GRUPUL SCOLAR INDUSTRIAL SEBIS ______________________________________________Sebis, B-dul VICTORIEI, Nr. 7, Judetul ARAD ATESTAT LIMBA ENGLEZA American people who changed the World Coordinating teacher: Demetrescu Dana Student: Ungureanu Stefania Sebis Mai, 2011 Contents Argument………………………………………………………………………………………....3 Chapter I: Thomas Jefferson…………………………………………………………………....4 1.1. Education and the beginning of the political ideas…………………………………...4 1.2. Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence……………………………..4 1.3. Jefferson- President in 1800…………………………………………………………..5 1.4. Thomas Jefferson – outside the political life ………………………………………...6 1.5. 1826-The last year…………………………………………………………………….6 Chapter II: John F. Kennedy……………………………………………………………………7 2.1. Early life and education……………………………………………………………….7 2.2. The beginning of JFK’s political career………………………………………………7 2.3. JFK-President in 1961………………………………………………………………...7 2.4. Civil rights ……………………………………………………………………………8 2.5. Space program ………………………………………………………………………..9 2.6. Death, funeral and legacy……………………………………………………………10 2.7. JFK’s family. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis ……………………………….10 Chapter III: Barack Obama……………………………………………………………………12 3.1. Early life and education……………………………………………………………...12 3.2. Legislative career: 1997-2008……………………………………………………….13 3.3. Presidential campaign……………………………………………………………….13 3.4. Barack Obama- President in 2009…………………………………………………...13 3.5. The death of Osama bin Laden …………………………………………………......14 Chapter IV: Martin Luther King Jr…………………………………………………………..15 4.1. The roots of his ideas……………………………………………………………......15 4.2. Montgomery Bus Boycott…………………………………………………………...16 4.3. Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)………………………………...16 4.4. Civil Rights Movement……………………………………………………………...16 4.5. Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr………………………………………………….17 4.6. King’s Assassination………………………………………………………………...18 4.7. Legacy…………………………………………………………………………….....19 Chapter V: Elvis Presley……………………………………………………………………….21 5.1. A difficult beginning…………………………………………………………….......21 5.2. First live appearance…………………………………………………………….......21 5.3. Elvis’ debut album………………………………………………………………......22 5.4. Appearances on TV……………………………………………………………….....22 5.5. Movies and songs…………………………………………………………………....23 5.6. Military service and life after the army……………………………………………...23 5.7. Comeback…………………………………………………………………………....24 5.8. Divorce, health problems and death………………………………………………....25 2 ...... I chose the subject “American people who changed the World” because I have always been interested in finding out more about the personalities who really did something with their life and who made a difference during their lifetime......5.......................26 Conclusion........ yet they managed to leave a mark after they were gone.................................... times........................... and the last describes the life of The King of Rock and Roll..... Legacy……………………………………………………………………………...........28 Argument My paper is about five famous people who changed the world so dramatically that they ended up in the history books....................................... and backgrounds.... the first three are focused on the life of three American Presidents................................... 3 ......27 Bibliography....................... the fourth is about Martin Luther King Jr.....9...... Elvis Presley.. The paper is divided into five chapters......... They all come from different places.............................. his father died. In 1757. After leaving college he became a lawyer and later served in the Virginian state Burges. Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13. His interests ranged from Philosophy and Architecture to the Natural Sciences. It played an important role in shaping opinions in the lead up to the War of Independence. often spending up to 15 hours a day studying. a planter and surveyor in Albemarle County. at the age of 16 he entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg where he first met the law professor George Wythe. who became his influential mentor. His mother was Jane Randolph. 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–1809) and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). 1743 – July 4. As a young child Thomas Jefferson was an enthusiastic student. Education and the beginning of the political ideas The third of ten children. 4 . Anyway. daughter of Isham Randolph of Dungeness and his father was Peter Jefferson. Two years later he graduated with the highest honors. when he was 14 years old.Chapter I: Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13. Jefferson inherited his father’s land and dozens of slaves. This expressed a thoughtful summary of a way America could make a settlement with Britain. One of his earliest political writings of significance was A Summary View of the Rights of British America. 1743 into a planter family. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends. After voting in favor of the resolution of independence on July 2.earlyamerica. The committee selected Jefferson to write the first draft probably because of his reputation as a writer. When Congress began considering a resolution of independence in June 1776. Congress turned its attention to the declaration. 1776. most notably a passage critical of the slave trade.html] Jefferson . Those to secure these rights. drawing on his own proposed draft of the Virginia Constitution.1. which made some final revisions.President in 1800 From 1785 to 1789 Jefferson served as minister to France and after as first Secretary of State under George Washington. that all men are created equal. In 1796 he stood for 5 . On July 4. Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence When you say Thomas Jefferson you are thinking about The Declaration of Independence so next I will discuss about his contribution to the writing of the Declaration. The assignment was considered routine.2. 1776. Jefferson was appointed to a five-man committee to prepare a declaration to accompany the resolution. and then presented it to Congress on June 28. Congress made a few changes in wording and deleted nearly a fourth of the text. as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it. no one at the time thought that it was a major responsibility. the wording of the Declaration of Independence was ratified and it represents the symbolizing statement of the aims of the American Revolution. and to institute new government. and other sources. governments are instituted among men. where he spent time amongst his gardens and with his family. „We hold these truths to be self-evident. deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/text. George Mason's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Jefferson completed a draft in consultation with other committee members. Jefferson served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress beginning in June 1775. laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form. Over several days of debate. Jefferson showed his draft to the committee. liberty and the pursuit of happiness. that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life. At the end of his term 1783 he retired temporarily to Monticello. changes that Jefferson resented. The importance of the declaration of Independence was summed up in The Gettysburg address of Abraham Lincoln in 1863.” [http://www. though born into a wealthy slave-owning family he died deeply in debt. his wife died 10 years later and Thomas Jefferson remained single for the rest of his life. which is as much a punishment to the punisher as to the sufferer. 