Letter From Birmingham Jail

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

1. How did King’s critics describe his “present activities” in Paragraph 1?

2. What are the four steps of a nonviolent campaign?

3. What is the purpose of direct action?

4. What was the Supreme Court decision of 1954 that King references?

5. What are the three ways in which one should break an unjust law?

6. Why is King disappointed with the “white church” in Paragraphs 35-36?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Briefly describe the situation in Birmingham, as well as the steps taken by the Black community to address segregation.

2. Does King believe that groups or individuals are harder to convince to give up their unjust acts?

3. Explain the difference between positive peace and negative peace. In this vein, with which demographic is King most disappointed and why?

Recommended Next Reads

The Autobiography of Malcom X

• The 1965 autobiography of human rights activist Malcolm X
• Compare and contrast King’s and Malcolm X’s beliefs regarding Nonviolent Direct Action Versus Violence.
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X on SuperSummary