We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Civil Rights Movement?

Dan Cavallari
By
Updated: Feb 20, 2024
Views: 15,742
Share

The civil rights movement may refer to several events, political actions, protests, and campaigns throughout the world that worked toward equality among certain peoples, but it most often refers to the civil rights movement in the United States. Most of the events associated with the civil rights movement took place between 1950 and the early 1990s, though the struggle for equal rights has continued throughout the decades. African-Americans struggled for equal rights throughout these decades, and several key leaders and events took place during these years to promote and ultimately accomplish equal rights, though struggles still remain.

Leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. were pivotal to the success and drive of the civil rights movement. He worked to end discrimination against African-Americans in the United States, particularly in the Deep South where racism was deep-seated. The civil rights movement also aimed to allow suffrage among African-Americans. King's methods involved peaceful, non-violent protests and fiery speeches meant to rally the masses. His influence was pivotal to the partial success of the movement, though he was assassinated before being able to reap most of the benefits himself.

While the movement primarily took place in the mid to late 20th century, the roots of the movement can be traced back to the Civil War and even much earlier. Slavery in the United States was common and accepted throughout the country's history, and African-Americans were granted little to no rights. During the Civil War, slaves were allowed to enlist in the Union Army, thereby granting them freedom from slavery. This caused a major rift in the country that persisted for more than a century, and although slaves were granted freedom, they still did not hold the same rights as white Americans.

Violence escalated with the prevalence of segregation, the separation between whites and blacks in society. African-Americans were not allowed to use the same bathrooms, water fountains, or even sections of public transportation as whites. Crimes against African-Americans escalated especially in the south, and desegregation only caused more inflammatory violence and rhetoric. The civil rights movement pressed on despite the violence, and eventually legislation was passed to abolish segregation and to ensure suffrage among African Americans. Schools that were previously deemed white-only now accepted African-American students. Discrimination in the workplace slowly began to dissipate, and controversial practices such as affirmative action were put in place to afford African-Americans equal opportunities for employment.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Dan Cavallari
By Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari, a talented writer, editor, and project manager, crafts high-quality, engaging, and informative content for various outlets and brands. With a degree in English and certifications in project management, he brings his passion for storytelling and project management expertise to his work, launching and growing successful media projects. His ability to understand and communicate complex topics effectively makes him a valuable asset to any content creation team.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari, a talented writer, editor, and project manager, crafts high-quality, engaging, and informative content for various outlets and brands. With a degree in English and certifications in project management, he brings his passion for storytelling and project management expertise to his work, launching and growing successful media projects. His ability to understand and communicate complex topics effectively makes him a valuable asset to any content creation team.
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-the-civil-rights-movement.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.