what happened in the civil rights movement?

1 answer

The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement in the United States that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. Some key events and actions that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement include:

1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): The Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional.

2. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956): African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama boycotted the city's public buses to protest segregation, leading to the desegregation of the bus system.

3. Little Rock Nine (1957): Nine African American students were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, sparking a crisis when they were met with hostility from white students and the National Guard was sent in by the governor to prevent their entry.

4. Sit-ins (1960): African American students began organized peaceful protests by sitting at segregated lunch counters, sparking a wave of similar actions across the country.

5. Freedom Rides (1961): Groups of activists rode buses throughout the South to challenge segregated bus terminals, encountering violence and arrest.

6. March on Washington (1963): More than 200,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. to advocate for civil rights legislation, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

7. Civil Rights Act of 1964: Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations and employment.

8. Voting Rights Act of 1965: Signed into law by President Johnson, the act aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from voting.

The Civil Rights Movement brought about significant change in the United States, leading to the end of legal segregation and the advancement of civil rights for African Americans.