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Year 11 - History

The peace marches (1963) and Freedom Summer (1964)

The USA, 1954–75 conflict at home and abroad

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils study a modern society and the issues that affected it in great depth over a shorter period. They learn about the key events, developments, people and stories that shaped this modern society over a period of around twenty to thirty years.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the events of 1963-1964 and explain how these events led to greater support for the civil rights movement.

Key Notes

  • King wrote the 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' after he was arrested following demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Kennedy became directly involved in Birmingham in May 1963, deciding to introduce a Civil Rights Act.
  • In August 1963, the March on Washington became one of the most famous moments of the movement with 250,000 protestors.
  • After the assassination of Kennedy in November 1963, many felt the civil rights movement began to slow down.
  • Freedom Summer aimed to increase voter registration in Mississippi, but their schools became targets of violent attacks.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • direct action: the use of demonstrations or protests to achieve a goal, rather than negotiation
  • Freedom Schools: temporary schools set up in Mississippi to help overcome the inequalities in schooling

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • After Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech, the civil rights movement continued to progress until the Civil Rights Act was passed.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

King wrote the 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' after he was arrested following demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama. Kennedy became directly involved in Birmingham in May 1963, deciding to introduce a Civil Rights Act.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'direct action'

the use of demonstrations or protests to achieve a goal, rather than negotiation.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: After Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech, the civil rights movement continued to progress until the Civil Rights Act was passed. Correction: The assassination of President Kennedy stalled the momentum the movement had gained with the events in Birmingham, he was the president that many black American had put their hope in - and many feared their hope died with him.

More Lessons In This Unit

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