Nelson Mandela's early life was quite impressive, as he attended Wesleyan College when he was just 16 years old. He then went to Fort Hare University and became involved in a protest of the school's policies. Mandela was asked to leave and he finished his studies at the University of South Africa. He became involved in politics in 1942 after seeing the discrimination by the white minority over the blacks. Nelson Mandela fought apartheid and became increasingly prominent in the 1950's. In 1961, Nelson Mandela was leader of the ANC's (African National Congress) military side and made plans for war if apartheid was not ended. Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years in prison. He remained in jail for the next 26 years, but became the figurehead for ending apartheid. Under international pressure, Nelson Mandela was finally released in 1990. Four years later, South Africa had their first democratic elections and Nelson Mandela won overwhelmingly. He served as President for five years until his retirement in 1999.
