JOYA
09-15-2003, 05:48 AM
Hi everyone, I got an A+ for this essay so I thought I'd put it on the site just incase anyone needed it. I was in year 8 when I wrote it so don't copy it if you're too much older than me. Here it goes:
Nelson Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa, on the 18 July 1918. He was the son of a royal chief who died when he was only nine years old Nelson is notable because he fought the injust political system, won and South Africa today is better as a result of his efforts.
Nelson was brought up in the traditional way of the Thembu people. He learned old customs which had been passed from generation to generation for hundreds of years, but he also received a modern education. Nelsons’ father was a royal chief and his mother was a housewife.
They all lived together in a tiny cement hut with a straw roof in Transkei, South Africa. At age seven, Nelson started going to school under a British system, where he was given the name “Nelson”; most probably after the British sea captain Lord Nelson. Nelson left home at 16 and went to Healdtown Methodist Boarding School.Today Nelson Mandela is retired and enjoys spending time with his daughter. Nelson is now 85 and still recognised all over the world for bringing equal rights to South Africa and standing up to the apartheid government.
After Nelson’s father died, Nelson became a royal chief at age nine and was to assume high office at a more appropriate age. However, influenced by the cases that came before the court, Nelson decided to become a lawyer. When Nelson was 21 he went to Fort Hare University to study a law degree, but was unable to finish his degree at because he ran out of money. Instead he headed for Johannesburg, where he soon obtained a job in a law firm. This gave him enough money
to finish his degree at at Fort Hare, which he completed in 1942. Nelson began studying law at the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg. In 1944 Nelson, with his best friend at University, Oliver Tambo, started the Youth League, a part of an older organization; The African National Congress (A.N.C.), an organization working to get better treatment of black people in South Africa. By 1947 Nelson had impressed his peers with his consistent effort and disciplined work and was elected to the secretaryship of the Youth League. He then joined the resistance against the ruling National Party’s apartheid policies, after 1948. Nelson went on trial for treason in 1956 to 1961, because he had left the country illegally to train with guerrilla forces. After the ban of the A.N.C. in 1960, Nelson campaigned for the establishment of a military wing within the A.N.C. In June 1961, the A.N.C. executive considered Mandela’s proposals on the use of violent tactics and agreed that those members who wished to involve themselves in Mandela’s campain would not be stopped from doing so by the A.N.C. This lead to the formation of the Umkhoto we Sizwe. Mandela was arrested in 1962 because of his involvement in the Umkhoto we Sizwe and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison.
During his time in jail Nelson turned himself into a symbol of equal rights and justice, gathering support from all over the world increasing the fame he gained when he was sentenced to life for training with guerrilla forces. Worried about this, the guards moved Nelson to Pollsmoor Prison near Cape Town. By then, Nelson was the most famous prisoner in the world. At the same time, other countries were changing their opinion about South Africa’s very unpopular apartheid government. A new government, under President F.W. de Klerk, decided that the only way to solve the governments problems was to free Nelson from prison. By the time Nelson was free from jail the world believed Nelson was worthy to be the president of South Africa. Nelson negotiated with President F.W. de Klerk to bring democracy to South Africa. It worked, and after the election Nelson became President of South Africa.
Mandela stepped down from president in June 1999, having groomed Deputy President Thabo Mbeki as his successor for years. He left behind a country still troubled by racial hatred, crushing poverty and staggering violent crime. He remains the most revered man in the country, credited with a remarkable transition from tyranny to democracy, and a commitment to reconciliation that saved the country from a violent bloodbath.
Today Nelson Mandela is retired and is now 85 and still recognised all over the world for bringing equal rights to South Africa and standing up to the apartheid government.
Nelson Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa, on the 18 July 1918. He was the son of a royal chief who died when he was only nine years old Nelson is notable because he fought the injust political system, won and South Africa today is better as a result of his efforts.
Nelson was brought up in the traditional way of the Thembu people. He learned old customs which had been passed from generation to generation for hundreds of years, but he also received a modern education. Nelsons’ father was a royal chief and his mother was a housewife.
They all lived together in a tiny cement hut with a straw roof in Transkei, South Africa. At age seven, Nelson started going to school under a British system, where he was given the name “Nelson”; most probably after the British sea captain Lord Nelson. Nelson left home at 16 and went to Healdtown Methodist Boarding School.Today Nelson Mandela is retired and enjoys spending time with his daughter. Nelson is now 85 and still recognised all over the world for bringing equal rights to South Africa and standing up to the apartheid government.
After Nelson’s father died, Nelson became a royal chief at age nine and was to assume high office at a more appropriate age. However, influenced by the cases that came before the court, Nelson decided to become a lawyer. When Nelson was 21 he went to Fort Hare University to study a law degree, but was unable to finish his degree at because he ran out of money. Instead he headed for Johannesburg, where he soon obtained a job in a law firm. This gave him enough money
to finish his degree at at Fort Hare, which he completed in 1942. Nelson began studying law at the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg. In 1944 Nelson, with his best friend at University, Oliver Tambo, started the Youth League, a part of an older organization; The African National Congress (A.N.C.), an organization working to get better treatment of black people in South Africa. By 1947 Nelson had impressed his peers with his consistent effort and disciplined work and was elected to the secretaryship of the Youth League. He then joined the resistance against the ruling National Party’s apartheid policies, after 1948. Nelson went on trial for treason in 1956 to 1961, because he had left the country illegally to train with guerrilla forces. After the ban of the A.N.C. in 1960, Nelson campaigned for the establishment of a military wing within the A.N.C. In June 1961, the A.N.C. executive considered Mandela’s proposals on the use of violent tactics and agreed that those members who wished to involve themselves in Mandela’s campain would not be stopped from doing so by the A.N.C. This lead to the formation of the Umkhoto we Sizwe. Mandela was arrested in 1962 because of his involvement in the Umkhoto we Sizwe and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison.
During his time in jail Nelson turned himself into a symbol of equal rights and justice, gathering support from all over the world increasing the fame he gained when he was sentenced to life for training with guerrilla forces. Worried about this, the guards moved Nelson to Pollsmoor Prison near Cape Town. By then, Nelson was the most famous prisoner in the world. At the same time, other countries were changing their opinion about South Africa’s very unpopular apartheid government. A new government, under President F.W. de Klerk, decided that the only way to solve the governments problems was to free Nelson from prison. By the time Nelson was free from jail the world believed Nelson was worthy to be the president of South Africa. Nelson negotiated with President F.W. de Klerk to bring democracy to South Africa. It worked, and after the election Nelson became President of South Africa.
Mandela stepped down from president in June 1999, having groomed Deputy President Thabo Mbeki as his successor for years. He left behind a country still troubled by racial hatred, crushing poverty and staggering violent crime. He remains the most revered man in the country, credited with a remarkable transition from tyranny to democracy, and a commitment to reconciliation that saved the country from a violent bloodbath.
Today Nelson Mandela is retired and is now 85 and still recognised all over the world for bringing equal rights to South Africa and standing up to the apartheid government.