Unraveling the Civil Rights Movement: A Historical Overview

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The civil rights movement was a massively popular movement to fight to secure African Americans equal access to the basic rights and privileges guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. Although the root causes of the movement date back to before the civil war, it climaxed in the 1950s and 1960s. State and local governments passed segregation laws that left the African American population politically and economically powerless. African American's along with whites, organized and led the movement. They pursued their goals through legal means, and nonviolent protests. The movement main focus addressed three main areas of discrimination, education, social segregation, and voting rights. Between 1865 and 1870, Congress passed the 13th amendment …show more content…

President John Kennedy's administration made the first push for civil rights legislation. Following President Kennedy's tragic assassination, President Johnson had the Civil Rights Act of 1964 pushed through Congress. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibited racial discrimination in employment and public facilities and outlawed discrimination in voter registration. Also during his presidency, President Johnson helped passed the Civil Rights Act of 1965, this forbade discrimination in public housing. These two acts helped African Americans get equal treatment. The 24th amendment helped the movement further. It stated that there would be no poll tax in elections for federal officials, this helped destroyed the Jim Crow laws that made poll taxes possible. The civil rights movement transformed American culture and society. Although racism did not disappear, there was far less tolerance for it than before the 1960s. The Warren Court, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King's actions helped arise real change in America. Their actions took courage and bravery to stand up to affect change. With the help of President Johnson, Congress passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1968 and the 24th amendment which helped bring constitutional change to the movement. All of these people and laws helped the civil rights movement become

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