Civil Rights Movement Essay Introduction
The civil rights movement was a movement that fought for racial equality and social justice in the United States The civil rights movement began in the late 1950s and early 1960s and was led by African Americans, but it did not only concern the rights of blacks, but also of other minorities who were discriminated against due to their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The civil rights movement achieved many successes for its cause, including desegregation of public facilities, the passing of laws that prohibited certain forms of discrimination, and giving greater access to voting rights to all citizens regardless of race.
The civil rights movement has its roots in centuries of oppression of African Americans and other minorities. After the end of the American Civil War in 1865, African Americans were granted citizenship and many of the same rights as whites, but they were still subject to discrimination, segregation, and limited access to resources such as education. As a result, civil rights activists emerged to fight for the right to vote, access to public facilities, and an end to segregation.
Five Best Examples of Civil Rights Movements in History
1. The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955): The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a movement led by African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama to protest the segregated public transportation system of the city. The boycott lasted for 381 days and ended when the city’s buses were desegregated in December 1956.
2. The Little Rock Nine (1957): The Little Rock Nine was a group of nine African American students who played a pivotal role in desegregating public schools after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Brown v. Board of Education case that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
3. The March on Washington (1963): This march was organized by many civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote legislative efforts to pass civil rights laws. It was attended by thousands of people and is credited with in part helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
4. The Selma to Montgomery Marches (1965): Two marches were organized by civil rights activists to bring attention to the issue of voter’s rights and to demand the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
5. The Stonewall Uprising (1969): This event was a spontaneous protest of the police raid of the Stonewall Inn in New York City. It is credited for being a catalyst for the gay rights movement and is seen as the birth of the modern LGBT rights movement.