MLK - Life Learning Cloud

Martin Luther King
What evidence is there in the
following clip that MLK was key in
the Civil Rights Movement?
Lesson objectives
• Who was he?
• How did he become a leader?
• What did he do after Montgomery?
Task
reate a fact file on
MLK.
nsure you include
hat he achieved –
oth in the 1950s &
960s.
xtension: Add an
valuation of his
mpact.
Background –
who was he
and how did he
come to
prominence?
Montgomery
Bus Boycott
Birmingham
March on
Washington
Selma
Montgomery bus boycotts
• Began on 1st December 1955.
• Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing
to give up her seat to a white person –
and move to the back of the bus.
• The Driver stopped the bus, she was
arrested for breaking a segregation
law, convicted and fined.
• She was immediately sacked from her
job.
• A one day boycott of the buses
started, but this soon turned into a
longer one – it eventually lasted 381
days.
Click on
Rosa for film
What problems
would there be in
trying to maintain
this boycott?
The role of MLK
• Martin Luther King happened to
be the 26 year old pastor at a
Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church.
• He was elected by church
ministers to be the President of
the Montgomery Improvement
Association.
• The group demanded seats be
given on a first-come, firstseated policy.
• They also launched a court case
to support their boycott.
The role of MLK
A key part of the success was the
car pool.
Many Black Americans needed to
cross town to work – without
sharing lifts they would have lost
their jobs.
MLK gave dozens of speeches
during the boycott to encourage
citizens to maintain their boycott –
despite intimidation by whites and
the KKK.
The role of MLK
MLK’s house was even bombed, plus
he was arrested for not obeying city
laws.
But each time he gave inspirational
speeches, urging locals to ‘‘Be calm
as I and my family are. We are not
hurt and remember that if anything
happens to me, there will be others to
take my place’’.
His spirit and attitude earnt him, and
the boycott, national attention.
Victory
• After 381 days, a Supreme Court
ruled that the segregation laws
in Montgomery were
unconstitutional.
• MLK had led the locals
successfully to victory.
• Following this, he created the
Southern Christian Leadership
Conference to unit Black leaders
in future protests.
Birmingham April/May 1963
• King had labelled it the
“worst city for racism”
• There was a large KKK
presence, they had recently
beaten up the Freedom
riders when they arrived
(more later); and even
castrated someone.
• The town was run by ‘Bull’
Connor – a notorious racist.
• Why do you think MLK
picked this city?
Birmingham, stage 1.
• King united a number of groups
in this protest – SNCC, NAACP
& SCLC.
• The City banned MLK from
leading a march – which King
labelled an “injunction from
heaven”.
• Why?
• He went on the march and was
subsequently arrested –
gaining big publicity –
President Kennedy paid for his
bail!
Birmingham, stage 2,
• MLK then arranged for over 1,000
children aged 3+ to join another
march
• They were met by Police with dogs,
before being hosed down by firemen.
• 100s of children were arrested and
the Black protestors received
national sympathy.
• Riots began and JFK had to send in
federal troops to restore order.
• The treatment of Black Americans in
Birmingham led JFK to announce the
Civil Rights Bill.
Summary
Washington August 28th 1963
• Once again, MLK united a
number of groups: NAACP,
CORE, SNCC, SCLC.
• A march of 250,000 peacefully
walked to Washington DC.
• A mixture of races, sexes and
ages – all in support of JFK’s
Civil Rights Bill.
• Provided MLK with more
national attention – notably
with his “I have a dream
speech”.
Selma 7th March 1965
• MLK and the SCLC organised a
mass protest in Selma, Alabama in
an attempt to gain a Voting Rights
Act (which would allow thousands of
black Americans the chance to
vote).
• In Selma, half the population was
black, but only 1% could vote.
• Once again, an extremely racist
local sheriff faced them – Jim Clark.
• Once again, MLK and the SCLC
were undeterred and peacefully
marched to the town hall to try to
register to vote.
Selma 7th March 1965
• Clark encouraged his police force to
attack black protestors – but included
innocent bystanders too.
• This, like Birmingham, was caught on
television.
• It once again showed a broken system
and created national outrage.
• At the height of the Cold War, President
Johnson was forced to act.
• He soon signed the Voting Rights Act in
August 1965.
How did you do?
You should have
completed the main points
– check your version
against the one on the
board.
Extension – how important
do you think MLK was in
the success of these
protests?
What tactics were used
successfully?
How did he inspire the
public?
Background – A
preacher from
Dexter Avenue
Church,
Montgomery.
