Nelson Mandela

After spending twenty seven years in prison, he became the eleventh president of South Africa. In 40 years, Nelson Mandela won over 100 awards. Mandela became notorious for his struggle against the apartheid, with actions that sent him to prison. He became a cultural icon and an advocate for freedom and equality. His release from prison helped lead the transition to a multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Mandela was a lawyer and operated a law firm which provided free or low-cost legal council to many African Americans, enabling them to gain legal representation. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Mandela believed in non-violent civil disobedience and was also an anti-apartheid activist. Mandela organized and took part in campaigns, mass protests, boycotts, and marches in order to pressure change. After he was released from prison in 1990, he ran for president and won. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize and award was presented to Mandela as well as F.W deklerk, the man who got Mandela out of jail.

Persons Case

Not until 1929 the definition of a "person" included the females. Emily Murphy and Nellie McClung, both advocates of social reform, challenged section 24 of the British North America Act which stated that women were not considered "persons." Emily Murphy assembled a group of respected women including Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby, and Louise McKinney. The answer that these valiant women were looking for was whether there was a possibility that women could become Senators. Since only "persons" could contend to be a Senator, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women were not qualified to run for Senate. Unsatisfied, the women went to London, England where they stood in front of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council asking, "Are women persons?" The committee ruled in favour of the Famous Five and on October 18th, 1929, women became people. This ruling entitled women alot of rights including the right to vote and the freedom to serve in the Senate. These women opened many doors for Canadian women as well as women all over the world.

Civics Class

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