How far do you agree that MLK was key factor in progress of CR movement 1955-68
P1- became recognised figurehead for cr movement- something it previously lacked
Received 1964 Nobel peace prize- reflect widespread political and public support he had
Principle of non-violence- painted CR fight as moral struggle
Linked CR with American tradition of freedom by referring to Declaration of Independence
and bill of rights
Powerful orator- key for building support and sending support to wider audiences- ‘I have a
dream speech’ at March on Washington drew national attention- size of the demonstration
and 1/3 participants being white convinced jfk that CR fight had large public support
Sa2- vital in inspiring and organising new wave of non violent protests that led to legal seg breaking
down in towns and cities across the south
Led Montgomery bus boycott, overseeing carpools and leading nightly mass
Boycott provided momentum to begin legal challenge against Montgomery’s bus seg laws-
nov 1956, SC upheld browder vs gale which declared Montgomer’s bud seg laws
unconstitutional
Boycott led to desegregation of Montgomery’s buses- inspired similar protests in the south
with seg on transport and public places being defeated in towns from Florida to Texas
MLK co founder of SCLC- umbrella organisation- joined local groups to coordinate protest
campaigns and voter registration drives
Sa3- vital role in using tv revolution of 1950s-60s to exert pressure on presidents to give greater
support to CR movement
SCLC’s 1963 Birmingham protest saw images of police dogs set on peaceful protestors-
convinced jfk of need for cr legislation- led to civil rights bill
March on Washington confirmed to jfk widespread support of cr movement- met with
religious, business and labour leaders to discuss the matter
VR protests led by king in Selma 1965 resulted in Bloody Sunday being broadcast nationwide
creating outrage- convinced reluctant LJ on need for VR leg- led to 1965 voting rights act
Ca1- fed gov actions important during LJ and jfk eras
LJ used political skill to get 1963 civil rights bill through congress- enlisted support of
northern dems and GOP to break SD’s 57 day filibuster
CR act passed 2nd July 1964- ended legal seg- title vii forbidding discrimination in
employment based on race, colour, religion, national origin and gender
LJ also responsible for passing of VR act- led to registration of 250,000 new black voters by
1966 and only 4/13 southern states having less than 50% of black electorate registered-
most effective use of federal power in the electoral system since reconstruction
Appointed first ever black cabinet member Robert weaver and appointed first black sc judge
thurgood Marshall
Ca2- jfk when campaigning for presidency 1960, advocated for greater federal intervention in
regards to civil rights
1962- issued exec order to end discrimination in federally funded housing
Appointed Blacks to important positions- Robert weaver was head of housing and home
finance agency- thurgood Marshall appointed circuit court judge
Used federal troops to prevent state governor ross Barnet preventing James Meredith from
enrolling in Mississippi uni- similarly used national guard to end George Wallace’s ‘stand at
the schoolhouse door’
P1- became recognised figurehead for cr movement- something it previously lacked
Received 1964 Nobel peace prize- reflect widespread political and public support he had
Principle of non-violence- painted CR fight as moral struggle
Linked CR with American tradition of freedom by referring to Declaration of Independence
and bill of rights
Powerful orator- key for building support and sending support to wider audiences- ‘I have a
dream speech’ at March on Washington drew national attention- size of the demonstration
and 1/3 participants being white convinced jfk that CR fight had large public support
Sa2- vital in inspiring and organising new wave of non violent protests that led to legal seg breaking
down in towns and cities across the south
Led Montgomery bus boycott, overseeing carpools and leading nightly mass
Boycott provided momentum to begin legal challenge against Montgomery’s bus seg laws-
nov 1956, SC upheld browder vs gale which declared Montgomer’s bud seg laws
unconstitutional
Boycott led to desegregation of Montgomery’s buses- inspired similar protests in the south
with seg on transport and public places being defeated in towns from Florida to Texas
MLK co founder of SCLC- umbrella organisation- joined local groups to coordinate protest
campaigns and voter registration drives
Sa3- vital role in using tv revolution of 1950s-60s to exert pressure on presidents to give greater
support to CR movement
SCLC’s 1963 Birmingham protest saw images of police dogs set on peaceful protestors-
convinced jfk of need for cr legislation- led to civil rights bill
March on Washington confirmed to jfk widespread support of cr movement- met with
religious, business and labour leaders to discuss the matter
VR protests led by king in Selma 1965 resulted in Bloody Sunday being broadcast nationwide
creating outrage- convinced reluctant LJ on need for VR leg- led to 1965 voting rights act
Ca1- fed gov actions important during LJ and jfk eras
LJ used political skill to get 1963 civil rights bill through congress- enlisted support of
northern dems and GOP to break SD’s 57 day filibuster
CR act passed 2nd July 1964- ended legal seg- title vii forbidding discrimination in
employment based on race, colour, religion, national origin and gender
LJ also responsible for passing of VR act- led to registration of 250,000 new black voters by
1966 and only 4/13 southern states having less than 50% of black electorate registered-
most effective use of federal power in the electoral system since reconstruction
Appointed first ever black cabinet member Robert weaver and appointed first black sc judge
thurgood Marshall
Ca2- jfk when campaigning for presidency 1960, advocated for greater federal intervention in
regards to civil rights
1962- issued exec order to end discrimination in federally funded housing
Appointed Blacks to important positions- Robert weaver was head of housing and home
finance agency- thurgood Marshall appointed circuit court judge
Used federal troops to prevent state governor ross Barnet preventing James Meredith from
enrolling in Mississippi uni- similarly used national guard to end George Wallace’s ‘stand at
the schoolhouse door’
