Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Which amendment/clause supported the Civil Rights movement of the 50s-60s?

Equal protection clause of the 14th amendment

Were states doing a good job in protecting Black Americans?

No, many states were failing to uphold the equal protection clause.

What was the campaign that Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to hold before getting arrested?

A planned protest movement in Birmingham to end segregation in the downtown shopping district.

What was the letter written by King a response to?

Martin Luther King Jr. was responding to a published letter by white clergy which told him to wait until White people influenced legislatures and courts to guarantee rights for the Black population.

What was the main idea that King expressed in his letter?

The importance of civil disobedience to bring about change. Through waiting, justice is delayed and often denied. Meaningful negotiation will never occur unless a crisis is brought about.