1826 – The last year Jefferson's health began to deteriorate by July 1825. the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.President but lost narrowly to John Adams. in 1772. Never bored he always found different avenues of interest to explore. but importantly he was able to preside over a period of relative stability and generally kept America out of conflict. He didn't relish public speaking preferring to express his opinions through his writings. 1826." [http://www. luminosity and vastness . Thomas Jefferson left a profound mark on America.these the Declaration of Independence embodies. his possessions.html] 1. Jefferson died on July 4. he offered a hand of friendship to his former political enemies. Jefferson represented an icon for many people as Sri Chinmoy wrote about him: "The essential qualities of Thomas Jefferson were clarity.net/thomas_jefferson/index. After his death. The Presidency of Jefferson was eventful. through his influential shaping of the American constitution and political practices. luminosity and vastness. including his slaves. Thomas Jefferson – outside the political life Regarding his personal life. Jefferson was the most divinely talented man of his time. were sold. we can read: 6 .” [http://www. this was sufficient to become Vice President. and by June 1826 he was confined to bed. Moreover.5. by showing to them other modes of punishing injuries than by war. On his epitaph. However Jefferson was narrowly elected and this allowed him to promote open and representative government.4. Clarity. however under the terms of the constitution.net/thomas_jefferson/index.html] 1. They had six children but only two of them survived to adulthood. Jefferson had problems of his own and. which was written by him. as was Monticello in 1831. at age 29 Jefferson married the 23-year-old widow Martha Wayles Skelton. In the run up to the next election of 1800 Jefferson fought a bitter campaign.biographyonline. “I love peace. and am anxious that we should give the world still another useful lesson. On being elected. Jefferson was over 6 feet 2 and this was very tall for his age. Thomas Jefferson is buried in the family cemetery at Monticello.biographyonline. 1917 as the second son of Joseph P. In September 1936. 1939. Sr. Early life and education John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline. The beginning of JFK’s political career 7 . Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.wikipedia. and became a bestseller. In 1941 Kennedy joined the U. Massachusetts on Tuesday. May 29." 2. Kennedy John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29. Kennedy joked: "It was involuntary.2.S. and his thesis was published that year as a book entitled „Why England Slept”." [http://en. Navy. He sailed to France and then he toured Europe and the Middle East. and Rose Fitzgerald. He graduated cum laude from Harvard with a degree in international affairs in 1940. Thomas Jefferson is constantly rated by historical scholars as one of the greatest U. For rescuing a fellow crewman Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. 1917 – November 22. When later asked by a reporter how he became a war hero. 2. Kennedy. He then went to Czechoslovakia and Germany before returning to London on September 1. which shocked America and the entire world. was chosen by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and approved by President Calvin Coolidge to be depicted in stone at the Mount Rushmore Memorial. presidents.org/wiki/Thomas_jefferson] Jefferson."HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE OF THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. the day Germany invaded Poland. Chapter II: John F. 1963) was the 35th President of the United States. Kennedy enrolled at Harvard College and he began to develop a passion for sailing and travelling. together with George Washington..1.S. Kennedy was an ensign serving in the office of the Secretary of the Navy when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. They sank my boat. . but what I intend to ask of them. John F Kennedy oversaw an escalation of US involvement in Vietnam. JFK was the youngest man elected president. I am the Democratic Party candidate for President who also happens to be a Catholic. Kennedy is the only President who has received such a prize. In 1956 he published 'Profiles in Courage'. American involvement would have ended.brainyquote. I do not speak for my Church on public matters – and the Church does not speak for me. Kennedy defeated Nixon in one of the closest presidential elections of the 20th century: Kennedy led Nixon by just two-tenths of one percent (49.wikipedia.000 military advisers to the country.html] On November 8." [http://en. Kennedy's secretary of defense Robert McNamara said Kennedy was considering pulling out of Vietnam in 1963 and believes that if Kennedy had survived.5%). JFK married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. Johnson of Texas. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President at noon on January 20. Kennedy's main opponent at the Los Angeles convention was Senator Lyndon B.3. 2. a book about US Senators who stood up for their personal beliefs and one year later he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for biography for his book. JFK-President in 1961 In 1960. Kennedy initiated his campaign for President in the Democratic primary election. Later. But the New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises— it is a set of challenges." During his brief presidency.. One year later.com/quotes/authors/j/john_f_kennedy_2." [http://www. In his inaugural address he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens saying: "Ask not what your country can do for you.org/wiki/John_f_kennedy] A major issue about Kennedy was his Roman Catholicism but he told that his Catholicism would not affect his decision-making: "I am not the Catholic candidate for President. 1961. ask what you can do for your country. Kennedy won a seat in Boston for the US House of Representatives and in 1952 got himself elected for the US Senate. succeeding Eisenhower who was then the oldest. saying: "For the problems are not all solved and the battles are not all won—and we stand today on the edge of a New Frontier .In 1946. Tapes showed that Lyndon Johnson later criticised Kennedy's opinion that America should withdraw. which included sending 16.7% to 49. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people. In July 13 the Democratic convention nominated Kennedy as its candidate where he gave his well-known "New Frontier" speech. 8 . which drew additional black support to his candidacy. He felt the March was a victory for him. Kennedy was considering plans to dismantle the Apollo program due to its cost but postponed any decision out of deference to his vice president whom he strongly supported NASA. Americans volunteer to help underdeveloped nations in areas such as education. during the Eisenhower administration. Through this program. 