or the African National Congress. The national party was made up of Afrikaners passed laws in which banned black people from holding positions within the government. The Afrikaners were the minority of upper class White South Africans. They mostly descended from British or Dutch ancestry. Mandela, along with ANC, started peaceful protests, dubbed the "Defiance Campaign". He also opened the very first black law firm in the region to help those who had their lives affected by the national party's laws. After a few years, heat began to rise in South Africa. Mandela, along with 100 other activists were
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Mandela spent 27 years in prison. His first 18 years were spent on Robben island. When Mandela stepped ashore, a prison ward said to him"This is the Island. This is where you will die." The prison had constructed a new cell block specifically for the political prisoners. Mandelas cell, like others, was 7 feet by 7 feet, and had only a slop bucket. At the start of his sentence, he was allowed no reading materials. They were forced to work in a quarry filled with blinding sunlight all day making gravel with hammers. Mandela was emerging as the leader among the inmates. He displayed this with small acts of rebellion. The authorities would tell them to run to the quarry so they could get their work done. Mandela rebelled and told the inmates to walk as slowly as possible. At the rate they were moving at, it would have been hours before they reached the quarry. The guards gave in and were forced to negotiate with Mandela. Once the initial months on the island passed, life became a pattern. Mandela wrote "Prison life is about routine: each day like the one before; each week like the one before it, so that the months and years blend into each other." After some time, they were granted …show more content…
De Klerk wanted the government to have power sharing. De Klerk stated that "a party that wins 51 percent of the vote should not have 100 percent of the power." Mandela wished for a one man system in which a majority that won would take power. Mandela's dreams became reality in 1994. He was chosen in a one person, one vote election. He was the first black president of South Africa. The political party that Mandela identified with, the African National Congress, was elected as the majority in the parliament of South Africa. During his five years he was president, he raised millions for charity. Mandela's dreams of making South Africa have a democratic government were certain. To other African rulers, his want for freedom and justice were the biggest dreams of the world. Before the 1990's, there were two multi-party democracies in Africa. These countries were Botswana and Gambia. Many countries within the continent were ruled by dictators. With Mandela, he gave hope to the rest of Africa. Crowds of cheering people followed him everywhere he
Mandela spent 27 years in prison. His first 18 years were spent on Robben island. When Mandela stepped ashore, a prison ward said to him"This is the Island. This is where you will die." The prison had constructed a new cell block specifically for the political prisoners. Mandelas cell, like others, was 7 feet by 7 feet, and had only a slop bucket. At the start of his sentence, he was allowed no reading materials. They were forced to work in a quarry filled with blinding sunlight all day making gravel with hammers. Mandela was emerging as the leader among the inmates. He displayed this with small acts of rebellion. The authorities would tell them to run to the quarry so they could get their work done. Mandela rebelled and told the inmates to walk as slowly as possible. At the rate they were moving at, it would have been hours before they reached the quarry. The guards gave in and were forced to negotiate with Mandela. Once the initial months on the island passed, life became a pattern. Mandela wrote "Prison life is about routine: each day like the one before; each week like the one before it, so that the months and years blend into each other." After some time, they were granted …show more content…
De Klerk wanted the government to have power sharing. De Klerk stated that "a party that wins 51 percent of the vote should not have 100 percent of the power." Mandela wished for a one man system in which a majority that won would take power. Mandela's dreams became reality in 1994. He was chosen in a one person, one vote election. He was the first black president of South Africa. The political party that Mandela identified with, the African National Congress, was elected as the majority in the parliament of South Africa. During his five years he was president, he raised millions for charity. Mandela's dreams of making South Africa have a democratic government were certain. To other African rulers, his want for freedom and justice were the biggest dreams of the world. Before the 1990's, there were two multi-party democracies in Africa. These countries were Botswana and Gambia. Many countries within the continent were ruled by dictators. With Mandela, he gave hope to the rest of Africa. Crowds of cheering people followed him everywhere he