Final answer:
Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts in leading the American civil rights movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in the United States and for his leading role in the American civil rights movement. Historians acknowledge that the movement was incredibly diverse, involving many participants, organizations, and strategies, which makes it impossible to give credit to a single individual. Notwithstanding this diversity, King's influence and leadership were instrumental and widely recognized, earning him one of the most prestigious international acknowledgements of peace efforts.