Why was Nelson Mandela famous?

Direct quote: "Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. His father Henry Mandela was Chief of the Tembu Tribe. Mandela himself was educated at University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand and qualified in law in 1942.

He joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was engaged in resistance against the ruling National Party's apartheid policies after 1948. He went on trial for treason in 1956-1961 and was acquitted in 1961.

After the banning of the ANC in 1960,he argued for the setting up of a military wing within the ANC. In June 1961, the ANC executive considered his proposal on the use of violent tactics and agreed that those members who wished to involve themselves in his campaign would not be stopped from doing so by the ANC. This led to the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe. He was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour. In 1963, when many fellow leaders of the ANC and the Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, he was brought to stand trial with them for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. His statement from the dock received considerable international publicity. On June 12, 1964, eight of the accused, including Mandela, were sentenced to life imprisonment. From 1964 to 1982, he was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town; thereafter, he was at Pollsmoor Prison, nearby on the mainland.

During his years in prison, his reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South Africa and became a potent symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength. He consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom.

He was released on February 11, 1990. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, striving to attain the goals, he and others had set out almost four decades earlier. In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC held inside South Africa after the organization had been banned in 1960, he was elected President of the ANC while his lifelong friend and colleague, Oliver Tambo, became the organisation's National Chairperson." END QUOTE

With Thanks from the Nobelprize.org...See related links below for the complete Biography

First answer by Scootwhoman. Last edit by Jadeacres. Contributor trust: 773 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 62 [recommend question]