Nelson Mandela Research Paper

Mandela’s aim was to make peace between the whites and the blacks and get rid of apartheid. He wanted a non- racial government for South Africa.

Nelson Mandela achieved many things in his lifetime. One of his major achievements was his win against the unjust government in South Africa. He was able to get his people to be able to vote and that was never allowed; they were given rights after the British never thought they deserved them. Another achievement was when he ran for president and won. He ended up winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, one of the greatest awards given to anyone.

Mandela was the leader South Africa needed because he accomplished what many could not. He ended apartheid laws, unified two racial groups and created justice

Although the majority of people were black, it was the whites who governed the blacks without according them equal rights.

Mandela had a traditional rural upbringing, herding cattle and spending much time outside. No-one in his family had ever attended school. His father was a local chief and his mother was his father's third wife. After his father died when he was 9 years old, his mother entrusted him to the care of the Tembu chief and his family who raised him as their own. Mandela received both Christian and the best academic education available, unlike most black men and women of his time.

Mandela’s development as a political leader was gradual and not straightforward. Indeed in his days at university, he avoided affiliating himself with the ANC (African National Congress which was the strongest of organizations fighting for equal rights for black people) and the anti-imperialist movement. He was against the use of violence and he saw the British as bringing education and other benefits to South Africa.

In 1944, he was asked to help start the youth league of the ANC, which he agreed to do as he had started to face racism himself. He also started the first black law

He remained modest and humble throughout his struggles, which kept him able to relate to many different kinds of people. As president, he never missed an opportunity to talk to ordinary people remaining accessible and humble. Often leaders become remote from the people they are supposed to represent but Nelson Mandela stayed true to his deeply held beliefs and values. Good leaders are able to listen and relate to many different people.In my opinion Nelson Mandela was a good leader for one main reason: he never gave up his vision. I don’t think many people have that much strength to carry on in the face of so much opposition. Even after spending 27 years in prison, he emerged as determined as