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== Early Life and Political Socialization ==

== Early Life and Political Socialization ==

   

   

Almost immediately, we see Mandela plunged into political life, as his father was the ‘right hand man’ to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland (ANC archive).  Although the reasons as to his political socialization are evident and obvious, one ought to consider the ramifications of his environment; for instance, it can be argued that the class system in South Africa erupted his ideals:  “Ideologies and ideologists arise in class-divided societies…” (Ball and Dagger)  If this is true, then it is vital to speak of Mandela and apartheid as two sides to the same coin.

Almost immediately, we see Mandela plunged into political life, as his father was the ‘right hand man’ to the Acting Paramount Chief of Thembuland (ANC archive).  Although the reasons for his political socialization are evident and obvious, one ought to consider the ramifications of his environment; for instance, it can be argued that the class system in South Africa was in conflict with his ideals:  “Ideologies and ideologists arise in class-divided societies…” (Ball and Dagger)  If this is true, then it is vital to speak of Mandela and apartheid as two sides of the same coin.

Mandela’s primary education began in a local mission school, and his secondary education was completed in a Wesleyan institute in Healdtown.  Around this time, he began to see many of the cases in the Chief’s courts, many involving apartheid issues, and this primed him to want to become a lawyer instead of taking his father’s place in Thembuland politics (ANC archive).

Mandela’s primary education began in a local mission school, and his secondary education was completed in a Wesleyan institute in Healdtown.  Around this time, he began to see cases in the Chief’s courts, many involving apartheid issues, and this primed him to want to become a lawyer instead of taking his father’s place in Thembuland politics (ANC archive).

Mandela’s earliest political experience came while enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, where he was working to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  While at the college, he was elected to a student political organization known as the Student’s Representative Council.  Soon after, Mandela was expelled for participating in a protest on campus (ANC archive). Because of this, Mandela attended Johannesburg where he finally obtained his BA.  Soon after, he joined the [[African National Congress]] in 1942, during the height of [[World War II]].

Mandela’s earliest political experience came while enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, where he was working to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  While at the college, he was elected to a student political organization known as the Student’s Representative Council.  Soon after, Mandela was expelled for participating in a protest on campus (ANC archive). Because of this, Mandela attended Johannesburg where he finally obtained his BA.  Soon after, he joined the [[African National Congress]] in 1942, during the height of [[World War II]].

Nelson Mandela’s personal fixation with freedom propped him to work with many other members of the African National Congress to form a group under the leadership of a colleague, Anton Lembede (ANC archive).  The group’s main focus was to change the African National Congress into a mass movement, including all people from the highest urban buildings to the lowest rural countryside.  Indeed, one can certainly see where the man’s priorities with freedom had come from.

Nelson Mandela’s personal fixation with freedom brought him to work with many other members of the African National Congress to form a group under the leadership of a colleague, Anton Lembede (ANC archive).  The group’s main focus was to change the African National Congress into a mass movement, including all people from urban communities to those in the countryside\.

Mandela was instrumental in many political endeavors, many of which anti-apartheid movements such as the Programme of Action, a policy based initiative which was founded on the non-violent weapons of “boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-co-operation” (ANC archive).  This eventually became the namesake of the African National Congress.

Mandela was instrumental in many political endeavors, many of which were anti-apartheid movements such as the Programme of Action, a policy based initiative which was founded on the principal of using  the non-violent weapons of “boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-co-operation” (ANC archive).  This eventually became the modus operandi of the African National Congress.

And yet, some of our greatest leaders and role models have to resort to evil in order to do good. Mandela, being no exception to this, was the leader of an armed resistance group known as Umkhonto we Sizwe, formed in 1962.  Mandela explains his reasoning:

And yet, some of our greatest leaders and role models have to resort to evil in order to do good. Mandela, being no exception to this, was the leader of an armed resistance group known as Umkhonto we Sizwe, formed in 1962.  Mandela explains his reasoning:

“At the beginning of June 1961, after long and anxious assessment of the South African situation, I and some colleagues came to the conclusion that as long violence in this country was inevitable, it would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force.” –Nelson Mandela (ANC archive)

“At the beginning of June 1961, after long and anxious assessment of the South African situation, I and some colleagues came to the conclusion that as long violence in this country was inevitable, it would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force.” –Nelson Mandela (ANC archive)

It was this notion, along with strong governmental apartheid sentiment that would eventually land Nelson R. Mandela behind bars.

It was this notion, along with strong governmental apartheid sentiment that would eventually land Nelson R. Mandela in prison.

== Mandela in Prison ==

== Mandela in Prison ==