How effective a leader was Martin Luther King?

Successes and Failures of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956-1962

What role did King play?

• 1956: Montgomery Bus Boycott

• 1957-60: SCLC

• 1960: SNCC and Sit-ins

• 1961: Freedom Rides

• 1961-2: Albany

How effective a leader was Martin Luther King?

Event Summary Significance Responsibility King’s Role

Montgomery Bus Boycott

SCLC

SNCC and Sit-ins

Freedom Rides

Albany

1956Montgomery Bus Boycott

• NAACP

• King’s role

• Successes

• The way forward?

1957-60SCLC

• King as president

• May 1957 march

• Publicity

• Atlanta

• Weaknesses

1960SNCC and Sit-ins

• Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Committee

• Students in Greensboro, NC

• Role of the press

• Significance

1961Freedom Rides

• CORE director, James Farmer

• Testing Supreme Court ruling

• Co-operation between organisations

• King’s role

1961-2Albany

• Albany State, GA

• King’s role

• Failure

• Achievements

Next Lesson: 1963

• King’s finest hour?

• Birmingham

• Letter from Birmingham Jail

• The March on Washington

• “I have a dream…” speech

• Time’s Man of the Year for 1963