Lesson 7 of 8
The Civil Rights Movement
Decades after slavery ended, Black Americans still faced segregation and "Jim Crow" laws, especially in the South. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s used courts, protests, and organizing to win equal rights under the law.
Key events and people
- ●Brown v. Board of Education (1954): the Supreme Court ruled segregated schools unconstitutional
- ●Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955 to 1956): sparked after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat
- ●Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: leader of nonviolent protest; gave the "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963
- ●Sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and marches challenged segregation directly
Laws that changed the country
- ●Civil Rights Act of 1964: banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
- ●Voting Rights Act of 1965: outlawed practices used to block Black citizens from voting
Coach Fite
When I lead kids out of the hood, I am standing on the shoulders of these folks. They marched so you could line up on any field in this country. Never forget who paid for the door you walk through.
ON THE TEST
Brown v. Board (1954) ended legal school segregation. The Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965) are the two landmark laws. Know MLK and Rosa Parks.