Final answer:
Martin Luther King Jr. was most renowned for his philosophy of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, deeply influenced by Gandhi and other thinkers. His leadership and moral vision were central to the Civil Rights Movement's successes, and his writings, such as the 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail,' have left a lasting impact on the fight for social justice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Martin Luther King Jr. was best known for his philosophy of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience. This approach was significantly inspired by the teachings of Mohandas Gandhi, Henry David Thoreau, and A. Philip Randolph. King became the most prominent figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, notably through his leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and his pivotal role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Furthermore, King's 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail' articulated the fundamental injustices of segregation and racism and defended the strategy of nonviolent resistance to effectuate change and bring about social justice.
In his advocacy for social justice, King emphasized the interconnectedness of racism, poverty, militarism, and materialism, and he envisioned a society radically reconstructed to address these deep-seated evils. His voice provided moral leadership in the struggle for equality, culminating in significant successes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sadly, his life was cut short by assassination in 1968, leaving his vision and teachings as a lasting legacy.