"The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement in the country."
A social movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s that sought to end racial discrimination and achieve equal rights under the law for African Americans. It was characterized by nonviolent protests, civil disobedience, and political activism.
Jim Crow Laws: These were state and local laws enacted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to enforce segregation of black and white people in public spaces, including schools, buses, and restaurants.
Brown v. Board of Education: This landmark 1954 Supreme Court case declared segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional, overturning the “separate but equal” doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson.
Montgomery Bus Boycott: This was a year-long boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama bus system in 1955-56 in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person.
Freedom Rides: These were organized bus trips by civil rights activists in 1961 to challenge segregation on interstate buses and at bus terminals in the South.
March on Washington: This was a massive civil rights demonstration held in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963, with an estimated 250,000 participants. The highlight of the march was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Voting Rights Act of 1965: This landmark legislation banned racial discrimination in voting and provided federal oversight of state and local election procedures.
Black Power Movement: This was a militant movement in the late 1960s that advocated for black self-determination, cultural pride, and political power.
Assassinations of Civil Rights Leaders: This includes the 1963 assassination of Medgar Evers, the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X, and the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Affirmative Action: This is a set of policies designed to promote diversity and combat discrimination in employment, education, and other areas.
Civil Rights Act of 1964: This landmark legislation banned discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
African-American Civil Rights Movement: The African-American Civil Rights Movement was a grassroots struggle for racial equality and justice, primarily in the United States, that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans and secure their voting rights.
Women's Rights Movement: The Women's Rights Movement was a social and political campaign advocating for equal rights and opportunities for women, including suffrage, reproductive rights, and gender equality in the United States.
LGBTQ+ Rights Movement: The LGBTQ+ Rights Movement encompasses the struggle for equality and civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, including advancements in legal recognition of same-sex relationships and protection against discrimination.
Disability Rights Movement: The Disability Rights Movement is a social and political campaign advocating for equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities, challenging discrimination and fighting for inclusive policies and accessibility.
Religious Minority Rights Movement: The Religious Minority Rights Movement refers to the pursuit of equality and protection of religious rights for marginalized religious groups during the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Immigrant Rights Movement: The Immigrant Rights Movement was a social and political movement advocating for the rights and better treatment of immigrants, focusing on issues such as immigration reform, deportation protection, and pathways to citizenship.
Environmental Justice Movement: The Environmental Justice Movement advocates for fair and equal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, aiming to address the disproportionate impact of pollution and environmental degradation on marginalized communities.
Indigenous Peoples' Rights Movement: The Indigenous Peoples' Rights Movement is a global social and political movement advocating for the recognition and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and addressing the historical injustices faced by these marginalized communities.
Anti-War Movement: The Anti-War Movement refers to the widespread protests and opposition against the Vietnam War in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.
Labor Rights Movement: The Labor Rights Movement refers to the organized efforts and advocacy for the rights and improved working conditions of workers, including wages, hours, and workplace safety, often driven by labor unions.
Human Rights Movement: The Human Rights Movement, which emerged in the mid-20th century, sought to promote the equal rights and dignity of all individuals across the globe, addressing issues such as discrimination, torture, and political repression.
Prisoners' Rights Movement: The Prisoners' Rights Movement refers to the fight for fair treatment, improved conditions, and constitutional rights for incarcerated individuals in the United States.
Youth Rights Movement: The Youth Rights Movement sought to advocate for the equal rights and autonomy of young people, addressing issues surrounding education, voting, and civil liberties.
Elder Rights Movement: The Elder Rights Movement refers to a social and political effort advocating for the rights and welfare of elderly individuals, focusing on issues like age discrimination, healthcare, and social services.
Global Civil Rights Movement.: The topic of the Global Civil Rights Movement focuses on the worldwide struggle for equal rights and social justice, transcending national boundaries and advocating for fundamental human rights for marginalized communities.
"The movement had its origins in the Reconstruction era during the late 19th century and had its modern roots in the 1940s."
"The movement made its largest legislative gains in the 1960s after years of direct actions and grassroots protests."
"African Americans were subjected to discrimination and sustained violence by white supremacists in the South."
"At the culmination of a legal strategy pursued by African Americans, in 1954 the Supreme Court struck down many of the laws that had allowed racial segregation and discrimination to be legal in the United States as unconstitutional."
"The Warren Court made a series of landmark rulings against racist discrimination, including the separate but equal doctrine, such as Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States (1964), and Loving v. Virginia (1967) which banned segregation in public schools and public accommodations."
"The Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly banned all discrimination based on race, including racial segregation in schools, businesses, and in public accommodations."
"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 restored and protected voting rights by authorizing federal oversight of registration and elections in areas with historic under-representation of minority voters."
"The Fair Housing Act of 1968 banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing."
"The emergence of the Black Power movement, which lasted from 1965 to 1975, challenged Black leaders of the movement for its cooperative attitude and its adherence to legalism and nonviolence."
"Its leaders demanded not only legal equality, but also economic self-sufficiency for the community."
"Martin Luther King Jr. was the most visible leader of the movement."
"From 1964 through 1970, a wave of riots and protests in black communities dampened support from the white middle class, but increased support from private foundations."
"African Americans who had seen little material improvement since the civil rights movement's peak in the mid-1960s, and still faced discrimination in jobs, housing, education and politics."
"The movement was characterized by nonviolent mass protests and civil disobedience following highly publicized events such as the lynching of Emmett Till. These included boycotts such as the Montgomery bus boycott, 'sit-ins' in Greensboro and Nashville, a series of protests during the Birmingham campaign, and a march from Selma to Montgomery."
"After the American Civil War and the subsequent abolition of slavery in the 1860s, the Reconstruction Amendments to the United States Constitution granted emancipation and constitutional rights of citizenship to all African Americans, most of whom had recently been enslaved."
"Various efforts were made by African Americans to secure their legal and civil rights, such as the civil rights movement (1865–1896) and the civil rights movement (1896–1954)."
"These included boycotts such as the Montgomery bus boycott..."
"Loving v. Virginia (1967) which banned segregation in public schools and public accommodations, and struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage."
"However, some scholars note that the movement was too diverse to be credited to any particular person, organization, or strategy."