Martin Luther King

Question 1

Topic sentence

Answer 1

Some historians argue that Martin Luther King was the most significant factor in explaining the growth of the civil rights movement.

Question 2

Evidence 1

Answer 2

Martin Luther King (MLK) was an effective black leader who used peaceful and non-violent tactics in the aim to overthrow white supremacy in America.

Question 3

Analysis 1

Answer 3

This led to the growth of the civil right movement because although MLKs demonstrations were peaceful, he was often arrested for them and thus gained vast publicity which drew national and international attention to problems faced by black people. MLKs non - violent tactics were also popular throughout the South.

Question 4

Evidence 2

Answer 4

Furthermore, MLK has been described as an effective ‘spin doctor’ because he was able to manipulate the media and pick his opponents carefully in order to reflect the injustice that Southern Black people faced and the violent racism of Southern whites.

Question 5

Analysis 2

Answer 5

This led to the growth of the civil rights movement because again, his tactics gathered word attention to the discrimination faced by black people. For example MLK chose to protest in one of the most racist towns in the USA, Birmingham Alabama and this drew world attention to the discrimination in employment and cultural facilities.

Question 6

Counter analysis

Answer 6

However some people argue that MLK failed to address racism faced by Northern Black people. This is shown through the fact that De - facto segregation remained a reality during the 1960s.

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

To evaluate, although MLK had an effective role in bringing attention to the violent racism faced by Southern black American, he failed to address the de-facto racism faced by Northern black Americans. Many historians debate his significance on the civil rights movement as historian Claiborne Carson suggests that “if King had never lived, the black struggle would have followed a course of development similar to the one it did”. Therefore, the role of MLK was not a significant as effective black leaders as there were many different black leaders who fought to end racism throughout the US not just in the Southern states.