MLK

Question 1

What was MLK’s role in Montgomery bus boycott?

Answer 1

Made first speech calling for boycott to continue -> provoke a reaction from authorities but keep moral high ground
Leader of campaign
Keep protests peaceful

Question 2

What did Martin Luther King organise in the summer of 1963 and why did it become famous?

Answer 2

• giant march in Washington DC -> designed to put pressure on president JFK to pass Civil Rights Bill
• made ‘I have a dream’ speech on Lincoln memorial,because Lincoln ended slavery, also challenging Lincoln’s legacy (perhaps it hasn’t been fulfilled)

Question 3

What did gov pass in 1964?

Answer 3

1964 civil rights act deemed it was illegal to discriminate against black people
President Johnson did this
-> Jim crows outlawed

Question 4

Describe the events in Selma 1965 and MLK’s role

Answer 4

-> targeted Selma, majority black but voting majority white for campaign to register to vote (many black people obstructed from voting)
- tried to register all residents to vote, but failed
-> first march
Protest march reached Edmund Pettus Bridge - police responded with tear gas + violence
Brutal scene captured on TV, enraging many Americans
->second march
Organised second march with + 2000 ppl
Met by row of police on bridge
King paused protestors, led them in prayer in front of the police, then turned protestors around and left
-> criticism from some marchers, thought that they looked weak + doubted non violent methods would achieve any change

Question 5

What did the gov pass in 1965?

Answer 5

President Johnson passed voting rights act
Illegal to stop people voting (esp. due to colour of skin)
Passed due to public pressure (he wanted to secure votes)

Question 6

Assassination of Martin Luther King

Answer 6

1968
Agreed to lead peaceful march in support of strikers in Memphis, Tennessee
On eve of 4th April, standing on balcony of motel room and shot by white man called James Earl Ray
-> made promised land speech night before
News of his murder caused riots in black areas of many citues

Question 7

Oracy

Answer 7

Attracted attention of media (media influenced the voters)

Therefore without his speeches presidents wouldn’t have been motivated to pass bills

Question 8

Non violent protests tactic

Answer 8

Non violent protests met with unjustified violence from police
Protestors never fought back
Maintaining moral high ground in every conflict brought movement public sympathy + portrayed them as courageous, decorous victims of racism
Gave no reason for the white pop to criticise them