Nelson Mandela Research Paper

In 1984, a new government, known as Apartheid, took power in South Africa. It created new standards and unjust laws that citizens complained to abide by, therefore, there were many nonviolent protests that took place throughout this 45-year period. One important man, known as Nelson Mandela, was inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s 1846 actions against paying a tax supporting a war he didn’t believe in. Mandela, along with other South African civilians, wanted to abolish, or at least modulate Apartheid before it could become stronger, and more dangerous than what it already was. Just like Thoreau, Mandela was eventually arrested and spent jail time for refusing to accept strict, government orders. Through nonviolent protests and inessential jail

Just like Thoreau, Mandela believed that non-violence could end Apartheid’s racial segregation. Back in 1846, a war between Mexico and the United States broke out. Thoreau, along with other Americans, believed that the war was a plot by southerners to promote slavery across the west. To show his disapproval towards the war and slavery, Thoreau stopped paying his taxes and was eventually arrested and spent one night in jail in July 1846. Mandela participated in most protests, including the Defiance Campaign. By the time 1955 came along, Mandela was arrested on December 5th, 1955 under the 1956 Treason Trial. He was charged for participating in a campaign to draw up a Freedom Charter that could overthrow Apartheid. Mandela was apart of another trial known as the Rivonia Trial, on 9 October 1963, where he almost faced the death penalty. Again, on 11 June 1664, Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment. It wasn’t until 1990 when he was released, along with the unbanning of the African National Congress. Relating to Thoreau, Mandela spent jail time to show that he believed in something. “Under a government which imprisons unjustly, the true place for a just man is also prison” (Thoreau 4). Both Mandela and Thoreau didn’t let one night, or a couple years in jail stop them for fighting for their just rights through a series of civil disobedient