2.4. as a follow-up to America's Mercury program. Kennedy secured the early release of King. Afterwards. The authorization grew to 5. To ensure a peaceful demonstration. Civil rights Kennedy verbally supported racial integration and civil rights and during the 1960 campaign he telephoned Coretta Scott King. Kennedy asked Congress to create the Peace Corps. Kennedy watched King's speech on TV and was very impressed. farming. and not one arrest relating to the demonstration occurred. who had been jailed while demonstrating for equal access of African Americans. from attending.000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps.000 members by March 1963 and 10. That evening Kennedy gave his famous civil rights address on national television and radio. predominantly African Americans gathered in Washington for the civil rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28. 9 . The Apollo program was conceived early in 1960. In 1963. Early in his presidency. the March leaders accepted an invitation to the White House to meet with Kennedy. Since 1961. health care. While NASA went ahead with planning for Apollo. Jr. Vivian Malone and James Hood. President Kennedy intervened when Alabama Governor George Wallace blocked the doorway to the University of Alabama to stop two African American students. Space program As a senator. the organizers and the president personally edited speeches which were inflammatory.. serving in 139 countries. His proposals became part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.As one of his first presidential acts. The March was considered a triumph of managed protest. funding for the program was far from certain. and construction. launching his initiative for civil rights legislation to provide equal access to public schools and other facilities. and greater protection of voting rights. wife of the Reverend Martin Luther King. Kennedy had been opposed to the manned space program.000 the following year. 2.5. Over a hundred thousand. over 200. 1963. not only in the U. President Johnson created the Warren Commission—chaired by Chief Justice Earl Warren—to investigate the assassination. In September 1963. He was shot once and was killed with a shot to the head. Roosevelt. during a speech before the United Nations. almost six years after his death. The assassination had an effect on many people. Only 46. Americans regularly vote him as one of the best presidents.6. Ultimately. president to date. The proposal was not enthusiastically received by Khrushchev. Apollo's goal was realized when Americans landed on the Moon. 1969. the death of President Kennedy marked a turning point and decline in the faith of the American people in the political establishment. while on a political trip to Texas to smooth over factions in the Democratic Party between liberals and conservatives. Lee Harvey Oswald. the Soviet Union was ahead of America in many aspects of space technology.S. On July 20. which concluded that Oswald was the lone assassin. to take the lead in the Space Race for strategic reasons. Kennedy was eager for the U. He was pronounced dead at 1:00 pm. Nikita. The results of this investigation are disputed by many. Death. He denied shooting anyone and he was killed by Jack Ruby on November 24.S. and Franklin D. reinforcing American fears about being left behind in a technological competition with the Soviet Union. in the same league as Abraham Lincoln. funeral and legacy Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. On the first occasion. On April 12. 1963. Kennedy again proposed a joint lunar program to the Soviet Union. Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly in space. before he could be indicted or tried. Many of Kennedy's speeches (especially his inaugural address) are considered iconic. twice about a "joint venture" in space exploration—in June 1961 and autumn 1963. George Washington. Texas on November 22. Many vividly remember where they were when first learning of the news that Kennedy was assassinated. Sergei Khrushchev said Kennedy approached his father. President Kennedy died younger than any U.Finally. but around the world. was arrested on charges for the murder of a local police officer and was subsequently charged with the assassination of Kennedy. 2.S. and despite his relatively short term in office and lack of major legislative changes coming to fruition during his term. 10 . an employee of the Texas School Book Depository from which the shots were suspected to have been fired. 1961. Kennedy suggested international cooperation in space. 7. three senators. just over eight months after his assassination. Kennedy and his wife were younger in comparison to the presidents and first ladies that preceded them and both were popular in ways more common to pop singers and movie stars than politicians. raising the profile of the arts in America. She continued to wear the bloodstained pink suit as she stood next to Johnson when he took the oath of office as President. saying "If they're killing Kennedys. 11 ." On October 20. died in World War II. Kennedy. when he was a congressman. Jr. on September 12.. she came to fear for her life and that of her children.. writers and intellectuals to rounds of White House dinners. Jackie refused to remove her blood-stained clothing. One of the fundamental aspects of the Kennedy family is a tragic strain which has run through the family. serving in multiple roles. Jacqueline brought new art and furniture to the White House. Edward had brushes with death. having produced a President. 2. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis John Kennedy met his future wife. She told Lady Bird Johnson. JFK’s Family. Greek shipping magnate. a wealthy. including Ambassador to the United Kingdom. died in 1964.I want to get out of this country. and regretted having washed the blood off her face and hands. Then both John himself and his brother Robert died as a result of assassinations. Edward died at age 77. Jacqueline Bouvier. at the age of 29. the first in a plane crash and the second as a result of a car accident. He is also the only president to have predeceased a grandparent. was a prominent American businessman and political figure. who was originally to carry the family's hopes for the Presidency." In June 1968 when her brother-in-law Robert F. "I want them to see what they have done to Jack. Joseph P. who was able to provide the privacy and security she needed for herself and her children The Kennedy family is one of the most established political families in the United States. They invited a range of artists. then my children are targets. 1968 she married Aristotle Onassis. Joseph P. It was Joe Jr.. John's eldest brother. 1953. They were married a year after he was elected senator. Kennedy was assassinated. as a result of the violent and untimely deaths of many of its members. His grandmother. influencing fashion trends and becoming the subjects of numerous photos spreads in popular magazines. and directed its restoration. After the president's death. John Kennedy's father. Mary Josephine Hannon Fitzgerald. President Kennedy is the only president to have predeceased both his mother and father. Kennedy. and multiple other Representatives. on August 25.He was posthumously awarded the Pacem in Terris Award (Peace on Earth). .1. 1961 but they separated and eventually divorced in 1964. was also buried near his two brothers. was born in 1960.wikipedia. The couple married on February 2. Obama’s mother remarried and the family moved to the Menteng neighborhood of Jakarta. Senator Edward M. Of his early childhood. 1961 in Honolulu. John F. His mother.2009. Kennedy. Early life and education Obama was born on August 4. Kennedy came in third (behind Martin Luther King. Many saw his election as a turning point in America's long turbulent troubles regarding race. Jr. from the effects of a malignant brain tumor. John died in 1999. his wife and his sister-in-law.org/wiki/Obama] Following high school. was born in Wichita. Senator Robert Kennedy. Barack Obama. Reflecting later on his formative years in Honolulu. 1961) is the 44th and current President of the United States and also the first black President of the US. and Mother Teresa) in Gallup's List of Widely Admired People of the twentieth century. After her divorce. his brother. Obama moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to attend Occidental College. Kennedy's wife. Chapter III: Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4. Kansas and his father. was from Kenya. was buried nearby in June 1968. when the small plane he was piloting crashed killing him." [http://en. "That my father looked nothing like the people around me—that he was black as pitch. It was proof America has changed. From a society that defended slavery of Africans. Kennedy. In August 2009. my mother white as milk—barely registered in my mind”. Sr. His brother. In late 1988. Barack Obama is a visible role model for all his fellow Americans from ethnic minorities. Jacqueline and their two deceased minor children were buried with him later. Obama recalled. Obama wrote: "The opportunity that Hawaii offered—to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect—became an integral part of my world view. just a few weeks after his father was elected. Stanley Ann Dunham. and a basis for the values that I hold most dear. 3. Jr. Obama entered Harvard Law School and he was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review which gained national media attention and led to a publishing contract 12 . Hawaii being the first President to have been born in Hawaii. to a black man leading the country it was more than just a symbolic victory. and after a close campaign in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries against Hillary Rodham Clinton.4. Obama won the presidency with 365 electoral votes to 173 received by McCain. increased military cooperation with Israel. Obama accepted a two-year position as Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School to work on his first book.9% of the popular vote to McCain's 45. 3. Senate in November 2004. 3. on November 4.D. where Abraham Lincoln delivered his historic "House Divided" speech in 1858. Legislative career: 1997–2008 Obama served three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.S. increasing energy independence. Obama won 52. He defeated Republican nominee John McCain and. he won his party's nomination. Obama gradually withdrew combat troops from Iraq. which evolved into a personal memoir. He won election to the U. including his victory in the March 2004 Democratic primary and his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. 3. Presidential campaign On February 10.2. The manuscript was published in mid-1995 as Dreams from My Father.S. His campaign projected themes of "hope" and "change" His presidential campaign began in February 2007. In 1991.) magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991. 2009. Obama delivered his victory speech before hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago's Grant Park. increased troop levels in Afghanistan. including a record number of U.7%. Obama emphasized the issues of rapidly ending the Iraq War.and advance for a book about race relations. He became the first African American to be elected president. He then served as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years teaching constitutional law. Barack Obama-President in 2009 The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President took place on January 20. troops participating in military exercises in the country and increased military aid. Illinois. Several events brought him to national attention during the campaign. After graduating with a Juris Doctor (J. 13 . 2007. and providing universal health care. In foreign policy.3. he returned to Chicago. In 1993 he joined a 13-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights where he was an associate for three years. Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the Old State Capitol building in Springfield. Pakistan. and at New York City's Ground Zero and Times Square. 2011: „Today. his appeal was universal and he was able to attract support from even southern blue collar constituencies. and decision by Obama to not release pictures of the dead body formed the basis of conspiracy theories that bin Laden had not died in the raid.] CIA determined what they believed to be the location of Osama bin Laden in a large compound in Abbottabad. He also signed an arms control treaty with Russia. 2011). His body was identified through DNA testing and was buried at sea several hours later. 2011. the statement that bin Laden died was not universally accepted despite DNA testing confirming his identity.In October 2009. The swift burial of bin Laden's body at sea. at my direction. the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound. In March 2011. on Obama's orders. Pakistan. "Obama's Remarks on bin Laden's Killing". 3. There were spontaneous celebrations around the country as crowds gathered outside the White House. speed of the DNA results. However. and authorized a "surgical raid" to be conducted by United States Navy SEALs. The operation took place on May 1. Although Barack Obama gained solid support amongst black Americans. Obama rejected a plan to bomb the compound.S. 2011. After a firefight. resulting in the death of bin Laden. President Barack (May 2. they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body. 14 .” [Obama. His speeches galvanized a nation with a positive message of hope combined with powerful criticism of the failings of the Bush years. Obama was named the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. Barack’s election was also important for offering a change from the disruptive years of George Bush. military took a lead role to destroy the Libyan government's air defense capabilities in order to protect civilians. The death of Osama bin Laden Barack Obama announced the death of Osama bin Laden on May 1st. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. the U. as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi advanced on rebels across Libya.5. Retrieved May 1. in Abbottābad. No Americans were harmed. The New York Times. with a dissertation on "A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman". on June 18. Washington High School and a precocious student as he was. both black and white.Chapter IV: Martin Luther King Jr. The roots of his ideas Martin Luther King Jr. 1953 and they had four children. After visiting Gandhi's birthplace in India in 1959 King reflected in a radio address "Since being in India. Martin Luther King was also an eloquent orator who captured the imagination and hearts of people.1. King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery. The first one is Howard Thurman. (January 15. The most important figure who influenced King is undoubtedly Mahatma Gandhi. Civil rights leader. and Alberta Williams King. was born in Atlanta on 15 January 1929 being the middle child of the Reverend Martin Luther King. leading to significant political change. 1929 – April 4. Mahatma Gandhi 15 . theologian. During his time at University Martin Luther King became aware of the injustice faced by black Americans. 1955. but non violent protests. Martin Luther King Jr. Among King’s influences there are many known names. King then began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University and received his Doctor of Philosophy on June 5. In a real sense. Sr. Alabama when he was twenty-five years old. helped to raise awareness of racial inequalities in America. At the age of 24. I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity. King attended Booker T. 4. King married Coretta Scott. and educator. His passionate. he skipped both the ninth and the twelfth grade and entered Morehouse College at age fifteen without formally graduating from high school. 1968) was one of America's most influential civil rights activists. The group was created to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct non-violent protests in the service of civil rights reform._Jr. His boycott also became a turning point in the civil rights struggle attracting national press for the cause. and narrowly escaped death. The boycott lasted for several months and the situation became so tense that King's house was bombed. 1958.embodied in his life certain universal principles that are inherent in the moral structure of the universe. and these principles are as inescapable as the law of gravitation. The group proved to be a nucleus for the growing Civil Rights Movement. while signing copies of his book Stride Toward Freedom. King and other ministers founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957. 4.” [http://en. Gayle that ended racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses. King was arrested during this campaign. King led the SCLC until his death. King was stabbed in the chest with a letter opener by Izola Curry. a civil rights activist. This broke the strict segregation of coloured and white people on the Montgomery buses. On September 20. The bus company refused to back down and so Martin Luther King helped to organise a strike where coloured people refused to use any of the city buses. a deranged black woman.wikipedia.2. refused to given up her seat . Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) After the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Also.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King. refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in compliance with the Jim Crow laws. 4. The beginning of the boycott lays in the story of Claudette Colvin. Civil Rights Movement 16 . Montgomery Bus Boycott A turning point in the life of Martin Luther King was the Montgomery Bus Boycott which he helped to promote. Rosa Parks. who.4.] 4. in March 1955. a fifteen-year-old school girl.3. which ended with a United States District Court ruling in Browder v.she was sitting in a white only area. 17 . who received death threats throughout his involvement in the civil rights movement. meaningful civil rights legislation. Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. King. its goal was to end the city's segregated civil and discriminatory economic policies.5. 1963. was hit by a brick during one march but continued to lead marches in the face of personal danger. However the most important part of the movement was March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where King said his most renowned speech: “I have a dream”. King is most famous for his "I Have a Dream" speech. King's reputation improved immensely and public places became more open to blacks. He captured the injustice of the time but also felt that this injustice was like a passing cloud. King organized and led marches for blacks' right to vote. desegregation. 4. was named as Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963. His speeches were largely free of revenge and focusing on the need to move forward. representing SCLC. labour rights and other basic civil rights. Alabama. the same year he said his most renowned speech. the Bible and his Christian Faith. a $2 minimum wage for all workers. By the end of the campaign. make specific demands: an end to racial segregation in public schools. protection of civil rights workers from police brutality. The march did. nonviolent protest against the system of southern segregation known as Jim Crow laws would lead to extensive media coverage of the struggle for black equality and voting rights and convinced the majority of Americans that the Civil Rights Movement was the most important issue in American politics in the early 1960s. however. given in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. was among the leaders of the so-called "Big Six" civil rights organizations who were instrumental in the organization of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The campaign lasted for more than two months in the spring of 1963. including a law prohibiting racial discrimination in employment. A successful movement was the Birmingham Campaign. which took place on August 28. It was a strategic effort by the SCLC to promote civil rights for African Americans. King. Martin Luther King was an inspirational and influential speaker and he had the capacity to move and uplift his audiences.King believed that organized. Based on actions in Birmingham. King frequently made references to God. In particular he could offer a vision of hope. 4 "Martin Luther King and the Meanings of Freedom" and Chap. in reference to the bomb threat. At the time. And I've looked over. King's flight to Memphis had been delayed by a bomb threat against his plane. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I just want to do God's will. King’s assassination On March 29. sprawling from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial onto the National Mall and around the reflecting pool. I don't know what will happen now. along with Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Franklin D. More than a quarter million people of diverse ethnicities attended the event.6. as one of the finest speeches in the history of American oratory. the march was a resounding success. Because I've been to the mountaintop. the world headquarters of the Church of God in Christ. And I don't mind. I still have a dream. But I want you to know tonight. King said the following: “And then I got to Memphis. 1992. On April 3. Richard. We've got some difficult days ahead. I may not get there with you. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. helped put civil rights at the very top the liberal political agenda in the United States and facilitated passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech. King went to Memphis. And I've seen the Promised Land. “Civil Rights and the Idea of Freedom”.Despite tensions. and especially King's speech. The March. as a 18 . it was the largest gathering of protesters in Washington's history. King's "I Have a Dream" speech electrified the crowd. „I say to you today. in support of the black sanitary public works employees. Tennessee. Chap.” [King H." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. that we. 1968. so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow. King addressed a rally and delivered his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" address at Mason Temple. But it doesn't matter with me now. Like anybody. 5 "Martin Luther King: Authorship and Ideas"] 4. It is regarded. But I'm not concerned about that now. I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. or talk about the threats that were out. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. my friends. And some began to say the threats. In the close of the last speech of his career. New York: Oxford University Press. I'm not worried about anything. smashing his jaw. I'm not fearing any man.m. After emergency chest surgery. King's autopsy revealed that though only thirty-nine years old. Those suspecting a conspiracy in the assassination point out the two separate ballistics tests recovered by police had neither conclusively proved Ray had been the killer nor that it had even been the murder weapon. with the alias "Raoul" was involved and that the assassination was the result of a conspiracy.net/promised.7. King's last words on the balcony prior to his assassination were spoken to musician Ben Branch. Vice-President Hubert Humphrey attended King's funeral on behalf of the President. He is frequently referenced as a human rights 19 . witnesses surrounding King at the moment of his death say the shot came from another location not from the rooming house window. The bullet entered through his right cheek. who was present. He claimed a man he met in Montreal.” [http://www. Precious Lord" in the meeting tonight. Moreover. Baltimore and other cities. tonight. April 4. Joseph's Hospital at 7:05 p. as there were fears that Johnson's presence might incite protests and perhaps violence. a shot rang out as King stood on the motel's second floor balcony. And I'm happy. 1968. will get to the Promised Land. He confessed to the assassination. King was pronounced dead at St. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. escaped convict James Earl Ray was captured at London Heathrow Airport while trying to leave the United Kingdom on a false Canadian passport. The assassination led to a nationwide wave of riots in Washington DC. Quebec. then travelled down his spinal cord before lodging in his shoulder. Ray was sentenced to a 99-year prison term.. According to Jesse Jackson. which has enabled more Americans to reach their potential. perhaps a result of the stress of thirteen years in the civil rights movement. Johnson declared April 7 a national day of mourning for the civil rights leader. at 6:01 p. Chicago.mlkonline. Two months after King's death." Then. Legacy King's main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States. Ray was quickly extradited to Tennessee and charged with King's murder.people. make sure you play "Take My Hand.html] King was booked in room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Play it real pretty.m. he had the heart of a sixty-yearold man. President Lyndon B. According to biographer Taylor Branch. 4. who was scheduled to perform that night at an event King was attending: "Ben. There are many allegations of conspiracy. mlkonline. she established the King Center in Atlanta. I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. The same year that Martin Luther King was assassinated. More than 730 cities in the United States have streets named after King. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. followed her husband's footsteps and was active in matters of social justice and civil rights until her death in 2006. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans. Say that I was a drum major for peace. Yes. “ [http://www. There is a national day which celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. In 1971. King's legacy included influences on the Black Consciousness Movement and Civil Rights Movement in South Africa. Say that I was a drum major for justice. tried to love somebody. In 2002.net/speeches-the-drum-major-instinct. He said rather than his awards and where he went to school. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. if you want to say that I was a drum major. On the international scene. King spoke earlier about what people should remember him for if they are around for his funeral. King's wife. near the time of King's birthday. tried to give his life serving others. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. Jr.html] 20 . people should talk about how he fought peacefully for justice: “I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. I want you to say that day that I tried to be right and to walk with them. Coretta Scott King. scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Martin Luther King. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. on the third Monday of January each year.icon today. King was posthumously awarded the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for his Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam In 1963 King was named Time Person of the Year and in 2000 King was elected third in the Greatest American contest conducted by the Discovery Channel and AOL. Georgia. I was a drum major for righteousness. dedicated to preserving his legacy and the work of nonviolent conflict resolution and tolerance worldwide. Milam. to 18-year-old Vernon Elvis and 22-year-old Gladys Love Presley. and as the "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" or "The King" 5. In November 1948. A difficult beginning Elvis Presley was born on January 8. The family often relied on help from neighbors and government food assistance. 1935. First live appearance 21 . and was often teased as a "trashy" kid who played hillbilly music. for sixth grade in September 1946. and was occasionally bullied by classmates who viewed him as a "mama's boy". Presley had already singled out music as his future. Presley entered first grade at East Tupelo Consolidated. he is commonly referred to by his first name. He was generally too shy to perform openly. In 1950.2. the family moved to Memphis.Chapter V: Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8. He would play and sing during lunchtime.1. Entering a new school. A cultural icon. who never received formal music training or learned to read music. where his instructors regarded him as "average". Presley received only a C in music in eighth grade. As an only child. Presley was regarded as a loner but he started to like singing more. 5. Enrolled at Humes High School. In September 1941. studied and played by ear. 1935 – August 16. Mississippi. Presley. Presley became close to both parents and formed an unusually tight bond with his mother. When his music teacher told him he had no aptitude for singing. in Tupelo. 1977) was an American singer. he began practicing guitar regularly under the tutelage of a neighbor. in an effort to prove otherwise. "Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me". he brought in his guitar the next day and sang a recent hit. He had an identical twin brother who died at birth. musician and actor. By the time he graduated high school in June 1953. Tennessee. constant touring. The others would centrally define the evolving sound of rock and roll and three R&B numbers that had been part of Presley's stage repertoire for some time mostly covers. To date. Two weeks later. a position it held for 10 weeks. Presley made what would be his only appearance on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry on October 2. and well-received record releases had made him a substantial regional star. he and his band appeared at the Overton Park Shell and Elvis’ attitude and moves fascinated the crowds. Arkansas. Opry manager Jim Denny told Phillips that his singer was "not bad" but did not suit the program. which drew a muted reaction. from Tennessee to West Texas. and Texarkana. 5. At the end of the month.000. at 20. Presley was booked on Louisiana Hayride but he had another attack of nerves during the first set. with tracks like "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" later embodying the style. booked the singer for three appearances for an 22 . There were two country songs and a bouncy pop tune. was still a minor. Parker and Phillips struck a deal with RCA Victor on November 21 to acquire Presley's Sun contract for an unprecedented $40. including gospel. for the first time. beaten CBS's Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings. Presley quickly grew more confident on stage. he has been inducted into four music halls of fame. 5. Appearances on TV He recorded songs in the rock and roll genre. they played frequently at the Eagle's Nest club and returned to Sun Studio for more recording sessions.000. Texas.4. It became the first rock and roll album to top the Billboard chart. despite his June pronouncement. Soon after the show. so his father signed the contract. after a polite audience response. From August through October. blues. Presley. Presley's regular Hayride appearances. Presley had a versatile voice and had unusually wide success encompassing other genres. its seven recently recorded tracks were of a broad variety. Elvis’ debut album RCA Victor released Presley's self-titled debut album on March 23. Joined by five previously unreleased Sun recordings. the Hayride engaged Presley for a year's worth of Saturday-night appearances and his trio began playing in new locales including Houston. After three major labels made offers of up to $25.Elvis appeared publicly for the first time on July 17 at the Bon Air club. By early 1955. Presley was booked for a July 1 appearance on NBC's Steve Allen Show in New York. ballads and pop.3. Sullivan. Allen’s show with Presley had. 6. They would eventually marry after a seven-and-a-half-year courtship. A couple of weeks into the New Year." Elvis. Military service and life after army On March 24. Presley joined the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg. the ballad "Love Me Tender".unprecedented $50. I will insist on Elvis’s movies because he made majority of his thirty-one movies— mainly poorly reviewed. After training at Fort Hood. Presley was devastated. While in Friedberg. 5. Already an international star. 23 . more than anyone else. Each of the three Presley singles released in the first half of 1957 went to number one: "Too Much". His mother got ill and he was granted emergency leave to visit her. "Don't". Movies and songs Now. Love Me Tender. His first motion picture. Presley brought rock'n'roll into the mainstream of popular culture". he was attracting fans even where his music was not officially released. writes historian Marty Jezer. but two days later she died. became Presley's tenth number one seller. "As Presley set the artistic pace.5. Germany where he was introduced to amphetamines and also to karate. other artists followed. Presley met 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu. Army as a private at Fort Chaffee. another Leiber and Stoller tune. Presley was inducted into the U. Presley's second album. it was this first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that made Presley a national celebrity of barely precedented proportions. prompted a record-shattering million advance orders. which he studied seriously. 5. Presley. More than any other single event. and "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear". Elvis' Christmas Album eventually became the best selling Christmas album of all time. . The movie was panned by the critics but did very well at the box office... was released on November 21. musicals. Arkansas and he had become convinced his career was finished. Four musical numbers were added to what was originally a straight acting role. "All Shook Up". but financially successful. later including it in his live performances. Loving You—the soundtrack to his second film. was released in October and quickly rose to number one. Presley's performance of his forthcoming single.000.S. released in July—was Presley's third straight number one album. gave the young a belief in themselves as a distinct and somehow unified generation—the first in America ever to feel the power of an integrated youth culture. near Fort Smith. was born on February 1. Of the eight Presley singles released between January 1967 and May 1968.I. 1960. The next day.Presley returned to the United States on March 2. 1967. Comeback Presley's only child. called simply Elvis. was a number one album. 1968. His forthcoming soundtrack album. including many celebrities. Lisa Marie. Further hit singles were culled from the American Sound sessions: "Suspicious Minds". a gospel number recorded back in 1960. At a press conference after the show a journalist referred to him as "The King”. 24 . in Hawaii to raise money for a Pearl Harbor memorial and this concert was Presley's last public performance for seven years. During a luncheon preceding the event. "Can't Help Falling in Love". During a five-year span—1964 through 1968—Presley had only one top ten hit: "Crying in the Chapel" (1965). 5. the Christmas special. Parker's negotiations with the hotel resulted in a five-year contract for Presley to play each February and August. aired on December 3. at an annual salary of $1 million. and none higher than number 28. and "Kentucky Rain". written for the special.7. the soundtrack to Presley's first film since his return. 1968. only two charted in the top 40. during a period when he had grown deeply unhappy with his career.200. "Don't Cry Daddy". RCA presented him with a plaque certifying worldwide sales of over 75 million records. Speedway. the show featured lavishly staged studio productions as well as songs performed with a band in front of a small audience—Presley's first live performances since 1961. and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant. Presley held a concert in Las Vegas and the audience of 2. more than seven years since they first met. He released his best-selling singles. He performed on March 25. Recorded in late June. By January 1969. in a brief ceremony in their suite at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. the single "If I Can Dream". gave him a standing ovation before he sang a note and another after his performance. They were married on May 1. Shortly before Christmas 1966. Blues. the ballads "It's Now or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight? “Along with the rest of Elvis Is Back! G. Later known as the '68 Comeback Special. Presley proposed to Priscilla Beaulieu. A third followed his encore. reached number 12. would die at number 82 on the Billboard chart. each aggravated. The book Elvis: What Happened?. Presley and his wife filed for divorce on August 18. His gospel album He Touched Me. was published on August 1.000 was paid. liver damage. went to number one and eventually sold over 5 million copies in the United States. 1977.5 billion viewers live and on tape delay. Presley was scheduled to fly out of Memphis on the evening of August 16. Aloha from Hawaii was the first global concert satellite broadcast. would earn him his second Grammy Award. came out on June 6.S. released in February. After his divorce he was becoming increasingly unwell. Presley's last single issued during his lifetime. for Best Inspirational Performance. he was threatened with murder unless $50. "Way Down". Despite his failing health. number one pop album during his lifetime. Aired as scheduled on January 14. high blood pressure. to begin another tour. He was devastated by the book and tried unsuccessfully to halt its release by offering money to the publishers. co-written by the three bodyguards fired the previous year. meanwhile. he suffered from multiple ailments—glaucoma. which would become a trademark of his live act. and possibly caused. The accompanying double album. During this engagement. Elvis: As Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis. 1972. spending three days in a coma in his hotel suite after the first incident. Aloha from Hawaii. After a December 1973 session that produced 18 songs. His final concert was held in Indianapolis at the Market Square Arena. The Presleys separated on February 23. and an enlarged colon. health problems and death Presley and his wife. by drug abuse. By this point. released that month.Presley was by now performing in a jumpsuit. Divorce. It was the first exposé to detail Presley's years of drug misuse. Alden discovered him unresponsive on his bathroom floor. enough for almost two albums. he overdosed on barbiturates. had become increasingly distant. Presley's condition declined precipitously in September. reaching approximately 1. on June 26. Presley had been the target of many threats since the 1950s.8. Parker sold RCA on another concert record. That afternoon. It proved to be Presley's last U. 5. he did not enter the studio in 1974. barely cohabiting. Twice during that year. 25 . Presley performed two benefit concerts for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in connection with a groundbreaking TV special. The first show served as a practice run and backup should technical problems affect the live broadcast two days later. In January 1973. in 1974 he undertook another intensive touring schedule. A total of 17 Presley singles were reissued during the year—all made the British top five. he was central not only to defining it as a musical genre but in making it a touchstone of youth culture and rebellious attitude. His following was immense. Forbes named Presley the top-earning deceased celebrity. he received the W. another three reissued singles. 5. E. August 18. with a gross income of $45 millions 2009. and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (2007). went to number one in Great Britain.P.Attempts to revive him failed. Presley's funeral was held at Graceland. Greil Marcus wrote in his book Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music. C. In 1987. Dutton. As the catalyst for the cultural revolution that was rock and roll. image. 141-142 the next lines about Elvis. In polls and surveys. concluding that Presleys’ music changed the face of the world: 26 . and death was officially pronounced at 3:30 pm at Baptist Memorial Hospital. In 2005. on Thursday. he received the American Music Awards' Award of Merit. Revised ed. 1982 pp. The following year. rebelliousness. permanently changed the face of American popular culture. "One Night"/"I Got Stung". fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues. Handy Award from the Blues Foundation and the Academy of Country Music's first Golden Hat Award. Thousands of people gathered outside Graceland to view the open casket. and he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality." Presley's rise to national attention in 1956 transformed the field of popular music and had a huge effect on the broader scope of popular culture. and "It's Now or Never". In 1984.9. and good humor of his country. the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001). he is recognized as one of the most important popular music artists and influential Americans. For the fifth straight year. the Country Music Hall of Fame (1998). Presley's name. he was ranked fourth. President Jimmy Carter issued a statement that credited Presley with having "permanently changed the face of American popular culture": "His music and his personality. Viva Elvis: The Album was released. setting his voice to newly recorded instrumental tracks. "Jailhouse Rock". Legacy Presley has been inducted into four music halls of fame: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986). and voice are instantly recognizable around the globe. no matter what their colour is and for peace. a great rocker. the first of them was a President in 1800.“Elvis Presley is a supreme figure in American life. King is my favourite personality because he never gave up his dream and managed to end the discrimination between blacks and whites. . . I discussed about Elvis Presley. the second youngest President and the first President who has been born in the 20 th century. His name stands for equality among every man. a great ham. The last President I discussed is Barack Obama who is the first African American President of USA. one whose presence. Kennedy and Barack Obama. Of course.” Conclusion To conclude. Obama will always remain as the first “black” President from the White House. Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence represents. a great heart throb. from my point of view. no matter how banal or predictable. brooks no real comparisons. the most important American document which attests that every person has the right to life. a great nice person.. he paid a terrible price: he was assassinated but he became an icon. The cultural range of his music has expanded to the point where it includes not only the hits of the day. a great bore. By electing him. John F. Their mandates were in different periods. freedom and the pursuit of happiness. a great purveyor of schlock. Elvis has emerged as a great artist. pure country gospel. America changed dramatically and ended the racial discrimination. The second President. Moreover. His tunes are listened by countless people and I can say I am one of them. He also had a tragic death but his name won’t be forgotten. a great American. If someone hears his name it is impossible not to know who he was. I also presented the life of Martin Luther King Jr. everyone will remember his tragic death as a scar in America’s history. the second in 1961 and the latter is the current President of USA.. and really dirty blues. who was one of America's most influential civil rights activists. a great symbol of potency. yes. and. I chose these particular three presidents because I find what they did for the world very significant. in my paper I discussed about three emblematic American presidents Thomas Jefferson. 27 . More than that. In the last chapter. Kennedy was a unique President: the first Catholic President. the only President to have won a Pulitzer Prize... His music changed the world forever and he turned into an icon most known as “The King of Rock and Roll”. but also patriotic recitals. wikipedia.org/wiki/John_f_kennedy http://en. 1992. E.mlkonline.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/text.html http://www.Bibliography • • Greil.html http://www.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King.dailygood.org/pdf/ij.wikipedia.html http://www. 4 "Martin Luther King and the Meanings of Freedom" and Chap.wikipedia.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.html http://www.org/wiki/Thomas_jefferson http://www. Chap.php?tid=193 28 . New York: Oxford University Press._Jr.net/promised. Marcus.] http://en.P. Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music. 1982 pp. 5 "Martin Luther King: Authorship and Ideas" • • • • • • • • • • • • http://www.biographyonline.mlkonline. Civil Rights and the Idea of Freedom.biographyonline.htm http://www.earlyamerica.brainyquote.html] http://en. 141-142 King H.html http://www.net/speeches/i-have-a-dream.wikipedia.net/thomas_jefferson/index.com/quotes/authors/j/john_f_kennedy_2.americanrhetoric.org/wiki/Obama http://en. Revised ed. Richard.net/speeches-the-drum-major-instinct. Dutton.