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Independence
South Africa gained independence from the British and the British left the whites with all of the power. -
ANC
The ANC, or African National Congress, was formed to give blacks a voice. -
Apartheid
The whites established apartheid, a law segregating whites and blacks, and they made made blacks stay in homelands and townships. -
Mandela Imprisoned
Nelson Mandela, a black leader, was imprisoned on Robben Island for protesting laws and being a "threat" to the whites. -
Protest
100,000 students gathered in the town of Soweto to protest, and 172 of those protesters died. -
Released
Nelson Mandela was freed by F.W. de Klerk, ending his 27 year stay on Robben Island. During his imprisonment, a poem called
"Invictus" that motivated Mandela and kept his head high in prison. -
Apartheid Ends
Apartheid, after being boycotted and frowned upon, was finally stopped and the tide in South Africa slowly turned to equality. -
Open Elections
South Africa held its first open elections, giving the black vote control and giving Mandela the presidency. -
Rugby
The Springboks head to the World Cup of Rugby and beat the New Zealand All Blacks, inspiring the nation and uniting everyone into one unified race. -
In Office
Nelson Mandela established the Employment Equity Act, giving the blacks opportunities for better jobs.