Final answer:
The violence shown on TV during the Selma marches encouraged participation in the civil rights movement by exposing the harsh opposition faced by African Americans to the broader public, thereby increasing support for their cause and leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Step-by-step explanation:
The violent events that were televised during the Selma to Montgomery marches played a crucial role in influencing public opinion and garnering support for the civil rights movement. The march from Selma was characterized by the violent repression of peaceful protestors by state police, an event later known as "Bloody Sunday." This brutality, witnessed by the nation on TV, strongly motivated action and helped generate sympathy among Americans, particularly those in the North, for the cause of civil rights. It ultimately encouraged participation and aided in putting pressure on the federal government to take legislative action, leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The violence shown on TV encouraged participation (B) by illustrating the cruel resistance African Americans faced in the Deep South, thus generating widespread support for their struggle and emphasizing the urgent need for change.