Select and explain the most important turning points in Nelson Mandelas life.

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        History- The Apartheid state and the struggle against it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Question 1. Select and explain the most important turning points in Nelson Mandela’s life.

A turning point in someone’s life is an important time and a time where things come to a change. Nelson Mandela is a very important figure in South Africa’s recent history which is why the turning points in his life are very important for South Africa as a country and its history. I will be examining the most important turning points in Nelson Mandela’s life in which I will be talking about the Sharpeville Massacre and the effects that had on Mandela himself, the Rivionia trials; the negotiations around his release from prison; the CODESA negotiations and the 1994 elections in which he became president. As I look at all these factors in Mandela’s life I will also be picking up on other things which were a turning point in his life.

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Mandela arrives in Johannesburg in 1941 and sees the differences between Black and White people. He is very shocked and wants to do something about it. Mandela meets up with Walter Susilo and Oliver Tambo. Together with Anton Labede he joined the ANC which was the first important turning point in his life. They also formed the youth league and injected new life into the ANC. Mandela adds new aims in the ANC and takes over the youth club becoming a political figure. This is when he has starts to be recognised by the people. This is very important because ...

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