Montgomery Bus
Boycott
Led protestors during
381 day boycott.
President of MIA –
preached non
violence. Arrested
and house bombed
but did not give up.
Birmingham
Coordinated lots of
protest groups. Led a non
violent march. Was
arrested and gained
national attention from
JFK. Local Governor
encouraged police
violence – led to Civil
Rights Bill and national
support.
March on
Washington
MLK organised with
SCLC, NAACP,
CORE, SNCC.
250,000 attended
and listened to MLK
‘I have a dream
speech’.
Selma
MLK targeted another racist town to show the
problem in the South. Organised a mon violent
march to register to vote (with SCLC). Attacked by
Police, causing national outrage. Led to passing
of Voting Rights Act.
Views of MLK
“If King never lived, the black struggle would have
followed a course of development similar to the one
it did. Black students…had sources of tactical and
ideological inspiration besides King”
Professor Clayborne Carson
“the movement made Martin rather than Martin
making the movement”
Ella Baker
“no person was more important’ than MLK”
Professor Anthony Badger
What do these quotes suggest about Martin Luther King?
How did you do?
Thinking point:
Do you think the Marches
would have been as
successful without Mart
Luther King?
Was it him leading, or the
people doing the marches
that was the recipe for
success?
Background – A
preacher from
Dexter Avenue
Church,
Montgomery.
Montgomery Bus
Boycott
Led protestors during
381 day boycott.
President of MIA –
preached non
violence. Arrested
and house bombed
but did not give up.
Birmingham
Coordinated lots of
protest groups. Led a non
violent march. Was
arrested and gained
national attention from
JFK. Local Governor
encouraged police
violence – led to Civil
Rights Bill and national
support.
March on
Washington
MLK organised with
SCLC, NAACP,
CORE, SNCC.
250,000 attended
and listened to MLK
‘I have a dream
speech’.
Selma
MLK targeted another racist town to show the
problem in the South. Organised a mon violent
march to register to vote (with SCLC). Attacked by
Police, causing national outrage. Led to passing
of Voting Rights Act.
Post script 1968
In 1968 when preparing for another
speech in Memphis Tennessee, Martin
Luther King was assassinated by James
Earl Ray.
He was 39 years old, but had already
made such an impact that his ideas
would continue after his death.
Today his birthday, Martin Luther King
day is a national holiday in the USA.
Main task
• You’ve studied 4 protests related to
students/education.
• And now 4 protests linked to Martin
Luther King.
• Do you think Martin Luther King led
the Civil Rights movement; or did the
Civil Rights movement lead him?
• Could Black Americans have gained
success without him?
Page 144 - 147
Was MLK a leader?
• Made powerful speeches that raised awareness and
provoked Congress.
• Helped create Southern Christian Leadership Conference
(SCLC) in 1957 and pursued a campaign to raise
awareness of racial inequality in the South.
• United SCLC, CORE, NAACP, SNCC in campaigns e.g.
MOW, Birmingham, Selma.
• Personally sacrificed himself in Montgomery, Birmingham
& Selma to raise awareness.
• Able to gain national attention through the media coverage
of events.
• Consulted with LBJ and JFK on key legislation.
Comprehenension/essay
• Explain which was MLK’s greatest achievement
and why.
• What played the greater role in achieving civil
rights for Black Americans:
– Martin Luther King and his campaigns
– Students and their campaigns
• Explain your answer with reference to both
reasons (12 marks).
Marking your HW
Level
1
2
3
4
Description of your answer
I have given a basic explanation of one bullet point, e.g. MLK undertook peaceful
protests such as marches and bus boycotts.
I have given a simple explanation of both bullet points, for the top of level 2 one
bullet point might have some extra detail, e.g. MLK chose certain cities to raise
awareness such as the march to Selma, whereas the changes in education had
a bigger effect as they affected more children at school.
I have given a detailed explanation of one bullet point but the other will be in less
depth, e.g. MLK had always argued that non-violent protest was the best way to
achieve change. He had learned from the actions of Ghandi, and an example
would be the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956 which lasted for 381 days and
ended when the US Supreme Court ended segregation and said that black and
white people could sit in the same area of the same bus…
I have written a short conclusion at the end explaining which point was the most
important.
I have given a detailed explanation of both bullet points. Both will have detailed
evidence and there will be a short conclusion at the end comparing and
contrasting the two points and deciding which was the more important.
Marks
available
1-3
4-6
7-9
10-12
Mark
awarded