Struggle
1944
April 2
Forms the Youth League of the ANC with Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.
July
Marries his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase. The couple have four children, three now deceased.
1948
Elected national secretary of the ANCYL.
The South African government limits the freedom of black Africans even more with the introduction of the apartheid policy of racial segregation.
1951
Elected president of the ANCYL.
1952
Elected Transvaal ANC president.
June 26
The Defiance Campaign begins and he is arrested and imprisoned for a few days.
Arrested for violating the Suppression of Communism Act with Walter Sisulu and 17 others.
August
Opens his own law office and provides free or low cost legal counsel to blacks who would otherwise have been without legal representation.
December
Sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour for violating the Suppression of Communism Act. Suspended for two years.
1953
Devises the "M-Plan", which organised the ANC members into a nationwide underground network.
1955
June 26
Freedom Charter calling for equal rights and the abolishment of apartheid is adopted at the Congress of the People in Kliptown.
1956
December 5
Arrested and charged with high treason. Treason Trial follows (1956-60) and is acquitted.
1957
Divorces his first wife of 13 years, Evelyn Ntoko Mase.
1958
June
Marries Nomzamo "Winnie" Madikizela and the couple have two daughters.
1959
Parliament passes new laws extending racial segregation by creating separate homelands for major black groups in South Africa.
April
The ANC loses most of its support when members break away to form the Pan Africanist Congress under Potlako Leballo and Robert Sobukwe.
1960
March 21
Sharpeville Massacre: Police kill 69 peaceful protestor.
April 7
The ANC is banned and Mandela goes into hiding.
1961
December 16
Forms Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), an underground military group.
1962
January
Leaves the country for military training and to gather support for MK.
August 5
Arrested near Howick after returning to South Africa via Botswana.
November 7
Sentenced to five years for incitement and leaving the country illegally.