1. Essential Question- How did different leaders approach the Civil Rights movement?
Word of the Day
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): founded by MLK, organized marches, rallies, and peaceful protests
Warm Up
We have repeatedly talked about the benefits of King’s non- violent approach, but what if it did not work? How long would it take for you to decide that force was necessary? What would be the final straw? What specific action would you take?

2. The Non-Violent Movement
Use non-violence to fight the evils of discrimination
Passive resistance – the peaceful refusal to obey unjust laws
Inspired by
Henry David Thoreau and Gandhi – resists oppression without violence
Founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Staged protests and demonstrations throughout the South
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in 1968

3. The Non-Violent Movement Continued
Letter from Birmingham Jail
King justifies the use of civil disobedience because it was effective
“freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor”
African Americans could no longer wait for equality – “justice too long delayed is justice denied”
“I Have a Dream Speech”
Looked forward to a day when all Americans could peacefully live together
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”

4. The Non-Violent Movement Continued
Spreading the Non-Violent Movement
SNCC- Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
CORE- Congress of Racial Equality
Freedom Rides
Freedom Summer
Large Organization organized by students. SNCC’s major contribution was in its field work- organizing voter registration drives all over the South- especially in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
CORE’s nonviolent direct action campaigns opposed Jim Crow Laws and job discrimination and fought for voting rights.
In 1961 CORE undertook a new tactic aimed a desegregating public transportation throughout the south. These tactics became known as the “Freedom Rides”
In 1964, CORE and SNCC organized a voter registration drive, known as the Mississippi Summer Project aimed at dramatically increasing voter registration in Mississippi.

5. The Militant Movement What did the “X” stand for?
Joined Nation of Islam, a black supremacist group while in jail.
Believed whites were the cause of the black condition and that blacks should separate from white society.
Did not believe in non-violence: “Concerning non-violence: it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks”
Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam in 1964, and formed the Afro-American Unity Org., but was later assassinated by members of Nation of Islam in 1965
Some leaders began to urge African Americans to take complete control over their communities, livelihoods, and culture
Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965

6. The Militant Movement Continued
Spreading the Militant Movement
Black Panthers
Founded to fight police brutality in the ghetto.
Preached self-defense- many members were involved in several shootouts with the police and the FBI
Created many programs like free breakfast programs, daycares, free clinics won the support of citizens in ghettos
Stokely Carmichael
Carmichael was an activist in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.
He rose to power first in the SNCC movement.
He soon lost faith in the non-violence tactics and began to ally himself with the Black Panther Party.
Why would Carmichael leave the non-violent movement?

7. Putting it together
Reflecting on the two differing tactics discussed in class, which strategy do you feel made the most impact?
Make sure you have completed your timeline- date/event/pictures. On the back of timeline there are 4 questions. You have the rest of the period to work on those questions.