Name Martin Luther King, Jr.
Many good people do things to change the lives
of others. A man named Martin Luther King,
Jr. began a movement that changed the lives of
hundreds of thousands of people. It was called the
Civil Rights Movement.
King was born in 1929. He grew up in Atlanta,
Georgia. He went to school and studied hard to
become a minister like his dad.
Even though King was a minister, he was treated
unfairly because he was a black man. During the
1950s and 1960s, black people did not have the
same rights as white people. In some parts of the
country, black people did not make as much money
as white people and could not eat in the same places as white people. King did not agree
with this. King thought that it was wrong to be treated unfairly because of skin color.
King felt that it was time for change. However, he did not want the change to come as
a result of violence. King told his people to fight for their rights in a peaceful way. He led
marches and gave speeches. His most famous speech is called “I Have a Dream.” In it,
King told everyone about his dream that all people would one day live together in peace.
Over time, laws were changed. Black people were given the same rights as white people.
King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. This prize goes to people who have worked for
world peace.
King died when he was 39 years old. On April 4, 1968, he was in Memphis, Tennessee,
with workers who were on strike because of bad working conditions. That morning, he was
outside his hotel room when a man across the parking lot shot him.
King’s death did not end the fight for equal rights. People still fight for them today.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an important day. It helps us to remember what Martin
Luther King, Jr. did for his country.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
1
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Name Martin Luther King, Jr.
DETAILS
1.
When was Martin Luther King, Jr. born?
____________________________________________________________________
2.
In what city and state did King grow up?
____________________________________________________________________
3.
What important prize did King win?
____________________________________________________________________
LOCATING THE ANSWER
4.
Write the sentence in paragraph 4 that tells how King told people to fight for their
rights.
____________________________________________________________________
VOCABULARY
5.
Which word in paragraph 4 means the opposite of “peace”?_____________________
Fact or Opinion
6.
Which sentence is a fact?
A. King was the most important person in the Civil Rights Movement.
B. King’s most famous speech is called “I Have a Dream.”
COMPARISON
7.
How are things different for black people today than when King was alive?
____________________________________________________________________
SUMMARIZE
8.
Write three sentences telling why people will always remember Martin Luther King, Jr.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Name country
died
Dream
equal
Martin Luther King, Jr.
However
laws
money
movement
remember
Rights
school
unfairly
Many good people do things to change the lives of others. A man named Martin
Luther King, Jr. began a _____________________ that changed the lives of hundreds of
thousands of people. It was called the Civil _____________________ Movement.
King was born in 1929. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to
_____________________ and studied hard to become a minister like his dad.
Even though King was a minister, he was treated _____________________ because he
was a black man. During the 1950s and 1960s, black people did not have the same rights as
white people. In some parts of the _____________________, black people did not make
as much _____________________ as white people and could not eat in the same places
as white people. King did not agree with this. King thought that it was wrong to be treated
unfairly because of skin color.
King felt that it was time for change. _____________________, he did not want the
change to come as a result of violence. King told his people to fight for their rights in a
peaceful way. He led marches and gave speeches. His most famous speech is called “I Have
a _____________________.” In it, King told everyone about his dream that all people
would one day live together in peace.
Over time, _____________________ were changed. Black people were given the same
rights as white people. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. This prize goes to people
who have worked for world peace.
King _____________________ when he was 39 years old. On April 4, 1968, he was in
Memphis, Tennessee, with workers who were on strike because of bad working conditions.
That morning, he was outside his hotel room when a man across the parking lot shot him.
King’s death did not end the fight for _____________________ rights. People still
fight for them today. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an important day. It helps us to
_____________________ what Martin Luther King, Jr. did for his country.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
3
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Answer Key
Reading Level:
Word Count:
3.9
325
PAGE 2
1. 1929
2. Atlanta, Georgia
3. The Nobel Peace Prize
4. King told his people to fight for their rights in a peaceful way.
5. violence
6. B
7. Answers will vary.
8. Answers will vary.
PAGE 3
Words listed in order as they appear.
movement
Rights
school
unfairly
country
money
However
Dream
laws
died
equal
remember
Martin Luther King, Jr.
4
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