-
Birth
On July 18th, 1918, Rolihlahla Mandela (Nelsons birth name) was born into the royal family of the Xhosa-speaking Thembu tribe in the South African village of Mvezo. There his father served as chief and he got a first hand experience of how politics worked from an early age. He had been groomed for a role of leadership in the tribe and knew how to rule others. (www.history.com) -
Invention of the Television
The first electronic television was successfully made in San Francisco by Philo Taylor Farnsworth. Farnsworth began to create a system that could capture moving pictures and that could be coded into radio waves while simultaneously having the pictures play on a screen. Not many inventions have affected the homes of people al over the world like the television has. (www.nyu.edu) -
Pearl Harbor
At the attack of Pearl Harbor more than 2,000 American citizens died while another 1,000 were wounded. After this event, war was declared on Japan because of the tragedies they caused to the United States. After, the US then declared war in Germany and Italy. This resulted in America being involved in the devastating World War 2.
(www.history.com) -
African National Congress
Nelson Mandela’s commitment to politics and the ANC grew very strong over the years. Mandela helped lead the ANC’s 1952 Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws, traveling across the country to organize protests against discriminatory policies, and promoted the Freedom Charter. He was later announced president of the African National Congress (ANC). (www.britannica.com) -
Definance Campaign Begins
Mandela helped lead the African National Congress (ANC) Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws. He traveled across the country to organize protests against discriminatory policies. This campaign had people and organizations performing acts disobedience that angered the police force. This is one of the causes for Nelson Mandela's imprisonment. (sahistory.org) -
Imprisionment
On December 5th, 1956, Mandela and 155 other activists were arrested and went on trial for treason. Nelson spent the first 18 of his 27 years of jail at Robben Island Prison where he was confined to a small cell without a bed or plumbing and forced to do hard labor. As a black political prisoner, he received scantier rations and fewer privileges than other inmates. (www.nelsonmandela.org) -
Fist Man on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon. He and Buzz Aldrin walked around for over three hours. They picked up bits of moon dirt and rocks and brought them back to Earth for experiments. They also put a U.S. flag on the moon. The two astronauts later came back to Earth safely. (www.space.com) -
Inventon of Cell Phone
The first mobile handheld phone was created by Martin Cooper, a Motorola employee. He made the first wireless telephone call. He was the first to transmit the human voice via radio waves, sending a signal from one radio tower to another. This invention has revolutionized communication around the world. (www.cnet.com) -
Simón Bolívar Award
The Simón Bolívar Prize serves to recognize activities of outstanding merit that, "contribute to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of a new international economic, social and cultural order". Nelson's fight to end black oppression in South Africa is an overwhelming example of freedom, independence and social/cultural order. It was no surprise to anyone that he received this honorable award. (www.nelsonmandela.org) -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The German Communist government built a concrete wall between East and West Berlin. The purpose of this wall was to keep westerns from entering East Germany. The Berlin Wall stood until the head of the Communist Party announced that citizens could now cross the wall. That night, crowds swarmed the wall. Some brought hammers and picks and began to destroy it. The Berlin Wall remains one of the most powerful symbols of the Cold War. (history1900s.about.com) -
Freed from Prison
After 27 long years in prison Mandela is finally freed on February 11th, 1990. Although Nelson spent many years in jail, he remained a public figure and symbol of South Africa's movement towards equality. After his release, nearly 500,000 supporters gathered in Cape Town to hear Mandela speak for the first time in almost 30 years. He was the most important political prisoner of his time. (www.nelsonmandela.org) -
Nobel Peace Prize
Before his presidency, Nelson Mandela is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside the previous South African president, FW de Klerk. Mandela received this award for his lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa. Nelson was one of the most worthy people of this high award. (www.nobelprize.org) -
President of South Africa
Over 22 million Africans passed in their ballot for Nelson Mandela in the first ever democratic election in South African history. On May 10 Mandela was sworn in as the first black president of South Africa. As president, Mandela established a strong central government, improved race relations between the people and improved the living standards of South Africa's black population. (www.history.com) -
Long Walk to Freedom
Nelson Mandela releases his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom" in 1994.During Mandela's time in prison, he had smuggled writing a draft of this story and somehow didn't get caught. That draft became a best seller where Mandela shares his story of struggle, setback, renewed hope, and ultimate triumph. (www.goodreads.com) -
9/11 Terrorist Attack
On September 11, 2001, An Islamic extremist group hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. This resulted in death, destruction and mourning over the 3,000 dead on this day. (www.history.com) -
Death
After fulfilling a lifetime of creating social justice in South Africa, Nelson Mandela passes away due to a recurring lung infection. In his honor, the United Nations declared July 18 “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of the South African leader’s contributions to democracy, freedom, peace and human rights around the world. His death was mourned by many people all around the world. (www.history.com)
