Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 on the eastern coast of Africa in Mvezo.

When his father died when Nelson was nine, he was raised by royalty. As a result, he was the first erson in his fa!ily to attend school. "ater on in his youn# adulthood, he beca!e an activist with the African National $on#ress. %nowin# the ower of youn# eo le, he started the African National $on#ress &outh "ea#ue. Mandela be#an actively artici atin# in olitics in his thirties, when he led the 'efiance $a! ai#n in 19() and the 19(( $on#ress of the *eo le. +is ca! ai#nin# soon hit a bric, wall in 19(-, when he was char#ed with hi#h treason a#ainst the #overn!ent, alon# with 1(( other activists. +e, alon# with the rest of the activists, were later ac.uitted. A artheid was #rowin# stron#er, and new laws were assed with which told blac,s where they were allowed to live and wor,. Mandela tried to fi#ht bac,, coordinatin# sabota#e ca! ai#ns a#ainst !ilitary and #overn!ent tar#ets and lannin# a ossible #uerrilla war. +e clai!ed he ho e to brin# down the o ressive #overn!ent and rebuild the country based on de!ocracy, freedo!, and above all, e.uality. /o co!!itted to e.uality, Mandela said at the ti!e0 12t is an ideal which 2 ho e to live for and to achieve. 3ut if needs be, it is an ideal for which 2 a! re ared to die.1 Nelson was arrested in 19-) after bein# on the run for 14 !onths. +e was char#ed with sabota#e and atte! tin# to violently overthrow the #overn!ent and sentenced to life in rison on Robben 2sland in /outh Africa. While he and other leaders of the Arican National $on#ress 5AN$6 were in 7ail, youn# /outh Africans continued to rebel a#ainst the a artheid #overn!ent. 2t wasn8t until 1999 that chan#e finally ca!e to /outh Africa. :he ban a#ainst the AN$ was lifted, Mandela was released after )4 years of bein# i! risoned, and tal,s to for! a !ulti;racial de!ocracy were set to be#in. :hree years later, Mandela was awarded the Nobel *eace *rize for his wor, to end a artheid. Months after that he was elected resident. /ince he ste ed down as resident in 1999, Nelson Mandela has been dedicated to endin# #lobal overty and hel in# to resolve wars and conflicts throu#hout Africa.