Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Apartheid was a racial-segregation policy of the government in South Africa. Under the apartheid system, nonwhites (black), colored (mixed), or Indian-did not share full rights of citizenship with the white minority. The establishment of Black National States was another manifestation of apartheid. It was coined by the South Africa Bureau for Racial Affairs, or SABRA for short. Under the system, colored people did not share the same rights and privileges as the whites. One privilege that was taken away was, for example, a black cannot marry a white, or vice versa. Plus, any blacks over the age of 16 had to carry identity documents with them. Nelson Mandela fought for the independence of South Africa. Nelson Mandela was put into jail because of this. (Mandela was in the ANC's fight to promote non-violence methods to gain freedom and justice). He also tried to stop the Apartheid. He was considered a hero for these things. Mandela was in jail for 26 years, but later on, he got out and wrote a book called "Long Walk To Freedom". The book was about his struggle to overcome segregation and gain freedom. He still continued to fight for his country and his people admired him for that.

African Independence

Africa has changed in only 20 years. In 1955, Africa was practically overthrown by the European nations. Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia, as well as South Africa were the only countries not taken over by the European nations. By the time of 1975, almost all the countries that were once ruled over, were free from European rule. Before all these countries gained their independence, Europeans marched in to take all the natural resources that Africa was naturally known for. Many of the Africans were angry that their own homeland was taken over. A few of the Africans didn't really mind the Europeans taking over because the Europeans gave them many new things and resources. They built hospitals, schools and other helpful places for the Africans. Eventually, the Africans grew tired and worked really hard to gain their independence. They succeeded very well too.

One of the most memorable leaders was Jomo Kenyatta. When the Europeans invaded his homeland, he realized how unfair they were treating his people. He also realized that they were trying to change their government into that of communism. He went to Europe to try to persuade them to give his people their well deserved freedom, and later on, became president of Kenya.

Film Lesson:"The Right Stuff"

This film about a space race to space and the moon. The United States and Russia were the two countries competing to get into space first.The race was to get the first man into space. We succeeded with sending a monkey into space but Russia got the first man into space. America lost this first race. The second race was to get someone on the moon. America got the first man on the moon! America can claim victory! The scene that will help me remember this Cold War event is were when both the United States and Russia tried to send different rockets into space. America failed at sending those rockets up to space. Once Russia sent up their rocket, America tried so hard to send rockets up to space until they finally succeeded. Eventually they caught up and won the space race.

NATO and The Warsaw Pact.

NATO was an organization created by Europe and North America. (NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty). The major reason for the formation of NATO was that the countries involved would get a mutual defense alliance so that if one of them were attacked all of the other countries in NATO would come to help, as part of the alliance. The Warsaw Pact was a treaty between all of the countries that bordered the Soviet Union. The NATO saw the Warsaw Pact as a threat, although it was supposed to be another defensive group. The Warsaw pact deals mostly with satellites and it controls the alliances better by keeping the military organize in other countries of the alliance. The Soviet Union gain power quickly and became very powerful, they were also able to keep the socialist government secure.