Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela

By: Denis XhoriBy: Denis Xhori

My Essential QuestionMy Essential Question

My essential question is Why is Nelson My essential question is Why is Nelson Mandela so important and siginficant to AfricaMandela so important and siginficant to Africa

Why I chose this topicWhy I chose this topic

The biggest reason why I chose Nelson The biggest reason why I chose Nelson Mandela as my I-search project is because Mandela as my I-search project is because when I read about the apartheid in social when I read about the apartheid in social studies class, they mentioned Nelson Mandela studies class, they mentioned Nelson Mandela a little bit and what he did about it. That got a little bit and what he did about it. That got me curious about him, and I wanted to learn me curious about him, and I wanted to learn more.more.

What I already knew about himWhat I already knew about him

I already knew that he had a big part in I already knew that he had a big part in fighting against the apartheid.fighting against the apartheid.

I knew that he had went to jail once, but not I knew that he had went to jail once, but not twice.twice.

I knew that he went to jail for something he I knew that he went to jail for something he believed in.believed in.

Interesting InformationInteresting Information

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918.Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918. He was born in a village called Meveza near Umata He was born in a village called Meveza near Umata

in Transkei, South Africa.in Transkei, South Africa. He never finished college because he got suspended He never finished college because he got suspended

from his college for joining in a protest for some from his college for joining in a protest for some reason.reason.

He joined the African national Congress in 1942He joined the African national Congress in 1942 He was president for five years after he got out of jail.He was president for five years after he got out of jail.

More Interesting Information.More Interesting Information.

Even now, at 91, he is trying to help fight aids Even now, at 91, he is trying to help fight aids in Africa and poverty. in Africa and poverty.

He was married 3 times, and had a lot of kids.He was married 3 times, and had a lot of kids. He published his book, “A long walk to He published his book, “A long walk to

freedom”, after he published his biography.freedom”, after he published his biography. He won the noble peace prize for what he did He won the noble peace prize for what he did

about the apartheid.about the apartheid.

What and Why he did what he didWhat and Why he did what he did

He fought against the apartheid because he He fought against the apartheid because he thought that all Africans should be free, thought that all Africans should be free, including himself.including himself.

Why he went to jailWhy he went to jail

He went to jail the first time because he had been He went to jail the first time because he had been directing a non-violent defiance against the south African directing a non-violent defiance against the south African government and it’s racial policies for 20 years.government and it’s racial policies for 20 years.

In 1961, after his jail time for five years, he thought the In 1961, after his jail time for five years, he thought the only way to stop the apartheid was with war. So, he co only way to stop the apartheid was with war. So, he co founded Umknonto We Sizwe, put on a three day strike, founded Umknonto We Sizwe, put on a three day strike, used guerilla war tactics to try to end it. 5 more years. used guerilla war tactics to try to end it. 5 more years.

But while he was in jail, the government found out that But while he was in jail, the government found out that he used political offenses, like sabotage, and incitement he used political offenses, like sabotage, and incitement to strike, and sentenced him to life in prison.to strike, and sentenced him to life in prison.

How he got out of jailHow he got out of jail

He got out of jail because some people thought what He got out of jail because some people thought what he was doing was right, so they started a campaign to he was doing was right, so they started a campaign to take him out.take him out.

A memoir was written like a plan to try and take him A memoir was written like a plan to try and take him out, but it got foiled, and was never published. After out, but it got foiled, and was never published. After that, he was moved to another jail cell.that, he was moved to another jail cell.

It wasn’t until Botha, (the president back when he It wasn’t until Botha, (the president back when he was sentenced to life in jail) suffered a stroke, F. W. was sentenced to life in jail) suffered a stroke, F. W. De Klerk took over, and finally decided to let him go. De Klerk took over, and finally decided to let him go. Altogether, he stayed 27 years in jail. Altogether, he stayed 27 years in jail.

What surprised me.What surprised me.

He went to jail for 5 years for what he believed He went to jail for 5 years for what he believed was rightwas right

He was married three times, and had a lot of He was married three times, and had a lot of kids.kids.

He directed a non-violent defiance, but then He directed a non-violent defiance, but then resorted to violence to end the apartheid.resorted to violence to end the apartheid.

He went to jail for directing a non violent He went to jail for directing a non violent defiance. defiance.

Questions I still haveQuestions I still have

Why did he go to jail for five years for what he Why did he go to jail for five years for what he believed in?believed in?

Why did Botha the president back then not let Why did Botha the president back then not let him out after he saw all the campaigns?him out after he saw all the campaigns?

Why did F.W. De klerk let him out? Why did F.W. De klerk let him out?

Works CitedWorks Cited

1. http://1. http://www.anc.org.za/people/mandela.htmlwww.anc.org.za/people/mandela.html 2. http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/featured-2. http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/featured-

biography/nelson-mandela.jsp biography/nelson-mandela.jsp 3.http://africanhistory.about.com/od/mandelanelson/a/3.http://africanhistory.about.com/od/mandelanelson/a/

bio_mandela_3.htm bio_mandela_3.htm 4. http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/nelson-4. http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/nelson-

mandela/index.htm mandela/index.htm 5. http://www.biography.com/articles/Nelson-5. http://www.biography.com/articles/Nelson-

Rolihlahla-Mandela-9397017?part=1 Rolihlahla-Mandela-9397017?part=1