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Nelson Mandela is born
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Mandela is expelled from Fort Hare University for taking part in a student protest.
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Mandela joins the African National Congress.
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He forms the Youth League of the ANC with Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu. Mandela marries his first wife, Evelyn Mase, with whom he has three children. They were divorced in 1957.
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Mandela opens a legal partnership with Oliver Tambo in Jo'burg.
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Mandela is arrested and charged with treason. He is one of the accused in the Treason Trial.
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Mandela marries his second wife, Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela (Winnie).
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He is acquitted of treason. The ANC, now banned, moves underground. Umkhonto weSizwe is formed with Mandela as commander-in-chief.
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He is arrested for 'inciting a strike” and receives a five-year prison sentence. He spends his first two weeks on Robben Island.
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While in prison Mandela is put on trial for treason and receives a life sentence.
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Mandela is moved from Robben Island to Pollsmoor Prison.
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Mandela is offered conditional release, which he refuses.
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Mandela is released from prison
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The ANC is unbanned.
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He becomes president of the ANC.
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Mandela is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with FW de Klerk.
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Mandela becomes the first black president of South Africa on May 10 1994.
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He divorces Winnie.
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Mandela retires as president of the ANC.
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He marries Graça Machel on his 80th birthday.
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He steps down as South African president to make way for Thabo Mbeki, who was nominated ANC president in 1997.
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He died, surrounded by his family, in his house in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa at the age of 95 after suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection.