Four Basic Steps

Definition

The four basic steps outlined by Martin Luther King Jr. in any nonviolent campaign are (1) collection of facts, (2) negotiation, (3) self-purification, and (4) direct action. These steps were intended to guide activists in achieving their goals through peaceful means.

Related terms

Civil Rights Act of 1964: A landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Selma to Montgomery March: A series of protest marches led by civil rights activists from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama to advocate for voting rights.

Birmingham Campaign: A nonviolent protest campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr., aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination in Birmingham, Alabama.