Who was Nelson Mandela?

Nelson Mandela was a famous leader. A man who went from being a prisoner to a President and became an inspiration to people all over the world!

Mandela was born in 1918 in South Africa.

Most South Africans were black but some were white, Asian or mixed race.

White people were in charge of the government and set up an unfair system of laws called Apartheid.

Apartheid meant that white and black people led separate lives.

They couldn't marry or even eat together and the lives of white people were much better.

Black people couldn't change things because they weren’t allowed to vote.

Mandela thought Apartheid was wrong.

He joined a group who wanted to end it.

At first he tried to persuade the government with peaceful protests.

When this didn't work, he used violence.

He blew up things like electricity pylons and buildings. But he didn't want to hurt people so did this at night.

In 1962, Mandela went to jail for almost 30 years.

There were protests against Apartheid and calls for his release around the world.

In 1990, Nelson Mandela was set free.

"Today the majority of South Africans, black and white, recognise that Apartheid has no future."

The South African government listened and they got rid of Apartheid!

When he left prison he was not angry, instead he worked to bring peace and friendship between white and black people.

In 1994 he became the first black President of South Africa. He worked hard to bring all South Africans of all skin colours together.

Nelson Mandela died in 2013, aged 95.

Over his long life, he changed a nation and helped people all around the world understand that everyone should be treated the same.