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Year 11
Edexcel

The Black Panther Party

I can describe the contributions of the Black Panther Party.

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New
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Year 11
Edexcel

The Black Panther Party

I can describe the contributions of the Black Panther Party.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Black Panther Party was founded in 1966, and was inspired by the beliefs of the Black Power movement.
  2. The Black Panther Party encouraged self-sufficiency in the black community and sought to take down 'the establishment'.
  3. The Black Panther Party's biggest achievement was the Free Breakfast for Children Program.
  4. The Black Panther Party eventually disbanded after constant targeting from the FBI and the murder of 27 Black Panthers.

Keywords

  • Black Power - Black Power is the political name for groups aiming for self-determination for black Americans

  • Establishment - the establishment is a system of politics and government that some argue enables racial and economic inequality

Common misconception

Malcolm X founded the Black Panther Party.

The ideas of Malcolm X in his later life would inspire the Black Power movement; this in turn inspired the Black Panther Party in the year after his death. The party was founded by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton.


To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Black Panther Party, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

While the Black Panther Party are largely remembered for their support of self-defence, military style uniform and carrying of weapons, their largest impact was in the local community where they looked to address issues of poverty and poor education.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
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Adult supervision required

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What word was used to describe black and white Americans working together for civil rights, rather than separately?
Correct Answer: Integrated, integrated, Desegregated, desegregated
Q2.
Which of the following statements best describes the term 'self-sufficiency'?
to be able to ask for support to provide for yourself
to be eligible for government support to provide for your community
Correct answer: to be able to provide for yourself without any outside help
to be able to provide for groups within your community without any outside help
Q3.
What was the slogan of the Lowndes County Freedom Organisation (LCFO)?
Black American Power!
Correct answer: Black Power for Black People!
Fight for Power!
Fight for Black America!
Q4.
The Mexico Olympics (1968) raised the profile of which movement?
The mainstream civil rights movement
The Nation of Islam
Correct answer: The Black Power movement
Black Muslims
Q5.
Which group typically interpreted the Black Power movement as as a violent, anti-white organisation?
all white Americans
Correct answer: many white Americans
all black Americans
no one
Q6.
Which of these did the assassination of Martin Liuther King lead to?
rapidly declining support for a militant approach to the fight against racism
little change in the support for a militant approach to the fight against racism
Correct answer: rapidly increasing support for a militant approach to the fight against racism
a successful end to the fight against racism

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following keywords with the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:Black Power,the name for groups aiming for self-determination for black Americans
tick

the name for groups aiming for self-determination for black Americans

Correct Answer:establishment ,a system of politics and government that some argue enables inequality
tick

a system of politics and government that some argue enables inequality

Correct Answer:self-determination,when a person or group is able to control their own life/lives
tick

when a person or group is able to control their own life/lives

Correct Answer:self-sufficiency,to be able to provide for yourself without any outside help
tick

to be able to provide for yourself without any outside help

Q2.
Who were the founders of the Black Panther Party?
Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X
Correct answer: Huey Newton and Bobby Seale
Eldridge Cleaver and Stokely Carmichael
Q3.
Complete this sentence with a first name: X influenced the ideas, values, and beliefs of the founders of the Black Panther Party.
Correct Answer: Malcolm
Q4.
How did the Black Panther Party differ from other civil rights organizations?
It focused solely on racial injustice.
Correct answer: It aimed to overthrow 'the establishment'.
It worked with white American groups.
It opposed the use of weapons.
Q5.
What was one of the achievements of the Black Panther Party that was unrelated to the use of weapons for self-defence?
Formation of armed militias
Correct answer: Implementation of the Free Breakfast for Children Program
Creation of a paramilitary training program
Initiation of urban guerrilla warfare tactics
Q6.
Which of these organisations targeted the Black Panther Party as a threat?
Correct answer: Government politicians
Correct answer: State police
Other civil rights organisations
Correct answer: The FBI

Additional material

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