Bham & washington campaign - significance of MLK

Question 1

when was the bham campaign who was it started by and when was it?

Answer 1

• MLK’s SCLC in 1963 Alabama Birmingham

Question 2

what was the aim of the Bham campaign?

Answer 2

• sought desegregation of public facilities

- equal employment opportunities

Question 3

why did King choose Bham?

Answer 3

• it was known for extensive segregation and racism
• he knew that Eugene Bull Connor would react violently and this could be exposed to the nation and prompt Kennedy into action.

Question 4

what happened at initially at Bham ?

Answer 4

• the protesters were attacked by Connor’s police and dogs

- MLK was arrested for being a troublemaker

Question 5

what happened after MLK was released from prison?

Answer 5

• he controversially encouraged young black children to go on the march
• they were hosed down and this tore their clothes of their back
• this put the march in the headlines again.

Question 6

what was the significance of the Bham campain?

Answer 6

• did little to improve the situation in bham itself
• race relations detiriorated e.g. a bomb killed three four black girls attending sunday school
• the publicity however exposed southern bigotry at its worst and helped persuade Kennedy to pass the 1964 civil rights bill

Question 7

when and who was the washington campaign masterminded by?

Answer 7

• 1963 A.Phillip Randolph who sought for the federal government to increase economic opportunities for black people
• NAACP, SNCC AND SCLC hoped a well turned out march would gain publicity.

Question 8

what was the impact of the march?

Answer 8

• it had huge emotional impact as it presented the civil rights movement as strong and united
• the behaviour of the 250,000 marchers was impeccable
• Kings “i have a dream speech”
• the march contributed to the civil rights act