Martin Luther King Assassination, 1968

What were the details of Martin Luther King's assassination?

Martin Luther King was shot at a motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was rushed to hospital but died within an hour.

Where was Martin Luther King's assassination?

The assassination took place on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel.

When was the assassination of Martin Luther King?

Martin Luther King was assassinated at 6.01pm CST on 4th April, 1968.

Who carried out Martin Luther King's assassination?

Martin Luther King was murdered by a white supremacist called James Earl Ray.

Why was Martin Luther King in Memphis at the time of his assassination?

There were 2 main reasons for Martin Luther King's presence in Memphis:

• ❖ He was preparing to march in support of refuse collectors who were striking for better pay and working conditions.
• ❖ He had also planned a Poor People's Campaign.

What were the consequences the of the assassination of Martin Luther King?

The death of Martin Luther King had 3 important consequences:

• ❖ There were riots in 172 cities after his assassination.
• ❖ The Poor People's Campaign, which King had been planning up to his death, struggled without his leadership.
• ❖ The 1968 Civil Rights Act was passed into law.

Why did the civil rights movement lose support after Martin Luther King's assassination?

There were two primary reasons the civil rights movement lost support following Martin Luther King's assassination:

• ❖ Once King was gone, many white people felt there was nobody left in the civil rights movement they could relate to. Without that connection, they began to oppose the more radical demands that were made.
• ❖ The previously non-violent SNCC changed its stance to 'national'.