Rivonia Trial: 11-month trial that began in 1963 to determine Mandela’s innocence or guilt of
“recruiting and training for the purpose of sabotage and violent revolution.”; Mandela was
convicted and sentenced to life in prison
Youth League: organization created in 1944 to be a more active and militant wing of the ANC
Spear of the Nation: armed wing of the ANC formed in 1961 to combat, by using violent
methods, the ruthless oppression by the government
Sharpeville Massacre: 1960 tragedy in which approximately 250 protestors, responding to a call
by the Pan African Congress to allow themselves to be arrested in hopes of overcrowding the
jails, were killed or wounded by police who felt threatened by protestors numbering in the
thousands
Freedom Charter: 1953 manifesto that would define the future democratic South Africa as
envisioned by black South African by outlining a bill of rights for all South Africans
SASO: “South African Students Organization”; formed in 1969 by Steve Biko who questioned
white participation in a black liberation movement and believed that oppression was a
psychological problem
African National Congress: union formed in 1912 and joined by Mandela in 1944 that was
created to urge black South Africans to unite against the white Afrikaner government
Children’s Crusade: 1976 protest against inequalities in education, specifically that some
subjects would be taught in Afrikaans
Defiance Campaign: first nationwide protest against apartheid by the ANC in 1952 that called
for people to defy oppressive laws
Treason Trial: 1956 trial of 156 defendants accused of treason for drafting the Freedom Charter;
lasted about 4.5 years and resulted in the acquittal of all