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Year 11
Edexcel

Martin Luther King Jr and the early civil rights movement

I can explain the importance of Martin Luther King for the civil rights movement, including the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Martin Luther King Jr and the early civil rights movement

I can explain the importance of Martin Luther King for the civil rights movement, including the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. After the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Martin Luther King emerged as an important leader of the movement.
  2. Martin Luther King established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
  3. The SCLC organised a campaign for voter registration amongst black people.
  4. Eisenhower enforced a Civil Rights Bill, although it was considered 'watered down'.

Common misconception

Martin Luther King Jr had always been part of the civil rights movement.

King entered the spotlight following the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became a successful, popular leader as he was not associated with any large organisations.

Keywords

  • Orator - an orator is a public speaker

  • Registration - registration is the act of signing up to do something, for example voting

  • Citizenship - when you gain citizenship, you became a legally recognised member of a nation and have certain rights and protections under the law

  • Act - an act is a law passed by the government

  • Democrats - Democrats are members of one of the two major political parties in the US, Republicans are members of the other party

The 1957 Civil Rights Act was a significant moment, but most felt it was a half-hearted attempt to pacify civil rights activists and only hoped it would be the beginning of a journey towards true equality.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
is the keyword that means the use of demonstrations or protests to achieve a goal, rather than negotiation.
Correct Answer: Direct action, direct action
Q2.
The name of the woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white man on 1st December 1955 was .
Correct Answer: Rosa Parks
Q3.
In which year did the Montgomery Bus Boycott begin?
Correct answer: 1955
1954
1957
1909
1942
Q4.
Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of Martin Luther King Jr in the Montgomery Bus Boycott? Select all the statements that are true.
Correct answer: King worked with local churches to organise carpools to support the boycott.
Correct answer: King encouraged people to support the boycott, giving a speech to 7000 people.
Correct answer: King became president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA).
King was intimidated by opposition and withdrew support.
Q5.
How did groups that opposed desegregation react to the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
Correct answer: The retaliation from some white Americans was immediate and violent.
There was minimal backlash to the boycott.
Correct answer: Martin Luther King Jr’s home was bombed.
Correct answer: Many boycotters were fired from their jobs or arrested.
Q6.
The was the name of the act passed by Eisenhower in 1957 which aimed to improve the lives of black Americans.
Correct Answer: Civil Rights Act, civil rights act

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.
Correct Answer:orator,a public speaker.

a public speaker.

Correct Answer:citizenship,a legally recognised member of a nation with rights and protections

a legally recognised member of a nation with rights and protections

Correct Answer:act,a law passed by the government

a law passed by the government

Correct Answer:Democrats,members of one of the two major political parties in the US

members of one of the two major political parties in the US

Q2.
Which event threw King into the spotlight as one of the next major leaders of the civil rights movement? Select one correct answer.
Correct answer: The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Little Rock
Brown V Topeka
Q3.
Which organisation did Martin Luther King help to set up in January 1957?
Correct answer: the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
MIA
NAACP
CORE
Q4.
What were the aims of the ‘Crusade for Citizenship’ (1958)?
Correct answer: increase voter registration amongst black Americans
increase the number of jobs available to black Americans
increase the membership of the SCLC
Q5.
was the name of the civil rights leader who was involved in meetings with the president that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Correct Answer: Martin Luther King Jr, MLK, Martin Luther King, King
Q6.
How did American people response to Eisenhower's passing of the 1957 Civil Rights Act? Select all of the statements that are true.
Correct answer: Southern Democrats continued to support segregation.
Correct answer: Frustration: they saw it as a ‘watered down’ version.
Correct answer: It was critiqued for doing little more than restate laws existing laws.
Correct answer: Approving of the changes such as establishing the Commission on Civil Rights.

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