Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. How does King support this claim in the rest of his letter?

King explains that nonviolent tension can prompt people to confront injustice and change, much as Socrates used questioning to unsettle people and encourage clearer thinking. He also points to historical examples of constructive tension, including the work of early Christians and other reformers. These examples support his claim that tension can lead to growth without violence; the correct choice is “by quoting Socrates and establishing historical precedent.”

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