March on Washington Student Version BW PDF

THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON August 28, 1963 was hot and sticky in Washington, D.C. More than 250,000 people of all races, ages, and religions packed the National Mall. They filled the area between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Some people fanned themselves to cool off, while others d...

THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON August 28, 1963 was hot and sticky in Washington, D.C. More than 250,000 people of all races, ages, and religions packed the National Mall. They filled the area between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Some people fanned themselves to cool off, while others dipped their toes in the waters of the Reflecting Pool. They had come to Washington, D.C. from almost every state to take part in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. INEQUALITY Martin Luther King Jr. knew the civil rights movement was on the verge of breakthrough. Civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph had an idea to stage a mass march on Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital. They would demand equal job opportunities, voting, and civil rights to ensure equality. Randolph and another civil rights leader, Bayard Rustin, began planning what came to be known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. King did not help plan the event, but attended the event. Organizers expected around 175,000 people to participate. President Kennedy was a civil rights supporter, but he tried to talk the leaders into calling off the march because he worried it may turn violent. Civil rights activist Medgar Evers had been killed on June 12 by a Ku Klux Klan member in front of his Mississippi home. Despite Kennedy’s reluctance, civil rights leaders continued with their plan and the march was scheduled for August 28, 1963. ©Teaching to the Middle It had been one hundred years since President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation to free enslaved people. Even though African Americans were free in 1963, they were still not equal. In the South, they were not allowed to eat lunch at the same counters, or go to the same schools as white people. All across the nation, they earned less money than whites in the same jobs. African Americans boycotted buses because they were forced to sit in the back. They marched with signs asking for equal rights. These small acts turned into the civil rights movement. Protesting was not easy because police often attacked protesters with water hoses and dogs. Some protesters were beaten. Bombs were thrown at their homes and churches. However, people continued to protest even though they were often attacked by police. ORGANIZING MARCH Buses, trains, and cars carried people from all over country to Washington, D.C. One group even marched all the way from Brooklyn, New York. They traveled over 200 miles on foot. By 9:30 a.m. nearly 23,000 people gathered at the Washington Monument. 90,000 people of all ages and races had arrived two hours later. Folk singers entertained the crowd. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Freedom Singers from Georgia performed too. Marchers spread out on both sides of the Reflecting Pool and up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Rosa Parks and other famous members of the civil rights movement sat on stage, along with other famous faces. The crowd swelled to 250,000 people. Millions more watched the event on television or listened in on the radio. SPEAKERS Several people spoke to the crowds, calling for justice. They wanted dignity and equality for people of all races. The final speaker was a 34 year old Martin Luther King Jr. The pastor had established himself as a civil rights leader over the last few years. King led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama and had joined sit-ins. He had been attacked, arrested, and jailed for his efforts. The crowd had waited all day for him. When he stepped up to the podium, people cheered and clapped. King raised his arm to them in greeting and started speaking in his deep, rich tone. For the next 16 minutes, he spoke of his dream of when all Americans were equal. He dreamed of a nation where his children would be judged by the people they were inside, not the color of their skin. He used the words, “I have a dream” over and over throughout his speech. Across the National Mall and all over the United States, people listened, cheered, and cried. The destiny of African Americans was changed on that August day in 1963. Estimates range from 200,000 to 500,000 people who attended the rally at the Lincoln Memorial. The event remains an excellent example of peaceful protest. Time magazine named King its “Man of the Year” in 1963. He won the Nobel Peace Prize the following year. President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 banning segregation in public places. In 1965, the Voting Rights Acts was passed, ensuring every African American had the right to vote. Many believe the March on Washington had a great impact on these acts being signed. ©Teaching to the Middle IMPACT Name_________________________________________ THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON TRUE OR FALSE?: Place a check in the correct column. STATEMENT T F 1. The South remained segregated in the 1950s and 1960s. 2. President Kennedy did not support the civil rights movement. 3. Fewer people showed up the march than organizers expected. 4. President Kennedy urged organizers to cancel the march. 5. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a moving speech at the march. 6. President Kennedy signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. 7. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for his civil rights efforts. 8. Speeches were given at the Lincoln Memorial during the march. 9. There were several violent outbreaks at the march. 10. King’s speech was about five minutes long. MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer. 12. Why was protesting often difficult for people during the civil rights movement? A. The protests were not usually organized. B. The weather often caused problems. C. The police often attacked protesters. D. Protesting was illegal in the South. ©Teaching to the Middle 11.Why did President Kennedy urge the organizers of the March on Washington to cancel the event? A. He was worried violence may break out at the event. B. He did not support the civil rights movement. C. He supported segregation. D. He did not think the event was well organized. 13. What was the main topic of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at the March on Washington? A. His role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. B. His idea for the Civil Rights Act. C. His conversations with President Kennedy. D. His dreams for the nation. 14. Which of the following best describes the March on Washington? A. Violent B. Successful C. Dangerous D. Disappointing 15. A. B. C. D. Who mainly organized the March on Washington? Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin 16. A. B. C. D. The The The The The March on Washington took place by which landmark in Washington, D.C.? White House Lincoln Memorial Capitol Building Library of Congress SHORT ANSWER: Answer each question. 17. Name two reasons you think the March on Washington was successful. ©Teaching to the Middle 18. What two acts were passed after the March on Washington, greatly increasing the rights of African Americans in the United States?